STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government has spent around 3 crores on scholarships of orphans of killed militants in the past two years.
According to the reply tabled in the State Assembly on Tuesday, the minister in charge State Home Department informed that Rs 1.28 crore was spent on these scholarships up to March 31, 2016.
Out of this Rs 1.14 crores was spent on 1513 orphans across Kashmir valley while 14.01 lakhs were spent on 297 orphans of killed militants in Jammu.
Similarly, up to March 31, 2015 , Rs 1.70 crores were spent on awarding these scholarships to 1897 orphans of killed militants .Out of these 1897 orphans 1626 belong to Kashmir division while 271 hail from Jammu division.
The three districts of Anantnag, Baramulla and Kupwara account for highest number of orphans across Kashmir while two hilly districts of Doda and Kishtwar account for maximum number of orphans from Jammu division.
According to the details furnished by the State Home Department, four districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur have zero orphans . In Kashmir, Srinagar recorded the lowest number of 18 orphans.
As per the scheme every orphan is paid monthly scholarship of Rs 750 and the same would continue till the child attains the age of 18 and it can be extended up to 21 years in certain cases.
As per the details, Anantnag had highest number of 451 orphans followed by 218 in Baramulla and 209 in Kupwara. In Jammu division, Doda had 148 orphans, 56 in Kishtwar and 32 in Ramban.
Interestingly, since April 2016 no expenditure has been made during the year as on date as the scholarships to orphans of killed militants is being disbursed on the basis of academic session.
