West Pakistan refugees seek domicile right in J-K

West Pakistani refugees today urged the Centre to grant them domicile right in Jammu and Kashmir, and sought a special package for rehabilitation in the state besides a host of other benefits.
The demands were placed by a delegation of West Pakistani Refugees during their meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh here.
The charter of demands included citizenship right in Jammu and Kashmir, special package for rehabilitation in the state, right to vote and contest state Assembly elections, among others.
Allotment of land, special recruitment, right to education in technical/professional institutions, issuance of SC/OBC certificates are the other key demands of the team, an official release said.

The delegation also sought the appointment of a Relief Commissioner for West Pakistani Refugees to look into and redress their grievances.
While appreciating the sentiments of the members of the delegation, the Home Minister assured them that he will look into the matter and take necessary action.

Singh said the Home Ministry has appointed a nodal officer to exclusively coordinate with the refugee community for redressal of their day to day issues.
The Home Ministry is working on a suitable provision to overcome the problems faced by the West Pakistani refugees in terms of non-issuance of SC/ST/ OBC certificates by the state government, he said.

The West Pakistani refugees settled in Jammu and Kashmir are citizens of India and they have the right to vote in Parliamentary elections.
However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the state Assembly and local bodies.
No separate proposal is under consideration of the
government to recruit the children of West Pakistani Refugees (WPRs) in paramilitary forces, the Home Ministry release said.
However, these children were allowed to be recruited in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) without the condition of having domicile certificate from the designated authority of the state.

Other proof such as names in the Parliamentary voter list, are to be taken as evidence of their being refugees from West Pakistan and the certificate issued by the village Numberdar/ Sarpanch can be accepted and taken into account for the purpose of recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles against the quota of Jammu and Kashmir.
The children of these refugees are eligible to apply against the vacancies in paramilitary forces earmarked for the state, it said.
In the wake of the Pakistani aggression in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, about 5,764 families who migrated from the then West Pakistan are residing mainly in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu division.

The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region and Personnel Jitendra Singh and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi were present when the delegation met the Home Minister.