'JK Govt begins relief distribution process for West Pakistan refugees

The Jammu and Kashmir government today launched the relief disbursement process for the refugees from West Pakistan, directing identification of the eligible beneficiaries.

Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma issued the directive at a meeting convened here to chart out a road map for according the relief to the West Pakistan refugees living in different parts of Jammu region, an official spokesman said today.

The divisional commissioner also asked the officials to take steps to apprise the refugees of the requirement of various documents for availing the relief.

The meeting was also attended by the refugees' representatives.

Verma also asked the revenue authorities concerned to conduct verification of the refugee families to ensure that the relief reaches the eligible persons and no genuine claimant is missed in the process, the spokesman said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced Rs 5.5 lakh aid for each of the West Pakistan refugee families at par with those from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Chhamb.

As per the official figures, a total of 5,764 West Pakistan refugee families are living in different districts of Jammu region.

Following a threadbare discussion on various issues, the spokesman said, the divisional commissioner also finalised for approval the draft scheme for disbursement of the relief to the refugees.

The meeting also reviewed the progress in disbursement of relief to the families displaced from the PoK.

The Centre had approved on December 20 last year a Rs 2000 crore-aid for the 36,384 displaced families under the Prime Minister's Development Package.