HC seeks Centre, Delhi govt reply on Kashmiri migrants plea

The Delhi High Court today sought responses of the Centre and the city government on a plea by Kashmiri migrants that a policy for their rehabilitation, including providing them means of livelihood, be framed.
Justice Vibhu Bakhru issued notices to the Union Home Ministry, the Lt Governor and Delhi Development Authority (DDA), seeking their replies on the petition of the migrants who have also sought grant of status of internally displaced persons (IDP).
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 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 as well as offered cash relief which has been capped at Rs 1650 per person per month subject to maximum of Rs 6600 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 of Delhi, they are shifted from one place to another whenever any development work is carried out in those areas.

The plea, filed through advocate J M Kalia, has said that 24 years have passed since the over 19,000 Kashmiri families came to Delhi but till date they have been treated as "temporary migrants".
It has alleged the government has "failed" to frame a policy for permanent settlement of Kashmiri migrants.
They have also sought compensation for the belongings and property left behind or dispossessed of at the time of their displacement.