A deputation of “West Pakistan Refugees Action Committee” led by its President, Labha Ram Gandhi called on the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh here today and sought his intervention for redressal of their long pending issues and grievances. Shri Gandhi said that they have great expectations from the present State government in Jammu & Kashmir. The deputation also handed over a detailed memorandum to Dr. Jitendra Singh.
Dr. Jitendra Singh gave them a patient hearing and said that both the Centre as well as the State Government are committed to ensure that the West Pakistan Refugees get all the benefits and privileges which they have been denied over the last six decades. He said the Government will also explore the feasibility of setting up an exclusive nodal cell or Welfare Board for dealing with issues related to refugees.
Referring to different groups of refugees in Jammu & Kashmir, Dr. Jitendra Singh said, besides the West Pakistan refugees, the State also has refugees from Pak-occupied Jammu & Kashmir, displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and refugees uprooted in the aftermath of Indo-Pak wars and terrorism. He said, each of these groups of displaced people has its different set of peculiar grievances and requirements, and the government is working on a plan to separately address the respective issues related to each of these groups.