Rights, relief elude POK Refugees

Jammu, Jan 29: Leaving thousands of PoK refugees high and dry, the government has enhanced cash relief for migrant pandits. The hapless refugees, it may be mentioned, have been struggling hard for their rights for the past ten years. Hundreds of refugees, including senior citizens and ladies who migrated here from the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 1947, 1965 and 1971 are disappointed as nothing has been given to refugees till date.  Rachh Pal Singh Chib, Gen. Secretary, PoK Refu-gee Front said, "Revenue Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Raman Bhalla submitted two memoranda to former Home Minister P. Chidambram in May 2012. Refugees and West Pakistan Refugees and second a Revised package for Kashmiri Pandit Mig-rated from the valley. But the revised Package for KPs was cleared while POK. Refugees and West Pakistan Refugees were left high and dry."

He has accused the government of bias. Threatening agitation, he said the State and Central governments have willfully neglected them, disgraced them and belittled a population of 20 lakh. State Government of Jammu & Kashmir constituted an official committee 'Wadhwa Committee' to look into the pending problems and demands of the PoK. Refugees and West Pakistan Refugees to suggest measures to solve the problems once for all. The report was submitted in 2007 to the Chief Minister of the State.  Five Working Groups were constituted by the Prime Minister of India and they submitted their report recommending comprehensive settlement of PoK and west Pakistani Refugees. Interlocutors headed by Dilip Padgaokar also made recommendations in favor of comprehensive settlement package. But nothing has moved as the refugees continue to suffer

Source: http://www.earlytimeplus.com/newsdet.aspx?q=18