The Hindu : J&K migrants yet to get relief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003

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J&K migrants yet to get relief

By Our Staff Reporter

JAMMU APRIL 14. The Jammu and Kashmir Government has not provided relief to the thousands of migrants of the militancy-affected districts in Jammu region, despite clear directions given by the Supreme Court to provide relief to the poor families living in shabby tents for the last eight years.

In the mid-nineties, thousands of families belonging to all communities — Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs — living in Rajouri and Poonch districts migrated to other areas. Similar migration took place from Doda district. Their movement increased after Operation Parakram. As security in the remote hamlets decreased people sought shelter here. Estimates place the number at close to 30,000.

Most of these families are poor and some even below the poverty line. Some of them camped at Belicharanna area as the administration did not provide them suitable shelter close to the city. Others camped at Reasi Akhnoor and other safer areas. But the mass neglect of these families has continued since then and they have not received a single penny as relief.

The people have been asking for migratory status from the authorities as that would entitle them for special privileges but the successive dispensations have refused to concede this.

Last year, in a public interest litigation, the Supreme Court had taken a strong view of the plight of these migrants and asked the State Government to give them migratory status and extend to them the benefits as provided to other displaced persons. The authorities have not followed the apex court directives though two years have passed.

Ghulam Abbas of Doda district who migrated five years ago says: "We have knocked the door of every authority but failed to get relief. Even the courts have failed to provide us relief."

Various Home Ministry teams visited the region to take note of the plight of the migrants. But a package for these people from the Central Government has not come about. In the absence of any relief from the authorities the education of their wards is getting affected, say the migrants.

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J&K migrants yet to get relief