Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha | Photo Credit: PTI
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to regularize colonies populated by refugees from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), who were granted citizenship and equal voting rights in 2019.
“The displaced families of PoK have suffered a lot. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Yes understood their sufferings and arranged for their financial assistance and settlement and access to social security schemes. Steps will be taken to regularize the colonies of displaced families. He described PoK as an integral part of India. He said, “With the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi and Baba Amarnath, the commitment made in Parliament regarding PoK will be fulfilled soon.”
Shri Sinha said that on August 5, 2019, Shri Modi had provided equal opportunities to the Valmiki, Gorkha and Safai Karamcharis communities and the displaced by ending decades of injustice. “Several communities were denied the right to vote and other rights of citizens as enshrined in the Constitution. Many generations were treated as second class citizens. After August 2019, they were given equal rights and equal opportunities are being provided to all,” said the Lt Governor.
According to official figures, 36,384 families displaced from PoK and Chhamb in 1947 are settled in Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to the Centre’s decision to end Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, these refugees were not allowed to vote in assembly elections or buy property in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Sinha said that the government will get Smriti Bhavan constructed in the memory of the martyrs of PoK.
As per the Jammu and Kashmir government report, the displaced PoK people were resettled on 6.80 lakh kanals (84,999.99 acres) of land and about 2.43 lakh kanals (30,374.99 acres) in Udhampur, Rajouri, Jammu, Poonch and Kathua districts.
Mr. Sinha said that the government will get Smriti Bhavan constructed in the memory of the martyrs of PoK. “Every effort will be made to preserve and promote the culture and traditions of the displaced families. The land has been identified and the construction work will start soon.
Paying tribute to the civilians killed in “a terror attack by Pakistan” in October 1947, Mr. Sinha said, “We remember their supreme sacrifice and understand the pain and suffering of the displaced families. It is our responsibility to Secure their rights and create an enabling environment to meet the aspirations of the younger generation from the community.”
He said that the development of a new Jammu and Kashmir would be incomplete without full integration of the displaced persons from PoK into the mainstream development. “We are committed to ensuring the welfare and well-being of all so that they can realize their true potential and contribute to nation building,” he added.
Mr. Sinha said that more than 21,000 domicile certificates were issued through camps in Delhi, Chandigarh, Himachal, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. “We will continuously run such camps in J&K and other states/UTs so that all affected families can get benefits of government welfare schemes,” he added.