Projects worth Rs 7 crore approved for welfare of Kashmiri migrants in Jammu
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday sanctioned key infrastructure projects worth Rs 7.05 crore aimed at strengthening facilities and enhancing welfare measures for Kashmiri migrants residing in Jammu.
The approved projects include the construction of a multipurpose community hall at Migrant Camp Muthi, Jammu, which will also accommodate a library and dedicated shops for self-help groups (SHGs), an official spokesperson said here.
He said the initiative is intended to strengthen community engagement, promote livelihood opportunities and enhance social support systems within the migrant camp.
In addition, approval has been accorded for the construction of a new office building for the relief and rehabilitation commissioner (migrants), Jammu, the spokesperson said.
The total technically vetted cost of the sanctioned works stands at Rs 7.05 crore, to be executed under the regular capex budget, subject to fulfilment of all codal formalities, financial norms and prescribed procedures, according to the official.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting to review and address various issues pertaining to the employees serving in the Kashmir Division under a prime minister’s employment package.
He instructed the relief commissioner (migrants) to ensure that all completed accommodations are taken over by the eligible employees under the package by the end of July this year without fail.
The chief secretary also reviewed the status of flats under construction at various sites.
He examined the status of allied infrastructure and utility services including electricity, drinking water supply, internal road connectivity, boundary walls and sewage treatment plants to ensure that the colonies are fully functional and habitable.
The meeting also discussed plans for operation and maintenance of the transit accommodations as well as migrant colonies in Jammu. Deliberations were held on creation of additional accommodation facilities in Jammu, with land identified at Purkhoo for expansion, officials said.
Reviewing the service-related issues of the prime minister’s package employees, the chief secretary took stock of matters concerning promotions, preparation of seniority lists and inter-district transfers within the Kashmir Division.
Several other issues concerning the welfare and rehabilitation of displaced persons were also discussed. These included cases under the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS) relating to deceased employees, provision of adequate budgetary support for operation and maintenance of migrant colonies by line departments, and development of an integrated online portal for digitisation of records of displaced communities including Kashmiri Pandits, West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) and families displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Principal Secretary, Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Chandraker Bharti gave the meeting a comprehensive overview of the rehabilitation and resettlement initiatives being undertaken by the department.
The department has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for operation and maintenance of migrant colonies across Jammu and Kashmir divisions and works would be taken up after completion of the requisite formalities, he said.
He apprised the meeting that the PoJK Bhawan at Suketar has achieved nearly 50 percent physical progress and is targeted for completion by January next year.
Relief Commissioner (Migrants) Arvind Karwani, informed the meeting that out of the sanctioned 6,000 transit flats for the prime minister’s package employees, 4,648 flats have been completed while construction of the remaining 1,352 flats is in progress.
