The Jammu and Kashmir state government on Friday approved the financial package for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Chamb refugees to the tune of Rs 9,096 crore, with Rs 25 lakh being distributed to each family.
PoK refugees, who had crossed over to Indian side during the partition and the Indo-Pak wars, had been demanding relief and rehabilitation from the government for the last 67 years.
Nearly 36,000 families are presently registered as PoK refugees. The Centre had asked the state government to give them a proposal for relief and rehabilitation, resulting in the state government approving this proposal.
Also approved as part of the package is a two per cent reservation for children of PoK refugees in education institutions and an employment package.
The PoK refugees see this proposal as a historic decision and are very hopeful that Centre will also approve the pending purpose at the earliest
