National Conference leader welcomes Omar Abdullah government's decision on refugee packages

A senior leader of the National Conference today welcomed the decision of the Omar Abdullah- led government in Jammu and Kashmir for the one-time settlement of the displaced families from west Pakistan and Chamb.

"Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has kept his commitment with regard to the package for the refugees," Devender Singh Rana, Provincial President, National Conference said here today.

"This has indeed satiated the demand made by people who had put forth their cases before the chief minister through elected representatives from time to time," he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir government yesterday approved Rs 9,000 crore financial package to be submitted to the Centre for the settlement of displaced families from west Pakistan and Chhamb.

The proposal includes providing funds to the tune of Rs 9096 crore for payment of compensation as one-time settlement in favour of 36,384 families who were displaced from Pakistan occupied Kasmir (PoK) and Chhamb areas.

The state government has recommended a payment of Rs 25 lakh per family.

Meanwhile Rajiv Chuni, the chairman of SOS International, an Organisation for PoK Displaced Persons, welcomed the decision of the state government.

"Though it took 67 years for the government to take a decision on our demands, but we are still thankful to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for understanding our problems and recommending our case to the Union Government," Chuni said.