SRINAGAR: MLA R.S Pura Dr Gagan Bhagat raised the issue of refugees during the question hour session in the ongoing budget session of State Assembly here on Wednesday.
He asked from the Government that what rehabilitation measures is the government taking and has taken for them.
In the reply, Government replied that a rehabilitation package under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Plan (PMRP)-2015 has been included for One Time Settlement (OTS) of the Displaced Persons (DP) families of PoJK and WPRs, and Rs. 2,000 crore have been earmarked under the said plan. The Government also informed that there are total 5,764 WPR families and 31619 PoJK families and among these 2,6319 of PoJK families are settled within the State of Jammu and Kashmir and 5,300 outside the State. The Government further said that the total 36,384 families will get the assistance over and above any other benefit or assistance to the families in the past, and will be credited into the accounts of these DPs though Direct Benefit transfer(DBT). On the question of creating Advisory Board for Refugees of PoJK and WPR, the Government said that till date there is no such proposal. Bhagat however, sought early disbursement of the aforesaid package and also appealed for providing special quota for the Refugee community in the raising of 5 IRP Battalions in State.