Question : COMPENSATION TO REFUGEES OF 1947

(a) whether the Government had assured relief/compensation to the refugees of 1947 in the past but the same has not yet been granted;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to expedite relief measures to them?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MANIKRAO HODLYA GAVIT)

(a)to(c): The Displaced Persons (Compensation & Rehabilitation) Act, 1954 and related Acts were enacted to rehabilitate displaced persons from former West Pakistan as a result of partition in 1947. These Acts empowered the Central Government to frame rules and prescribe scales for payment of compensation to different classes of displaced persons. Work of compensation and rehabilitation of these displaced persons was undertaken as per the provisions of these Acts.

Various measures were undertaken to provide relief and rehabilitation to displaced persons from erstwhile East Pakistan who came to India as a result of partition in 1947. These displaced persons were given food, clothing, shelter, medical aid and were accommodated in relief camps till they could rehabilitate themselves. Various schemes were also sanctioned involving acquisition of agricultural and homestead lands. Loans were advanced for land purchase, small trade, business, educational, medical and employment facilities as per prescribed scales of rehabilitation. The squatters` colonies where thousands of families squatted when forced by circumstances, were also regularised.

In the wake of Pakistani aggression in Jammu & Kashmir in 1947, a large number of families migrated from Pak occupied area of Kashmir (PoK) to India. In order to mitigate hardship of these displaced persons, relief assistance from time to time was provided to them since 1947-48, and the latest relief package was announced in 2000, which includes ex-gratia, cash compensation in lieu of land deficiency and allotment of plots.