The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 4 extended central assistance scheme for refugees from Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) and Chhamb worth over Rs 2,000 crore till 2020 and approved 7.118 acres of Defence land for construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 in Udhampur.
The Centre had extended the term of the Central Scheme till 2020 which benefits about 26,319 PoJK refugees and 10,500 Chhamb migrants in Jammu and Kashmir, as the payment to the beneficiaries was taking lot of time.
The scheme is being monitored and implemented by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and even payment to the refugee families has been taken by the MHA in its own hands through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The Rs 2000-crore scheme, part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), each beneficiary family will be paid about Rs 5.5 lakh. The scheme was launched by the Narendra Modi Government. The scheme was due to expire this year. The scheme has also been extended for Chhamb refugees of 1965 and 1971, sources said.
As per the official figures, 26,319 families of PoJK refugees were identified by the administration for payment of Rs 5.5 lakh relief (per family) after the Union Home Ministry formally approved Rs 2000 crore package. However, only 6200 families have been paid the relief so far even as 17,500 cases have been approved and 11,488 processed for payment.
Sources said the problems have cropped up in certain cases as Aadhaar and related data was not tallying and the Government wants to be fully sure before disbursement of relief to ensure that it was paid to genuine persons only.
Similarly, 10,500 families of Chhamb refugees of 1965 and 1971 had been identified for payment of an equal amount of relief and number of their cases was also pending.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 7, 2015 announced Rs 80,068 crore worth package for Jammu and Kashmir named Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) and Rs 2000 crore were reserved for payment of relief to PoJK and Chhamb refugees. However, a formal order of approval of Rs 2000 crore package for PoJK and Chhamb refugees was issued by the Union Home Ministry in October 2016.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet has also approved transfer of 7.118 acres of Defence land to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan for construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya No.2 at Dhar Road in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir.
An official statement said the Union Cabinet has approved transfer of 56 kanals and 19 marlas (7.118) acres) of Defence land on lease for 30 years renewable for two like terms of 30 years each to Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan for construction of Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 at Udhampur, Jammu and Kashmir at a nominal rate of one rupee per annum.
At present, Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 Dhar Road, Udhampur has been functioning in temporary buildings ever since its inception in 1985. Presently, a total of 851 students are studying in Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, Dhar Road, Udhampur. Construction of own permanent school building by KVS will enable the school authorities to build optimal infrastructure to meet educational requirements of the children of serving personnel.
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