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Return of the Native
Sops for Kashmiri migrants announced by Home Minister in Parliament
By Subhashis Mittra
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In an effort to ensure early return of Kashmiris displaced due to militancy in the Valley, Union home minister Shivraj Patil announced a slew of sops worth Rs 1,600 crore, including housing, job facilities and waiver of interest on loans.
Making a suo motu statement in both Houses of Parliament, the home minister said the benefits would apply to all Kashmiri migrant families who left the Valley "bag and baggage after 1989 and have not been able to return."
Noting that more than 55,000 Kashmiri families had been forced to leave their homes in the wake of unfortunate events, he acknowledged that they were an integral part of the composite social fabric of the valley and their return would address a major humanitarian concern that has been crying for attention over the years.
Under the package, each migrant family which opts to return to the valley will get a lump sum grant of seven and half lakh rupees to build or buy homes through group housing societies for which the state government has been requested to identify land.
It has also been decided to give a similar lump sum grant to migrant families whose houses have been fully or partially damaged. "It is proposed to assist (the migrants) suitably with transit accommodation and start-up expenses," Patil said. He further clarified that the monthly relief given to around 15,000 migrant families in Jammu and Delhi would continue, if they chose to return to the Valley, for the next two years to enable smooth transition.
The government would also provide assistance for education of children of migrant families through the Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council.
The State Government has proposed to provide 6,000 jobs for the educated migrant youths. The Centre would bear the cost towards salary for about 3,000 youths till they were absorbed against regular posts within the specified time frame, explained Patil. He also expounded on government’s plan of providing a financial package for other unemployed youth from among the migrant community to help them engage in self-employment through vocational training.
Lump sum grants have been slated for restoration of abandoned agricultural holdings and orchards. "We are examining the feasibility of waiving the interest on unpaid loans taken by Kashmiri migrants before their migration as part of a one-time settlement package," informed Patil.
Decision pertaining to a package for refugees from West Pakistan has also been worked out to help them overcome the hardships endured. Under the package, a dispensation is proposed to enable their children and grandchildren to seek admission in technical educational institutions in various parts of the country. It was also proposed to facilitate bank loans without security of land, for which the finance ministry is expected to set up a nodal cell.
On the problems faced by families who migrated from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) to the state in 1947, the Centre has agreed to meet an expenditure of about Rs 50 crore to resolve the pending cases. Patil explained that time-bound steps would be taken for payment of compensation for land used for construction of border works, including fencing.
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