Panel demands ex gratia for PoK displaced persons

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8

The Jammu & Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) has lauded the role of both the Centre and the state governments for the release of Rs 2,000 crore and a package for displaced persons of 1947 from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and other categories.

The committee also urged the state government today to prepare a road map within three months for a one-time settlement of these persons so that compensation could be calculated and disbursed among them in one go along with other benefits.

While briefing the media today, Gurdev Singh, president of the committee along with Netar Prakash and other senior leaders, said the package was only a part of relief compensation and not full and final settlement.

He said the government should not forget that displaced persons of 1947 from PoK were the worst sufferers. He expressed anguish over the fact that reservation for wards of these persons in Central government services and technical institutions was being overlooked. He also urged the government to provide an employment package and reservation to the wards of displaced persons.

The committee also demanded that tehsildars of all districts of the Jammu region with designated powers should verify their records for the identification of displaced persons and submit these to the Deputy Commissioner for making payments under the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme.