Srinagar: The state government is mulling to issue backward certificates to the migrant Kashmiris who are currently residing in different parts of the country and the state.
Commissioner Secretary to the government, Khurshid Ahmad in an order available with ‘Kashmir Vision’ vide number 295-GAD of 2018, dated 21-02-2018 has constituted a three member committee comprising Administrative Secretary, GAD as convener, Administrative Secretary, Social Welfare department and Administrative Secretary, department of Law, justice and parliamentary affairs as members.
The committee as per the order has been constituted for critical examination/analyzing the issue regarding issuance of Backward Area Certificate in favour of migrants by amending Rule 21 of the J&K Reservation Rules notified vide SRO-294 of 2005.
The order further stated that the committee shall be serviced by the social welfare department.
However, experts say that the order is an open discrimination against those who have been living in Kashmir and have been deprived of any such facility.
According to the figures available, at least 38,119 migrant families comprising 1,42,424 members are currently residing in Jammu region, which includes Kashmiri pandits, Muslims, and Sikhs as well.
The figures reveal that out of total migrant families, 24202 are Pandit families, 2168 are Muslim families while 1749 are belonging to the Sikh community.
Sources said out of these families, 17248 families are currently being provided various forms of benefits in the form of relief by the government while as 20871 families are not getting any kind of assistance from the government.
The statistics further reveal that 19338 migrant Kashmiris families are also living in Delhi while 1995 families are living in other states of India.
Meanwhile, a senior official wishing anonymity told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that the Kashmiri migrants residing in ‘Reserved and Backward Areas’ only (RBA) in Kashmir will be provided backward certificates.
He also informed that the backward certificates will not be provided to every Kashmir migrant.
“After proper examination, the backward certificate will be issued in favour of those Kashmiri migrants who were earlier residing in Backward areas in various parts of Kashmir valley,” he said.
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