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| Union Home Ministry rejects full special package for Jammu migrants | | No 10 percent reservation in Jobs, educational institutions, colleges | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Feb 23: Union Home Ministry has outrightly rejected Jammu and Kashmir government's demand for extending full special package for Jammu migrants.
Although financial component is still being discussed, the ministry has refused to include 10 percent reservation in educational institutions, 10 percent reservation in jobs in state and central governments and 10 percent reservation in medical seats in Government Medical Colleges across the country in the package. Ministry has further said that there is also no proposal to look into the demand for setting up of Special Commission to assess losses suffered by migrants of hilly areas of Jammu region and provide them compensation commensurate with actual requirement.
However, for permanent rehabilitation of such Migrants, package for an amount of Rs.91.56 crores has been received in the ministry and is being discussed. Union Home Ministry has made these admissions before high powered Parliamentary Standing Committee (PSC) on Home Affairs. Committee in its 179th report on the action taken by union government on recommendations contained in the 137th report on rehabilitation of Jammu and Kashmir migrants has said that relief is state subjects and it is for the state government to grant special package to Jammu migrants.
The committee has recommended that the central government should look into the new proposal of Rs. 91.56 crore submitted by the state government on priority basis so that the Migrants of the hilly regions of Jammu may be adequately compensated and an early decision is taken in the matter. Committee has referred to the directions of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir to
provide relief to the Jammu Migrants at par with the Kashmiri Migrants and expressed anguish that the same has not been implemented either by the central or State Governments.
Committee has also noted that the order dated July 12, 2006 of the Supreme Court that Relief Commissioner may ensure whether Jammu Migrants were provided with all relief measures to which they were entitled as per the policy and any arrears to be paid to the Migrants should be made available to them at the earliest. It has accepted that some relief has been provided but the effort is half-hearted.
Bringing to light the fact that state government was forced to spend out of its own kitty for Jammu migrants, the report of the committee while referring reply received from Union Home Ministry has said that proposal of the state government for providing relief to 1489 migrant families of Jammu region (7811 persons) for an expenditure of Rs.21.08 crore was received in this Ministry and after due consideration, it was felt that the position in respect of the Migrants from the Jammu region is qualitatively different from that of the Migrants from the Valley, which is not comparable with isolated cases of migration from districts of Jammu Division.
Ministry advised the state government to give relief proposed for these Migrants, as per any commitments made by them, out of the state budget. Subsequently, state government made the provision in the state budget and relief was given to Jammu migrants out of the state budget. This much was also done by the government after orders were repeatedly passed by the Supreme Court and High Court.
Headed by BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu, the committee has probed in depth about the problems being faced by migrants of Jammu region who had to leave their home and hearth after the eruption of militancy during the year 1990. These migrants are mostly from the remote areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban. The ministry maintains that 1489 migrant families of Jammu region (7811 persons) got themselves registered for migrant relief package.
Of these, Union Home Ministry had referred to state government's communication and said that in pursuance of the court orders, 1054 families belonging to various districts of Jammu province were registered after carrying out proper verification by CID authorities. From October 2007, these families are receiving monthly cash assistance and free ration continuously, maintains the ministry.
Regarding non-payment of arrears from 2004 to 2007, they have said that the matter would be settled very soon. Ministry has said that most of the Jammu Migrants residing in Talwara and other areas have lost their houses and their land has been illegally occupied at the instance of the state government in different areas of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur and other areas.
It has added that there are complaints that revenue officers have changed the mutation to some stranger's name. Ministry has further explained that as informed by the state government, the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to address the problems of such families.
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