Government approves financial assistance of Rs. 5.5 lakh per family to West Pakistan Refugees settled in J&K

The Union Government has approved financial assistance amounting to Rs. 5.5 lakh per family to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs). It will benefit 5,764 families of WPRs settled in Jammu and Kashmir.

Key Facts

The scheme comes into effect from June 2018. The amount of Rs. 5.5 lakh per family will be deposited in bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries based on authentication by State Government. For smooth implementation of the scheme, the State Government will also appoint Nodal Officer for this scheme. Full expenditure for this scheme will be borne by Central Government.

Background

In the aftermath of partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, thousands of families from Pakistan occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir (PoJK) had migrated to India from then West Pakistan. Central Government and J&K state Government have been extending series of relief and rehabilitation packages to WPRs from time to time to mitigate the hardship of displaced persons and to rehabilitate them.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2018