In a major respite for border population, who get affected due to cross border firing and shelling and also suffer losses of both life and property, Government of India has approved a plan submitted by district administration Rajouri allowing release of compensation among border residents at par with compensation issued under State Disaster Relief Fund.
The approval order issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has been formally received by district administration Rajouri and an announcement of the same was made by District Development Commissioner Rajouri in a meeting with people living near LoC in the district.
Sources told Greater Kashmir that during recent visit of Home Minister, Rajnath Singh to Rajouri district he met displaced border migrants, who were living in migrant camps due to continuous LoC firing, he also chaired a high level meeting of the officials.
During this meeting, sources said, district administration Rajouri headed by District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary briefed Home Minister about the situation along Line of Control and problems faced by border population at the time of cross border firing and shelling.
“Home Minister was also briefed about the problems in compensation policy due to which required amount of compensation cannot be paid to the border residents at the time of loss of life, property and their migration and district administration Rajouri submitted a proposal for nod to release compensation at par with compensation paid under State Disaster Relief Fund.
“District Administration moved a proposal making a very strong case for considering the border-firing lead migration and damages at par with calamities covered under State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) which is funded from National Disaster Response Fund and Deputy Commissioner Rajouri also made a detailed presentation before the Union Home Minister. The proposal was considered by a high level team headed by the Chief Secretary J&K and later approved after concurrence from MHA in a short time” said sources.
“After some formal communication about the proposal, MHA has finally given its nod to the new compensation policy and an order has also been received by district administration Rajouri,” sources informed.
With the approval of proposal formulated and projected by the Deputy Commissioner Rajouri the border migrants are not entitled for major compensation and relief, sources added.
“Border migrants at relief camps are entitled for Rs 1800/- (Adults) and Rs 1325/- (Child) for one month with no cap on maximum number of family members whereas damages to crops have been approved at the rate of Rs 37,500 per hectare ” sources informed.
“Compensation for loss of livestock has been approved as Rs 30,000 for large animals and Rs 3000 for small animals which will also prove highly supportive to border population as a large number of cattle die in firing and shelling ” sources informed.
“Livestock losses compensation include Rs 30,000 for large milch animals, Rs 25000 per animal for drought animals ,Rs 3000 for small animals and Rs 50 for poultry, compensation for damage of houses include Rs 1,01,900 for fully damaged pucca house and Rs 75,000 for partially damaged wheras Crop loss compensation is Rs 37,500 per hectare for crop loss and compensation for fodder for livestock has been fixed as Rs 70 per day for large animals and Rs 35 per day for small animals ” sources said.
Besides compensation for horticulture is input subsidy or Rs 6800/Ha unirrigated and Rs 135000/Ha irrigated area whereas Losses to Govt property as well as private property due to border firisng shall now be covered under SDRF, said sources quoting MHA approval.
District administration sources also disclosed that a major relief for border population has also come in the shape of compensation for loss of structure and the losses and damages of houses and household items have also been covered for compensation which was also a long pending demand.
“District Administration has accordingly formulated a proposal for Rs 5.17 Cr on account of relief camps, compensation, damages and losses.” said sources.
This has come as a major relief for the border residents . Hitherto the border residents were not receiving any compensation nor the expenditure incurred on camps was covered under any Head of budget and was managed by local administration.
Sources added that border population in all the districts of state will be entitled to this revised compensation schedule.
District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary confirmed to Greater Kashmir that proposal submitted by the district administration for coverage of relief and compensation in favour of border residents and migrants as per norms of State Disaster Relief Fund(SDRF) has been approved which will be a major relief for border residents who are often forced to migrate due to ceasefire violation.