Committed to aiding return of Kashmiri migrants: Government

NEW DELHI: The government today said it was committed to facilitating the return of Kashmiri migrants to Kashmir Valley as well as their proper rehabilitation with a new package being formulated for them.

The Minister of State for Home, Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, said the Centre has earmarked Rs 500 crore for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants in the 2014-15 Union budget.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has sent a proposal with financial implications to the tune of Rs 5,820 crore for revision in the existing Prime Minister's package of 2008.

The J-K government is seeking enhancement of financial assistance for various components like reconstruction of houses, state government jobs for migrant youths, self- employment, financial assistance for acquiring land for establishing cluster accommodation, etc.

"The proposal is presently under examination. The new package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants is being formulated in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the migrants," Chaudhary said in reply to a written question.

The minister said that the Rs 500 crore earmarked in the budget for rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants will be utilised as part of the new package.

Chaudhary said that the Centre has written to the J-K government to identify suitable land in the vicinity of Srinagar and towns in Kashmir Valley -- near the native places of the Kashmiri migrants -- for their suitable rehabilitation.