PoJK refugees refuse to accept Rs 5.5 lakh as immediate relief

Vikram Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 10

The Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Displaced Persons (PoJKDPs) has refused to accept the financial package of Rs 5.5 lakh per family as a financial assistance under the central package for 36,884 families.

“We want the Government of India to clarify if it is a one-time settlement amount or the instalment of the actual amount of Rs 25 lakh,” said Rajiv Chuni, chairman, SOS International.

He said if it was an instalment, the refugees would accept it. He, however, demanded the government to come out with a written document on it.

Chuni said the amount had been carved out of Rs 80,000-crore package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Jammu and Kashmir, which is a "relief" being distributed to them without any acknowledgement from the Centre.

The refugees have staked their claims only on the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah approving the financial package for one-time settlement of persons displaced from PoJK and Chhamb was recommende to the Government of India.

The proposal included funds to the tune of Rs 9,096 crore as a one-time settlement of payment to 36,884 PoK/Chhamb families. Each family had to get Rs 25 lakh.

“At that time, a joint parliamentary committee headed by Cabinet Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy had visited the state and recommended Rs 30 lakh per family, which was recently announced to be enhanced to Rs 40 lakh by MP Jugal Kishore Sharma. It is a hoax,” said Chuni. 

He said the refugees didn’t want to fall prey to these “machinations” and wanted the recommended amount of Rs 25 lakh only.

On July 4, the state government announced a package of Rs 5.5 lakh per family to the PoJK refugees.

“The process for the disbursal of funds has been started. Once the Government of India releases the funds, it will be disbursed among the beneficiaries," Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu had announced.