WPRs to get Rs 5.50 per family as J-K govt gives nod to scheme

The Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday gave nod to the adoption and notification of a scheme for West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs), under which a financial assistance of Rs 5.50 lakh will be provided to each family.

The decision to this effect was taken at the State Advisory Council which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, an official spokesman said.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had in June, 2018, conveyed its approval to the proposal for providing one-time financial assistance amounting to Rs 5.50 lakh per family to 5,764 families of WPRs settled in J-K, he said.

The spokesman said the expenditure incurred on the scheme would be borne by the Centre.

The amount of Rs 5.50 lakh per family will be disbursed directly into their bank accounts based on the authentication by the state government, he said.

The divisional commissioner Jammu has been designated as nodal officer for the smooth implementation of the scheme after proper verification of the families of West Pakistan Refugees, the spokesman said.

The scheme shall be executed through deputy commissioners (DCs), who for this purpose shall be declared as 'Designated Authority' in the district. There shall be a 'Designated Committee' comprising the DC as chairman and assistant commissioner revenue, SDM, tehsildar concerned and any other member to be co-opted by the committee, he said.

The WPRs shall be asked to produce requisite documents to establish their claim as West Pakistani Displaced Persons of 1947 or soon thereafter, he added.