The Union Cabinet on 30 November 2016 approved the rehabilitation package of Rs 2000 crore for around 36384 displaced families from Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir (POJK) and Chhamb under Prime Minister's Development Package for Jammu & Kashmir 2015.
The refugees from West Pakistan, mostly from PoK, are settled in different areas of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts. However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu & Kashmir constitution.
Under the package of Rs 2000 crore, Rs 5.5 lakh cash benefit will be disbursed to each displaced families to enable them to earn an income and subsist their livelihood.
The amount will be initially released to the State Government of Jammu & Kashmir to be disbursed to eligible families through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Background
In the aftermath of Indian partition in 1947, thousands of families from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir migrated to the Jammu & Kashmir. Later, during Indo-Pak Wars of 1965 and 1971, a large number of families were displaced from Chhamb Niabat area of Jammu & Kashmir.
Consequently, from time to time, series of relief and rehabilitation packages have been extended by the Union Government and Jammu & Kashmir government to lessen the hardship of displaced persons from PoJK and Chhamb areas.
In January 2015, the Modi government approved certain concessions for the refugees from West Pakistan settled in Jammu & Kashmir after considering the problems being faced by them.
The concessions included special recruitment drives for induction into paramilitary forces, equal employment opportunities in the state, admission for the children of refugees in Kendriya Vidyalayas, among others.
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