Lok Sabha Question No. 262 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-01
Subject: Kashmiri Migrants
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.†262

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1ST DECEMBER, 2015/AGRAHAYANA 10,1937 (SAKA)

KASHMIRI MIGRANTS

†262. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  total  ex-gratia  and  loan  amount  paid  to  each  of  the  Kashmiri migrants so far, separately;
- (b) the number of Kashmiri pundits living in camps in Jammu & Kashmir and outside the State particularly in Delhi and people displaced so far due to terrorism and internal disturbances in the country;
- (c)  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  facilitate  return  of  such displaced Kashmiri pandits; and
- (d) the number of families returned to the valley so far and its percentage out of the total number of families displaced?

ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a): The Government is providing cash relief at the rate of Rs.2500/- per head per month (maximum Rs.10000/- per family per month) plus dry ration (9 Kg. Rice, 2 Kg. Atta per person per month and 1 Kg. Sugar per family per month) to eligible 18,250 Kashmiri migrant families living in Jammu. Expenditure  incurred  by  the  Government  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  in  this respect  is  being  reimbursed  by  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  under  Security Related Expenditure (Relief & Rehabilitation) -SRE (R&R). The Government of NCT of Delhi is also providing cash relief of Rs.2500/- per head  per  month  (maximum  Rs.10000/-  per  family  per  month)  to  eligible 3,385  Kashmiri  migrant  families  living  in  Delhi/NCR.  Other  States  are providing  relief  as  per  scales  fixed  by  them  from  their  own  budget.  The total expenditure incurred under SRE (R&R) till September 2015 in respect of the cash/ration relief being paid to the Kashmiri migrants is Rs.1483.94 Crore. However no loan amount has been disbursed from SRE (R&R) to any Kashmiri migrant till date.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 262 FOR 1.12.2015

(b): There  are  about  62,000  registered  Kashmiri  migrant  families  in  the country, who  migrated from the Kashmir Valley due to the onset of militancy/terrorism  in  the  State  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  in  the  early  1990s. About 40,000 registered Kashmiri migrant families are living in Jammu, about 20,000 in Delhi/NCR and about 2000 families are settled in other parts of the country. None of these Kashmiri migrant families is living in camps at present.

(c)&(d):  The Government from time to time has announced Packages for return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants such as in 2004 and in 2008.

Under  Prime  Minister's  Package  2004,  5242  two  room  tenements  have  been constructed  in  Jammu  at  four  locations  (Purkhoo,  Muthi,  Nagrota  and  Jagti) and  have  been  allotted  to  the  migrants.    Further,  200  flats  have  been constructed at Sheikhpora in Budgam district (Kashmir Valley) and have been allotted to the migrants on sharing basis, who  have  joined the State Government service under employment component of Prime Minister's Package 2008.    Out  of  these  200  flats,  31  flats  have  also  been  allotted  to  the  local migrants  who  migrated  from  their  native  places  to  other  places  within  the Kashmir Valley.

A Comprehensive Package amounting to Rs.1618.40 crore was announced by the  Government  in  2008  for  return  and  rehabilitation  of  Kashmiri  Migrants, which  provided  for many  comprehensive  facilities  for the migrants  e.g. provision  of  3000  state  government  jobs,  financial  assistance  for  purchase/ construction of houses, construction of transit accommodations, continuation of  cash  relief  to  migrants,  scholarship  to  students,  assistance  for  selfemployment, assistance to the agriculturists and the horticulturist, waiver of interest on unpaid loan, etc. The Package is being implemented by the State Government of Jammu and Kashmir. So far state government jobs have been offered  to  1963  migrant  youths,  out  of  which  1597  have  joined.  469  Transit accommodations have been constructed in the Kashmir Valley and allotted to the newly appointed migrant employees under the Package and one family has availed  the  benefit  of  Rs.7.5  Lakh  for  construction  of  house  in  the  Kashmir Valley.

Besides,  the  Government  of  India  has  recently  approved  another  package involving  an  estimated  expenditure  of  Rs.2000  Crore  for  providing  additional 3000  state  government  jobs  to  the  Kashmiri  migrants  and  construction  of transit  accommodations  in  the  Kashmir  Valley  for  the  Kashmiri  migrants  to whom state government jobs have been provided/ will be provided.

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