Reports suggest that the Centre is now mulling over the idea of a relief package for the distressed people in PoK (Pakistan occupied Kashmir), reported India Today. These people crossed the LoC over a period of time, beginning from the time of partition in 1947.
According to another report by TOI the total amount proposed by the government for this refugee package is Rs 2000 crore. The report said that the home ministry was preparing the fine prints of the package. The union cabinet is likely to give its nod to the proposal soon.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has prepared a list of the beneficiary families, which will get approximately Rs 5.5 lakh each. Large number of the displaced families from the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan settled in and around Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts. The state government is understood to have identified 36,348 beneficiary families.
These families don’t have the status of permanent residents. They have voting rights, which is limited to the Lok Sabha elections only. They didn’t cast their votes in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
Last year, the Centre granted these families certain concessions aimed at providing educational and job opportunities. They are entitled to special recruitment drives for induction into paramilitary forces, equal employment opportunities in the state and admission for children of displaced families in Kendriya Vidyalayas.
Amidst increasing clashes in the Kashmir Valley, PM Modi raised the issue of PoK at an all-party meet, called to discuss situation in Kashmir. He again referred to PoK during his Independence Day speech.
PM’s repeated references to PoK signaled a revamped strategy of the government towards Kashmir issue and Pakistan. There have also been reports saying that the government may invite people from PoK living abroad during the next year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas to be held in Bengaluru.
Sourced from indiatoday.in, Featured image courtesy: america.aljazeera.com
