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Return and Rehabilitation
The issue for return
and rehabilitation has been under discussion since long at various forums. Earlier
in 2005, some infrastructure was created at Sheikhpora, Distt. Budgam and Mattan,
Distt. Anantnag for return of migrants.
At Sheikhpora,
out of 200 flats, 120 have been completed and 31 have been allotted in favour of
Kashmiri Pandit families who had not migrated and were living in a camp established
by district administration of Budgam. Also 18 flats have been completed at Mattan.
In absence of a
proper rehabilitation scheme, the infrastructure created could not be utilised.
In April 2008, Hon'ble Prime Minister announced a package for return and rehabilitation
of Kashmiri Migrants. Formal communication was recieved by the state government
in June 2008. The package involves an amount of 1618.40 crores and details of the
concessions available under the package are as under:
Housing:
- Assistance @ Rs.7.5 lakhs for fully or partially damaged house.
- Rs.2.00 lakh for dilapidated/unused houses.
- Rs. 7.5 lakh for purchase/construction of a house in Group Housing Societies for those who have sold their properties during the period after 1989 and before the enactment of "The J&K Migrant Immovable Property (Preservation, Protection and Restraint of Distress Sale) Act, 1997" on 30-5-1997.
Transit Accommodation: Construction of transit accommodation at
three sites @ Rs.20.00 crore each for a total of Rs.60.00 cr. Alternatively, Rs.
1.00 lac per family towards rental and incidental expenses to those families who
may not be accommodated in transit accommodation.
Continuation of Cash Relief to Migrants: Migrant families
at
Jammu
and
Delhi
who are recipients of cash, relief and free ration would continue to receive the
same @ Rs.5000 per family per month (including rations) for a period of two years
after their return to the Valley.
Students Scholarships: The children of migrants will be provided
scholarships @ 750/- per student per month.
Employment: It has been decided to provide employment
opportunities to 15,000 unemployed migrant youth. Out of which, 6000 youth will
be accommodated in State Government jobs. To assist the State Government in providing
such employment opportunities, the Central Government will bear the cost towards
salary for 3000 youth till they are absorbed against regular posts in the State
Government, within the specified time-frame.
Remaining 9000
unemployed youth would be facilitated to get financial assistance to come up with
self-employment/business ventures. For this purpose one-time assistance of Rs.5.00
lac in each case will be provided out of which 50% will be grant and 50% as loan.
Assistance to Agriculturists/Horticulturists: One time financial
assistance of Rs.1.00 lac would be provided to those having agriculture holdings.
Rs.5000/- per kanal, subject to maximum of Rs.1.5 lac would be provided for restoration
of orchards.
Waiver of interest on loans: It has been decided
to waive off the interest component of the loans taken by Kashmiri Pandits before
migration from the Valley.
For implementation of the package, a form (Expression of Interest) was circulated in order to ascertain the willingness
of the migrants to return. 811 families have expressed their willingness to return
so far (Ending December 2008). The biodata of Kashmiri migrant youth have also been
collected, the number of which is approx. 13500. All of them have expressed their
willingness to serve in the valley.
Land for construction
of transit accomodation has also been identified at three places i.e.
.
- Vessu, Distt. Kulgam
- Qazigund, Distt. Anantnag
- Khanpura, Distt. Baramulla
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