Centre, Delhi’s reply sought on Kashmiri migrants plea

In their petition, the migrants have contended that ever since they fled from Kashmir in 1990, owing to militancy, there has been no permanent policy for their rehabilitation, including providing them housing, education and healthcare facilities and means to a livelihood.
They have alleged that only “half-hearted” measures have been taken by the government, which in 2001 launched a housing scheme only for those living in camps. The government also offered cash relief which has been capped at Rs 1,650 per person per month, subject to maximum of Rs 6,600 per family of four per month.

In their petition, Kashmiri migrants Pamposh Raina and Sanjay Kaul have contended that while some of them are permitted to carry out business temporarily on pavements in various colonies, they are shifted from one place to another whenever development work is carried out in those areas.

The plea, filed through advocate J M Kalia, said 24 years have passed since over 19,000 Kashmiri families came to Delhi, but till date they are treated as “temporary migrants”.

It has alleged that the government has “failed” to frame a policy for permanent settlement of Kashmiri migrants.