Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today in a high-level review meeting assessed the progress achieved in implementation of key welfare measures for the rehabilitation and resettlement of migrant populations of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting, convened by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R), reviewed multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening relief, housing and social security support for various categories of displaced persons in the Union Territory.
The meeting besides Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti; ACS, Power Development, ACS, Finance and ACS, Public Works and Principal Secretary, DMRR&R was also attended by Commissioner Secretary, Housing & Urban Development, Commissioner Secretary, General Administration, Commissioner Secretary, Youth Services & Sports; Commissioner Secretary, Law Department; Secretary IT; Secretary Revenue; Development Commissioner (Works); Relief Commissioner; Director FCS&CA, Jammu; and other senior officers. The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and concerned Deputy Commissioners participated through video conferencing.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary took a comprehensive review of the range of measures undertaken by the government from time to time for the rehabilitation of different migrant categories including Kashmiri Pandits, West Pakistani Refugees and displaced persons who migrated from PoJK.
A detailed assessment was also made regarding the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP‑2015) and the steps being taken to improve delivery of services to Kashmiri migrants, Jammu migrants and other displaced persons residing in the Union Territory.
The Chief Secretary reviewed the status of construction of transit accommodation being developed across various districts of the Kashmir Valley for migrant employees recruited under the relief package. Taking a location-wise appraisal from the executing agencies, he directed them to ensure completion of these projects within the stipulated timelines and with all required facilities in place.
He also reviewed the status of Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) in respect of employees appointed under the relief package. He observed that necessary clarifications and directions have already been issued to address procedural bottlenecks faced by departments and stressed that there should be no further delay in granting employees their rightful benefits as per the rules in force.
The meeting also assessed the progress achieved in implementing key welfare decisions including inclusion of migrant families in the National Food Security Act database, extension of Ayushman Bharat Golden Card benefits to eligible beneficiaries and the provision of funds for repair and maintenance of dwelling units allotted to migrants at different locations in Jammu.
Issues relating to allotment of accommodation to migrant employees posted in different districts of the Kashmir Valley, delegation of powers to officers in the Relief Organisation for issuance of required certificates and the need for construction of additional flats for migrant families in Jammu were also deliberated upon.
Emphasizing the importance of responsive grievance redressal, the Chief Secretary directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure quality disposal of complaints registered by migrants on the dedicated portal regarding their immovable properties and assets left behind in the Valley. He instructed the Relief Commissioner to depute officers to districts to monitor the grievance disposal process and stressed that affected individuals should be taken into confidence while resolving such issues on merit.
Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti informed the meeting that a final timeline has been fixed for completion of the remaining blocks of transit accommodation across the Valley. Out of a total of 6,000 flats planned under the project, 4,128 flats have already been completed, while the remaining 1,872 flats have been phased for completion in stages with 584 flats to be completed by the end of March, 832 by June and 456 by September this year.
He further apprised that the two-storey Community Hall at Jagti is nearing completion with about 90 percent of the work already executed. Regarding the PoJK Bhawan project, he stated that the complexcomprising an Administrative Block, Amphitheatre and Balidan Stambhis expected to be completed by January next year.
The meeting was also informed that land has been identified at Purkhoo for construction of additional flats for migrant families. It was added that around 25,000 applications from ration card holders have been received for inclusion in the NFSA database and the process is being expedited with additional manpower deployed by the concerned department to complete it before April this year.
Additionally, the meeting was told that special outreach camps have been organized in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Chandigarh to facilitate registration of migrant families for Ayushman Bharat Golden Cards, ensuring that no eligible beneficiary is left out of the scheme.
The meeting also discussed several other issues concerning the migrant community including issuance of migrant certificates to children of women married to non-migrant persons, augmentation of staff in the office of the Relief Commissioner, municipal services in migrant camps and other matters raised during the deliberations.