JAMMU, Oct 31: The Jammu and Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee (JKSAC) on Friday held a prominent meeting at Unique Public School, Upper Gadigarh, Jammu, under the chairmanship of its President, Gurdev Singh, with participation from senior members, representatives from different districts of Jammu Division and other prominent persons.
Addressing the gathering, Gurdev Singh highlighted the long-pending issues and legitimate demands of the displaced persons of 1947 from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), which the Committee has been pursuing with the Government of India and the J&K Government for several decades.
The meeting held detailed deliberations on the implementation of recommendations of the Joint Parliamentary Committees (JPCs) and the immediate release of the remaining compensation under the interim package of Rs 25 lakh for each displaced family of 1947. The participants expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in disbursement of the pending amount and urged the authorities to release the balance compensation without further delay.
The gathering unanimously approved a Seven-Point Charter of Demands to be submitted to the Government of India and the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, seeking concrete measures to address the political, social and economic aspirations of the displaced families and ensure their dignified livelihood and future development.
The charter includes implementation of JPC recommendations; release of the balance amount of Rs 25 lakh compensation to each 1947 PoJK displaced family; grant of ST-2 Pahari status to eligible displaced families possessing Form-A (ALAF) and allied migration documents, along with their descendants; and defreezing of 10 out of the 24 Assembly seats reserved for areas of J&K under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, with representation for displaced persons from the erstwhile Poonch, Muzaffarabad and Mirpur districts.
Other demands include reservation in government jobs and admissions to professional courses within and outside J&K on the pattern of Kashmiri Migrants; monthly financial assistance and other facilities at par with internally displaced Kashmiri Migrants; and constitution of a dedicated Relief and Rehabilitation Board for 1947 PoJK displaced persons to safeguard their human, political and economic rights.
The participants also expressed resentment over what they described as the discriminatory and stepmotherly treatment meted out to the externally displaced families of 1947. They pointed out that while internally displaced Kashmiri Migrants have been provided various relief measures, incentives and facilities, including protection of their legal rights over properties, similar safeguards and benefits have not been extended to the PoJK displaced families.
Gurdev Singh stressed that the demands of the 1947 displaced community deserved serious consideration and a time-bound response from the authorities. He maintained that the community should not be deprived of its legitimate rights and entitlements after decades of struggle for justice and rehabilitation.
The meeting also discussed the need to constitute a dedicated task force of JKSAC to establish coordination with other organisations and groups working on similar issues, with the objective of bringing them under a common platform and building a united movement for the cause of PoJK displaced persons.
Special emphasis was laid on involving the younger generation in the movement by creating awareness about the history, identity and roots of the displaced community, particularly its ancestral connections with different areas of PoJK presently under Pakistan’s illegal occupation.
The participants resolved to carry forward the struggle through collective efforts and sustained engagement with the authorities until the legitimate demands of the 1947 displaced families are addressed and their political, social and economic rights are secured.