Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir BJP on Friday submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a clutch of demands, including Rs five lakh ex-gratia payment for the kin of those killed in Pakistan firing and construction of safe shelter camps for border migrants.
"We have submitted a memorandum on the demands concerning border migrants to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with copies to Union Home Minister and Defence Minister," BJP state chief and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said today.
Sharma, in the said memorandum, has expressed grave concern over unprovoked firing from Pakistan and the loss of lives, injuries, death of life stock and resultant migration of the people.
"We sought an immediate action by the Prime Minister on few proposals, which include enhancement of ex-gratia payment to Rs five lakh from Rs one Lakh, construction of safe shelter camps for border migrants, incentive for border area residents, comprehensive insurance scheme and special recruitment drive for border youth," Sharma said.
The memorandum said that the current compensation of Rs one lakh to the kin of the deceased is "too meagre" and needs to be enhanced. "It should be Rs 5 lakh, on par with the victims of terror violence," it said.
It further said that apart from constructing bunkers near their residences, there is a need to construct safe shelter camps at a reasonably safe distance (six to seven kms).
The camps must be made in clusters for different sectors and should comprise of two-room pre fab shelters with a bathroom and kitchen.
"Open space close to the camps must be earmarked for the cattle. The state government should be asked to provide lands, and the shelters must be constructed under BADP by Central Government," as per the memorandum.
As far as incentive to border area residents, it said that the JK government provides a number of incentives to the residents of areas close to Line of Control (LoC).
These include reservation in government jobs, police recruitment and admission in professional colleges. However, the residents of border (IB) areas are denied these benefits, it said.
"The living conditions on the IB and LoC are equally tough and there is no justification in this discrimination. The border residents of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts should be provided all the incentives and benefits given to the residents of LoC," it said.
On the issue of Comprehensive Insurance Scheme, it said that the residents of the border areas are mostly displaced people from Chhamb who have been settled in these villages in 1947, 65 and 71.
Farming is their main occupation.
However, due to frequent firing and shelling either their crops get damaged or they are unable to sow/harvest in time, it said.
"To mitigate their sufferings a comprehensive insurance scheme for border residents needs to be launched. It should cover loss of life, limb, live-stock, shelter and crop due to enemy action or own mine fields and restrictions laid by security forces," according to the memorandum.
BJP also called for special recruitment camps for border residents twice a year.
