(a) whether the Government have prepared any rehabilitation plan for the security of the people of the villages located along the border in Jammu and Kashmir;
(b) if so, the details in this regard;
(c) whether these villagers are compelled to leave their villages due to insecurity and cross border firing in the State;
(d) if so, the number of villagers who left their villages during 2000, 2001 and 2002, till date; and
(e) the estimate regarding loss of property these people suffered?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI CH. VIDYASAGAR RAO)
(a)to(e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.327 FOR 16TH APRIL 2002
(a)to(d): State Government has informed that no villager was compelled to leave his village due to cross-border firing and resultant insecurity during 2000. However, in 2001, after the December 13 attack on Parliament and the resultant military build-up along the Line of Control/International Border, migration did take place from the border areas. State Government has further informed that, till date, 63196 persons have migrated from the border areas/LoC of the Districts of Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu and Kathua. In addition, there are about 6040 border migrant families in Akhnoor Tehsil belonging to villages which are situated very close to the border. These families had migrated in the wake of Indo-Pak hostilities in Kargil and cross-border shelling/firing in Jammu and Kathua in May/June 1999; and have not been able to return because their lands are very vulnerable to Pak firing/shelling and are on the traditional invasion route of Pak.
The State Government has announced a relief package for the above mentioned border migrants comprising free Ration (@ 9 Kgs. ( 7 Kgs. atta and 2 Kgs rice in Jammu Division and 7 Kgs rice and 2 Kgs atta in Kashmir Division ) per person per month; free Kerosene oil @ 10 litres per family per month; cash amount @ Rs.200/- per person per month; free medical aid to all the displaced persons; Rs.200/- per family per month for fodder in those areas which have been mined as identified by respective Deputy Commissioners; and free ration at the sanctioned scale at the place of residence in case any of the migrants wish to return. In addition, Rs.10 crores have been released from NDF for purchase of tents and providing civic amenities in the camps set up for border migrants at various places.
As informed by the State Government, no proposal for rehabilitation of people of the border villages is under consideration as the migration is temporary and the villagers are expected to go back as and when situation improves. In fact, these border migrants, with a few exceptions, have left behind their cattle and other moveable property in their respective villages and one or two responsible persons from each family are staying back in the villages to look after the animals/property. Even in those cases where the entire family has migrated, the men folk regularly go back to their villages which are only a few Kilomiters away from the camps to feed their cattle and look after other moveable property.
(e): The Ministry of Defence has announced a scheme to pay ex-gratia compensation to people/farmers in the border areas of the States of J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat in view of damages that occurred to standing crops, fruit trees, orchards, fences, sheds, agricultural property during the preparatory stage of defensive preparations/movement of Armed Forces in border areas and for land occupied and mined by the Army authorities. Government of J&K has been requested to furnish details of actual losses. However, State Government has reported that survey is not feasible at present in view of the deployment of armed forces and security situation in the border area.