Prime Minister’s Package for the return of Kashmiri migrants are discussed between Govt & Kashmiri P

Jammu,- Governor, N N Vohra, today reviewed the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Package for the return of Kashmiri migrants and spelled out the measures being taken for employment, rehabilitation and infrastructural development in the Valley.

Interacting with the representatives of various organisations of the Kashmiri migrants, here this morning, the Governor said that the Government is contemplating to set up temporary transit facilities at various places to enable those desirous of resettling in the Valley to undertake renovation of their abandoned houses or resumption of horticulture and agricultural activities. 

The representatives generally spoke of their return, hoping that the situation would become more conducive for them to live with their brethren belonging to the majority community. Some of the representatives urged the Governor for considering more temporary transit facilities nearer their home towns like Kupwara and Handwara. The representatives also suggested formation of a core group comprising senior officials and the representatives of the migrant community for resolving day to day problems confronted to the displaced population. 

          Commissioner/Secretary Revenue, Lokesh Jha, gave the details of the Prime Minister’s Relief Package, which addresses to different aspects of rehabilitation. He said that the Rs 1618.40 crore Return and Rehabilitation Package, interalia, envisages employment of educated youth, provision of help for self employment, renovation of left-out houses, resumption of agriculture and horticulture activities etc. Under the Package, the first installment of Rs 8. 35 crore has been released for the provision of housing, transit accommodation and resumption of agriculture etc in the Valley. 

The Relief Commissioner, Migrants, Vinod Koul, said that the initiative for the return of migrants began in 1997 when a Committee had been constituted under M L Koul, the then Financial Commissioner. This was followed by another Inter-ministerial Committee, set up by the Prime Minister, in 2004 which, interalia, recommended the construction of temporary two-room tenements at various location in the Jammu periphery. He said that 1024 tenements, constructed at Muthi, Purkhoo and Nagrota, have been allotted to the migrants. 

The meeting was informed that over 4000 dwelling units are being constructed in the upcoming township at Jagati, near Nagrota, first phase of which is likely to be completed in September 2009. The whole project will be ready by April 2010. 

At Sheikhpura in the Budgam district and Mattan in the Anantnag district, two temporary transit centres, with 138 and 31 flats respectively, have already been set up.  

In all, 58,618 families are registered as migrants with the Relief Organisation, 37,285 of whom are residing within the State in the Jammu Division.  

    Among others, the meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to Governor, B B Vyas, Commissioner/Secretary, Revenue & Relief, Lokesh Jha, Commissioner/Secretary, General Administration Department, Basharat Ahmed Dhar, Relief Commissioner, Vinod Koul and Special Secretary, Revenue, G M Rather, were present in the meeting.