The relocation of cross-border firing-affected in Jammu and Kashmir, especially in Jammu region remains a far-off dream till date. It was during the 2014 Parliamentary and Assembly elections that promises were made by leaders of ruling party BJP in terms of providing border villagers with alternative piece of land at safer places. In October 2014 the Jammu and Kashmir Government directed the Revenue Department to submit a comprehensive proposal for providing land at safer places for the people affected due to cross-border firing in the State. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Under the decision the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department was asked to submit a comprehensive proposal for providing 5 Marlas of land per family in safer zones, adjacent to the present villages, to the people affected due to cross border and cross LoC (Line of Control) firing in the State. Then came elections to Assembly and Parliament, BJP rode to the victory podium making promises especially to the firing affected villagers of promised 5 Marlas plot in safer areas to save them from Pakistan shelling and firing. However, it failed to take any decision. After heavy shelling and firing from Pakistan in August-September last year and January this year, the Central Government (the MHA) decided to implement the decision of allotment of 5 Marla plots to the people living within firing and shelling range of Pakistan. Apart from this, the Centre has also mooted the proposal for construction of concrete community bunkers in the border areas for immediate protection to the people from shelling if the firing or shelling starts when the villagers are working in the fields. Apart from the demand to shift the villagers, locals also demanded relief material. Worst is their houses become easy target for robbers and thieves every time they shifted when tension brewed between the two countries. And today the reality is that most of the forward villagers have built bunkers at their own cost and have taken the task of protecting their property and animal in the face of cold response from State Government. Four days ago once again the age-old exercise of asking them to shift to safer places has been carried out in the face of growing tension aftermath of Uri terrorist attack on army base camp claiming 18 lives. This time too it looks government hardly has any contingency plan to tackle any aggravating situation on the border.
