Keeping “past experience” in mind, a new package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants is being “carefully” finalised in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the displaced people, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said yesterday.
He noted that the Centre had earmarked Rs 500 crore in this year’s budget for the purpose, but a revised proposal had been subsequently received from the state government envisaging financial implication of Rs 5,820 crore.
Singh asserted that the government will not rest till it ensures return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri migrants and urged parliament to adopt a resolution to endorse this commitment. “Whenever we make a commitment, we do so after giving a full thought and strong conviction. Be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Parsi, no one will be a refugee in his own land,” he said.
“In view of the past experience, it has been felt that the new package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants should be carefully finalised in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the migrants. Our government has already started the process of drawing the contours of the scheme.”
He, however, did not elaborate on his contention about the “past experience.” At present, a total of 60,452 families of Kashmiri migrants are registered in the country, of which 38,119 are in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 1,995 in other states.