Last Updated on July 7, 2021 at 4:22 pm
West Pakistani Refugees (WPR) are still deprived off many schemes sponsored by the centre. The daughters of WPRs have not been benefitted from the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme as the officials are still demanding State subject to use the benefits of the scheme despite abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A.
Also WPRs have been kept away from the benefits of Prime Minister Awas Yojna and various other schemes.
Rajinder Kumar a WPR refugee from Bishnah said that for getting the benefit of the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme for his daughter born on 21/9/2019, he applied for the same. He added that he got the income certificate from Tehsildar but after reaching to the Child Development Programme Officer (CDPO) office Bishnah clerical staff asked him for State subject. Kumar further said that he had attached the domicile certificate but they kept demanding the State-subject to avail the benefit.
Another WPR Rajesh Kumar said that not only he but several other WPRs have been not given benefit of the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme.
It is pertinent to mention that under the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme every month UT administration deposits Rs 1000 in the bank account of the girl from Below Poverty Line (BPL/PHH) categories. When a girl becomes 21 years old, under this scheme she will get Rs. 5 lakh for her marriage.
Kewal Kumar, a WPR from Suchetgarh said that since he falls under BPL category, for constructing the house he applied for the financial help under the Prime Minister Awas Yojna but the authorities asked for the State-subject which he did not had.
President of West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee (WPRAC) 1947, Labba Ram said that it was most unfortunate that despite abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A, the WPRs were still not given benefit of several schemes including ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme, PM Awas Yojna, compensation for the land coming under Circular road.
Labba Ram said that he had met Lieutenant Governor on February 2 and informed about the refusal of the benefits of the ‘Ladli Beti’ scheme to the daughters of WPRs. “He had passed instructions to the then Chief Secretary but nothing has been done”, Labba Ram said. He further said that even the border firing WPR victims were denied any compensation under the scheme for firing victims.
Director General, Women and Child Development J&K, Mir Tariq didn’t pick up his phone for comments.
