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| Parliamentary Standing Sub-Committee's report | | Internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 30: The Parliamentary Standing Sub-Committee has submitted its report. The Committee is moved by the pitiable condition of the migrants. Over the years the conditions have only worsened as families have grown and there has been no addition to their resources. The unhygienic environment in which migrants live is extremely deplorable. The committee is, therefore, of the strong view that the Government should give a serious thought to the problems of Kashmiri displaced person and improve their living conditions. The Committee also has expressed its deep concern over the pathetic condition of about 4,000 Kashmiri Hindus still living in the Kashmir Valley. The Committee has felt that there should be "special budgetary provision for Kashmiri Hindus left behind in the valley for fulfilling genuine needs of housing, employment/self employment and improving living conditions.
The Committee has noted with concern that in the absence of adequate and comprehensive policy for rehabilitation, the Kashmiri displaced persons are reportedly being compelled to live in "shanty-like camps" set up in places like Udhampur, Nagrota, Jammu and Delhi. The internally-displaced Hindus had left behind their properties, household goods, business establishments, agricultural land and other means of livelihood and continuing to lead their lives in scarcity and insecurity. Neither the Central Government nor the State Government has adopted a holistic approach to tackle the problems being faced by the displaced persons, the Committee has said. It has, therefore, recommended that there should be "clear directions" by Central Government to all the State Governments and Union Territories to provide relief and rehabilitation on a uniform and holistic basis to internally Displaced Kashmiri Hindus living in those States and UTs. The Committee also has suggested that all State Governments should provide land to them for construction of houses under group housing schemes and for construction of cultural centres.
The Committee has further expressed the view that recommendations of the high powered inter-ministerial team appointed by Prime Minister regarding medical fund, immediate employment of 1,000 persons and construction of two room flats at existing places of dwelling in Jammu based camps should be implemented without further delay.
The Committee has said that the Displaced Persons living outside the camps need enhanced relief commensurating with the cost of living index and to countervail the burden of rent payments and therefore, desires that the Government should take appropriate steps in that direction immediately. The Committee also has desired that the Government should implement the recommendations of the Sushma Chodhury Committee Report on Kashmiri Displaced Person residing outside the camps for improving their condition of living.
Besides, the Committee has said that the internally-displaced Persons should be encouraged to undertake self employment and micro and small scale industries. For this they require loans from the banks. The Committee recommends that the Government should provide them the facilities of seeking soft loans from the banks to enable them to take up self-employment projects for earning their livelihood.
The Committee also has expressed its "serious concern about the criminal intent of vested interests to alter the demography in the State of J & K by not only forcibly ousting the minorities out of the State but also by changing the property rights in the revenue records, so that the migrants are left with no stake to return back to the valley". The Committee has strongly recommended that "appropriate and effective action is required to safeguard the right to properties of the Kashmiri Pandits who have been compelled to flee the state, their homes and hearths for fear of their lives and dignity". |
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