Political migrants deprived of relief for 2 years: M Y Tarigami

Jammu, Mar 25: CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami on Tuesday said that political migrants had been deprived of cash assistance for the past two years.

“Over 1,300 such families have been denied relief,” he said. Tarigami made these remarks after raising a question about the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants during the Question Hour. He said that many political workers were forced to migrate from their native places due to their either political affiliations or they participated in the political process.

“A committee had been formed to look into their issues a year ago, but nothing had been done so far,” Tarigami said. He added that it would be injustice if people were divided on the basis of their miseries. He emphasised that all displaced people should be considered migrants and made eligible for migrant benefits. CPI(M) leader sought the intervention of the Chief Minister in addressing the issues of the migrants.

Responding to Tarigami’s question, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary said that it was the concern of the entire House.

“It has always been the concern of the National Conference government to facilitate the respectful return of Kashmiri migrants,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Central government had also announced packages for their return.

He said that the Prime Minister in 2009 announced a Rs 1618.40 crore package for the rehabilitation and return of Kashmiri migrants and the broader components of the policy comprising housing, transit accommodation, continuation of cash relief, scholarships, employment and waiver of interests on loans.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed the House that the Central government sanctioned 3000 posts under PMRP and under PMDP-2015 additional 3000 posts, totaling to 6,000.

“Out of 6,000 posts, appointments orders for 5686 posts had been issued to date,” he said. The government said that 6,000 transit accommodations for the migrants had been constructed by the government in different districts across Kashmir.

It also informed that the issue of the enhancement of the relief and consideration of full grant of relief benefits in favour of new born babies had been taken up with the Central government.

“The ex-gratia compensation of the damaged properties due to bomb blast/ fire incidents of migrants is being disbursed as per assessment of R&B Department and concerned Tehsildar”, the government said.