JAMMU: Urging migrants to update ration cards, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner J&K Dr. Arvind Karwani said that the process is mandatory for to reap the benefits from GOI and J&K Government schemes.
In an exclusive interview on The NEWS NOW, Tarika Mahajan Assistant Editor engages with Dr. Arvind Karwani Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner J&K.
Detailing about the significance of integrating ration cards on NAFSA, Dr Arvind Karwani also apprised about various Govt-centric policies for Kashmiri Migrants.
- Please shed light on incumbent situation of Kashmiri Migrants?
Answer. We have 48,000 families registered in J&K under the aegis of Relief Organisation J&K. Among them majority is of Kashmiri migrant families who amount to 47,000 in number and 1,000 families are of Jammu migrants. Relief assistance is given to 21,000 families and rest are non-relief families – the Government employees – who are also beneficiaries of various facilities. Apart from them, the families which migrated from Kashmir to other places apart from J&K are 20,000 families. Approximately, 70,000 migrant families are around the country which are beneficiaries of umpteen Government schemes.
Q. What are the facilities provided to people living in camps by the department?
Answer. There are four camps in Jammu, Jagti township which is the largest among them accommodates 4,100 flats wherein 5,000 families are residing. Other camps are in Nagrota, Muthi and Purkhoo where basic essential facilities are imparted at par with general people in the district. In these camps, three departments Jal Shakti, JKPDCL and Public Works Department pander to the needs of people.
Q. People would like to know about NAFSA which is debating point now-a-days.
Answer. As per NAFSA (National Food Security Act) the rations cards pan India have to be digitized. All ration cards should be uploaded on the database of NAFSA so that people avail the requisite benefits. In the current time, to avail the benefits of all the schemes of Government of India (GOI), it is imperative to get ration card digitised and integrated to national portal. There are two types of categories – Relief and Non-relief, if someone has less income than Rs 75,000 will be categorized in Priority House Hold (PHH) and will get ration at controlled rates. Scores of migrants said that they are unable to reap the benefits from GOI and J&K Government schemes and this was because their ration card wasn’t digitized.
Q. J&K has transformed owing to Digitization. Has it lessened the work of Government Departments?
Answer. The incumbent Government believes in door-step delivery. We issue Migrant Certificate, Domicile Certificate, RBA Certificates and other certificates which are available on our portal. There is no need for people to travel as Digitization has ensured easier access to various services. Besides, time-bound redressal of grievances is ensured on Samadhan Portal of the department.
Q. Elaborate about policies and programmes for Kashmiri Migrants.
Answer. Cash assistance to a total of 21,000 families is provided by the Government. Besides, when ration cards are integrated then we will provide facilities as per the fundamentals of priority households and non-priority household.
Q. Please shed light on Prime Minister Package.
Answer. PM package is a component wherein approx 6,000 employees were recruited in different departments in Kashmir valley since 2010. As many as 20 different locations are across the districts in valley wherein work on accommodations in full swing. And work on around 50 percent of accommodations has been completed and in the meantime more residential flats are being made to ensure settlement of more people.
