‘2105 migrants returned to Kashmir after Art 370 abrogation’

New Delhi, Apr 6: Over 2100 migrants have returned to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Ministry of Home affairs said on Wednesday.
Replying to a question about the number of Kashmiri Pandits rehabilitated since August 2019 when Article 370 was abrogated, Minister of state in the ministry of Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said 2105 migrants have returned to Kashmir for taking up the jobs provided under Prime Minister’s Development Package.
He said 841 appointments were made in 2020-21 while 1264 appointments were made in 2021-22.
To another question about the number of Hindus along with Kashmiri Pandits killed in J&K, Rai said that 14 Hindus including four Kashmiri Pandits have been killed in Kashmir since August 2019.
He said that three Hindus were killed in Kashmir in 2019 after abrogation of Article 370, one Kashmiri Pandit and one Hindu was killed in Kashmir in 2020, three Kashmiri Pandits and six Hindus were killed in Kashmir in 2021.
Rai said that 3000 government jobs under Prime Minister’s Development Package 2015 (PMDP-2015), for Kashmiri migrants have been created. The selection process for appointment of 2828 migrants has been completed, out of which 1913 migrants have been appointed and verification of documents of the remaining 915 migrants has been taken up.
He said the construction of transit accommodations under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Package 2008 (PMRP 2008) is complete, while work is being completed in respect of accommodations approved under PMDP-2015.
Construction of 1025 Units has been completed/substantially completed, 1488 Units are at different stages of completion and work on remaining Units has been taken up.
He said that in the initial phase, private land was to be acquired for the construction of these transit accommodations. However, due to cost escalation and delay in the land acquisition process, it was decided in 2019 to provide government land in order to speed up the construction work. Land required for construction of transit accommodations is now available with the concerned department.
“Moreover, Jammu and Kashmir has hilly terrain and receives heavy snowfall during winters which shortens the working season. The construction work further suffered due to Covid-19 situation. However, the work on the project has been expedited,” he said.
According to Rai, the Government of India reimburses monthly cash relief to Kashmiri migrants, which was last enhanced from Rs 10,000 to Rs 13,000 per family in June 2018.
“The enhancement of cash relief to Kashmiri Migrants is considered from time to time on the recommendation of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir keeping in view of the trend of inflation,” he added.