Print ArticleEven after 60 years Government of India does not know the number of persons displaced from Pakistan Occupied part of Jammu and Kashmir State.
The displaced persons from area of Jammu and Kashmir as occupied by Pakistan have been the victim of neglect and technicalities. Most of the Pak Occupied area of J&K finally fell after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with independent Dominion of India .They have been suffering for last 58 years. They were under unimaginable distress, strain, confusion and horrible memories of the killings of their kins. The horror days took away their 3 decades before they could a little recover from the terrifying memories and think of their future plans and ways and means to recover the material losses they had suffered in 1947 including the properties left behind by them.
Majority of the people from POK are Hindu and those from Sikh Panth..
The Indian forces that landed in J&K on 27 October too were not able to protect them from the raiders nor did the Government of India show any preference for restoration of their homes. Most of the area of Jammu region fell to Pakistan after the State acceeded to India . Areas of Kashmir Region accept Muzaffarabad had been cleared by 10th November 1947. Where as Mirpur fell on 25 November 1947 and some areas fell even after 25 November 1947.
When parts of J&K were falling to enemy in 1947, relations of people in Mirpur met Jawahar Lal Nehru in the middle of November 1947 at Jammu for sending troops to Mirpur .But no timely action was taken.
Bachan Singh Panchi President of J&K Sharnarthi Action Committee met Mrs Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, in 1975 pleading for compensation and redressal of agonies of Displaced Persons from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Mrs Indira Gandhi too could not do any thing substantial. It was on August 2005 that a delegation of SOS International , an organization of POK Displaced persons, have met Manmohan Singh Delhi in Parliament House. The POK Displaced persons are helplessly looking for justice.
Those who came to Indian administered areas of J&K from POJK demanded the refugee status as was given to those coming from West Punjab ( Pakistan ).. Where as Government of India looked at their plight more in a technical manner. These unfortunate families though needed special treatments were not even given the minimum attention.
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah , the then Prime Minister of J&K, did realize their plight in 1950 itself and named them as Displaced Persons while issuing order No. 1476-C of 1950 Dated 16-12-1950 issued under his own signatures. While those who had left Jammu & Kashmir and gone to Pakistan ( west Punjab) on their own were termed as migrants in the same order. This clearly show that the conditions under which these people had to leave POJK were different than the conditions under which some Muslims left J&K for Pakistan . The people from POJK had been displaced by raiders from their own homes and had not left their houses in view of their having anticipated some temporary adverse social conditions .
DPs from POJ&K have not been given the due compensations for their properties left behind. Nor were they given any assistance or relief proportionate to the material and physical loss each individual family had suffered.
Government of India had been all these years saying that POK will be liberated and DPs will be able to go to their homes. All these years the POK Displaced persons have not been able to permanently plan their future in this part of J&K hoping that they would return to their areas. The education of their children has suffered. They have lost the count of the properties left behind by them. Many elders have left for their heavenly abode. The new generation ( al most third generation in some cases) has nearly no data and records of their properties left behind. In case they are now asked to give details, many will be standing at cross roads helplessly. For property and material that would cost Rs. 1000 in 1947 the compensation or claim of Rs. 1000 of 1947 would be worth atleast Rs. 300000 ( three lac ) in 2005. The social and mental distress they suffered in 1947 and there after in Independent India can not be compensated materially.
The State Government or the Government of India not even registered the particulars of their properties inspite of repeated requests since 1950s.
The claims have been denied to them under the plea by the GOI that if done so the claim of Government of India on POK will be lost. How funny, the same GOI even after passing of 22nd February 1994 resolution by Parliament of India for liberation of POK is this day conducting negotiations with Pakistan. Where as Pakistan is repeatedly declaring e that for Pakistan Kashmir is the Core issue of dispute.
Only assistance given to POK displaced persons was Rs. 3500 per family . But this assistance was provided only to those whose income in 1960 was less than Rs.300 per month and where the head of family had necessarily come with the family. Neither the GOI nor the J&K Government bothered to register the number count of those who came from POJK. Only registration that is available is the registration of applications for ex. gratia relief as ordered by GOI in 1960. Here too all were not eligible for submitting applications due to conditions kept for eligibility. Those who belonged to agricultural families were given agricultural lands on uniform basis irrespective of how much land they held in POK. The ex gratia amount was adjusted against the land allotment. Even the land allotments have been in complete till date.
A Petition addressed to The Council of States ( Rajya Sabha) Parliament of India was presented at a sitting of Rajya Sabha on 26 December 1978 by Sheikh Abdul Rehman as signed by Shri Bachan Singh Panchi President Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee and six others praying for settlement of problems of displaced persons uprooted from Pak Occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir. The petition was countersigned by Sh. Abdul Rehman Sheikh, Sh Jagdish Prashad Mathur, Smt. Mohinder Kour and Ghayoor Ali Khan , all sitting members of Rajya Sabha. In response to the petition Sixty Second report dated 11-04-1980 of the Committee on Petitions of Rajya Sabha headed by Sh. Bipinpal Das ( MP) was presented in Rajya Sabha on 13-06-1980. The replies and submissions made to Committee were the same repetition of plans of GOI to get POK vacated. Twenty five more years have passed . And POK Displaced persons are helplessly looking into the skies in their own Country.
As per letter No. RAHAB-9/II/79 dated 27-11-79 of Secretary to Government of J&K, Rehabilitation (1947) Department, Jammu in response to views sought by the Committee on Petitions vide communication a petition made to Rajaya Sabha by Persons uprooted from Pak occupied areas of J&K State in response to communication No. RS5 (18)/78-Com. II date 27 July, 1979 summarised that ( a) with the decision taken for the partition of The Country in two parts viz India and Pakistan, the communal disturbances Started the influx of refugees from POK as also from other parts of the country ( b) there was no department known as Rehabilitation Department in existence at that time © the Size of problem was enormous and It had not been foreseen Either by the State Government of the GOI. (d) no adequate arrangements to look after the DPs existed at that time (e) a large number of DPs went out side J&K State and out of those who remained with in the State a large number joined the Camps when those were established (f) where as others remained out side the camps (g) there was no agency to register these refugees immediately on their entry into the State. There was no formal; registration of these DPs, there fore (h) DPs who were admitted into the camps later on were registered and enumerated no doubt but those who remained outside , their registration was done only when they submitted applications for rehabilitation benefits like loans/ land/ quarters/ lots (i) the only registration therefore, which may be taken as correct should be that made on the basis of declaration forms filed in response to notice inviting applications for ex gratia grant which scheme was sanctioned by the GOI in 1960. The number of such families is 31619 number. So strangely still as per note furnished by Ministry of Supply and Rehabilitation ( Department of Rehabilitation ) GOI in 1978 to Rajya Sabha Committee on petitions as a result of Partition of the country followed by subsequent Pakistani aggression about 31600 ( about 135000 persons) families had left their homes from Pak occupied areas of J&K State where as no exercise was done to register the number of total displaced persons. No public notice was issued in this regard as per the information available.
The POJK displaced persons were becoming restless and representing to J&K Government. Looking at the ground realities Government of Jammu & Kashmir had been making requests to GOI for registration of Property claims and payment of some equivalent compensations or grants if not in the shape of claims for property lost. It was in 1978 that Government of J&K suggested to GOI for registration of claims on the properties left behind by the POK Displaced persons since it was a fact that there appeared very less hope for the return of POJK displaced persons. homes. Discussions were held by Chief Minister of J&K State with the Union Minister of Works, Housing , Supply and Rehabilitation in August 1978. The J&K State Government represented to the GOI that in view of the facts that even the areas recaptured by India in wars of 1965 and 1971 were given back to Pakistan; Chhamb areas which fell on our Side of the ceasefire line have also been handed over to Pakistan; and ceasefire line has been replaced byline of actual control , the question f taking over Pakistan held areas ( POJK) would seem to be unrealistic. The State Government had further said that even if it is it is assumed that these areas may be taken back , it may not be possible for Mirpur displaced persons to go back and settle there since after construction of Mangla Dam by Pakistan Mirpur town along with the large adjoining areas have been submerged under water. But the Government of India repeated that POK is apart of India but it is under the illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan..
Government of India has not so far agreed even to register the list of properties left behind what to talk of claims. Government of India fears that even any registration of claims/ losses of the refugees from POK would certainly bring in the question of possibility of eventual compensation for the properties left in POK area. Any action to register the claims could give rise to the feeling that Government have given up the hope for the return of the territory held by Pakistan.]
The Committee on petitions of Rajaya Sabha submitted its report on 13-06-1980 . The Committee had very passionately assessed the grievances of the POK DPs. It is now 27 years after the committee submitted its report but still the innocent families those had great faith in GOI are helplessly looking at skies. Since the interim commitments and demand have not been fulfilled by GOI, the exercise should be done a new, Through a general notice applications be sought from all those who came from POK for registration to know the exact number. Details of properties be obtained and got confirmed from Government of POK and the Grant be given for lands and properties to all those affected at he prices prevailing in 2008 since the DPs have already waited for 60 years .
(*Daya Sagar Author is a leading coloumnist and a writer on Kashmir affairs)
The displaced persons from area of Jammu and Kashmir as occupied by Pakistan have been the victim of neglect and technicalities. Most of the Pak Occupied area of J&K finally fell after Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with independent Dominion of India .They have been suffering for last 58 years. They were under unimaginable distress, strain, confusion and horrible memories of the killings of their kins. The horror days took away their 3 decades before they could a little recover from the terrifying memories and think of their future plans and ways and means to recover the material losses they had suffered in 1947 including the properties left behind by them.
Majority of the people from POK are Hindu and those from Sikh Panth..
The Indian forces that landed in J&K on 27 October too were not able to protect them from the raiders nor did the Government of India show any preference for restoration of their homes. Most of the area of Jammu region fell to Pakistan after the State acceeded to India . Areas of Kashmir Region accept Muzaffarabad had been cleared by 10th November 1947. Where as Mirpur fell on 25 November 1947 and some areas fell even after 25 November 1947.
When parts of J&K were falling to enemy in 1947, relations of people in Mirpur met Jawahar Lal Nehru in the middle of November 1947 at Jammu for sending troops to Mirpur .But no timely action was taken.
Bachan Singh Panchi President of J&K Sharnarthi Action Committee met Mrs Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India, in 1975 pleading for compensation and redressal of agonies of Displaced Persons from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. Mrs Indira Gandhi too could not do any thing substantial. It was on August 2005 that a delegation of SOS International , an organization of POK Displaced persons, have met Manmohan Singh Delhi in Parliament House. The POK Displaced persons are helplessly looking for justice.
Those who came to Indian administered areas of J&K from POJK demanded the refugee status as was given to those coming from West Punjab ( Pakistan ).. Where as Government of India looked at their plight more in a technical manner. These unfortunate families though needed special treatments were not even given the minimum attention.
Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah , the then Prime Minister of J&K, did realize their plight in 1950 itself and named them as Displaced Persons while issuing order No. 1476-C of 1950 Dated 16-12-1950 issued under his own signatures. While those who had left Jammu & Kashmir and gone to Pakistan ( west Punjab) on their own were termed as migrants in the same order. This clearly show that the conditions under which these people had to leave POJK were different than the conditions under which some Muslims left J&K for Pakistan . The people from POJK had been displaced by raiders from their own homes and had not left their houses in view of their having anticipated some temporary adverse social conditions .
DPs from POJ&K have not been given the due compensations for their properties left behind. Nor were they given any assistance or relief proportionate to the material and physical loss each individual family had suffered.
Government of India had been all these years saying that POK will be liberated and DPs will be able to go to their homes. All these years the POK Displaced persons have not been able to permanently plan their future in this part of J&K hoping that they would return to their areas. The education of their children has suffered. They have lost the count of the properties left behind by them. Many elders have left for their heavenly abode. The new generation ( al most third generation in some cases) has nearly no data and records of their properties left behind. In case they are now asked to give details, many will be standing at cross roads helplessly. For property and material that would cost Rs. 1000 in 1947 the compensation or claim of Rs. 1000 of 1947 would be worth atleast Rs. 300000 ( three lac ) in 2005. The social and mental distress they suffered in 1947 and there after in Independent India can not be compensated materially.
The State Government or the Government of India not even registered the particulars of their properties inspite of repeated requests since 1950s.
The claims have been denied to them under the plea by the GOI that if done so the claim of Government of India on POK will be lost. How funny, the same GOI even after passing of 22nd February 1994 resolution by Parliament of India for liberation of POK is this day conducting negotiations with Pakistan. Where as Pakistan is repeatedly declaring e that for Pakistan Kashmir is the Core issue of dispute.
Only assistance given to POK displaced persons was Rs. 3500 per family . But this assistance was provided only to those whose income in 1960 was less than Rs.300 per month and where the head of family had necessarily come with the family. Neither the GOI nor the J&K Government bothered to register the number count of those who came from POJK. Only registration that is available is the registration of applications for ex. gratia relief as ordered by GOI in 1960. Here too all were not eligible for submitting applications due to conditions kept for eligibility. Those who belonged to agricultural families were given agricultural lands on uniform basis irrespective of how much land they held in POK. The ex gratia amount was adjusted against the land allotment. Even the land allotments have been in complete till date.
A Petition addressed to The Council of States ( Rajya Sabha) Parliament of India was presented at a sitting of Rajya Sabha on 26 December 1978 by Sheikh Abdul Rehman as signed by Shri Bachan Singh Panchi President Jammu Kashmir Sharnarthi Action Committee and six others praying for settlement of problems of displaced persons uprooted from Pak Occupied areas of Jammu & Kashmir. The petition was countersigned by Sh. Abdul Rehman Sheikh, Sh Jagdish Prashad Mathur, Smt. Mohinder Kour and Ghayoor Ali Khan , all sitting members of Rajya Sabha. In response to the petition Sixty Second report dated 11-04-1980 of the Committee on Petitions of Rajya Sabha headed by Sh. Bipinpal Das ( MP) was presented in Rajya Sabha on 13-06-1980. The replies and submissions made to Committee were the same repetition of plans of GOI to get POK vacated. Twenty five more years have passed . And POK Displaced persons are helplessly looking into the skies in their own Country.
As per letter No. RAHAB-9/II/79 dated 27-11-79 of Secretary to Government of J&K, Rehabilitation (1947) Department, Jammu in response to views sought by the Committee on Petitions vide communication a petition made to Rajaya Sabha by Persons uprooted from Pak occupied areas of J&K State in response to communication No. RS5 (18)/78-Com. II date 27 July, 1979 summarised that ( a) with the decision taken for the partition of The Country in two parts viz India and Pakistan, the communal disturbances Started the influx of refugees from POK as also from other parts of the country ( b) there was no department known as Rehabilitation Department in existence at that time © the Size of problem was enormous and It had not been foreseen Either by the State Government of the GOI. (d) no adequate arrangements to look after the DPs existed at that time (e) a large number of DPs went out side J&K State and out of those who remained with in the State a large number joined the Camps when those were established (f) where as others remained out side the camps (g) there was no agency to register these refugees immediately on their entry into the State. There was no formal; registration of these DPs, there fore (h) DPs who were admitted into the camps later on were registered and enumerated no doubt but those who remained outside , their registration was done only when they submitted applications for rehabilitation benefits like loans/ land/ quarters/ lots (i) the only registration therefore, which may be taken as correct should be that made on the basis of declaration forms filed in response to notice inviting applications for ex gratia grant which scheme was sanctioned by the GOI in 1960. The number of such families is 31619 number. So strangely still as per note furnished by Ministry of Supply and Rehabilitation ( Department of Rehabilitation ) GOI in 1978 to Rajya Sabha Committee on petitions as a result of Partition of the country followed by subsequent Pakistani aggression about 31600 ( about 135000 persons) families had left their homes from Pak occupied areas of J&K State where as no exercise was done to register the number of total displaced persons. No public notice was issued in this regard as per the information available.
The POJK displaced persons were becoming restless and representing to J&K Government. Looking at the ground realities Government of Jammu & Kashmir had been making requests to GOI for registration of Property claims and payment of some equivalent compensations or grants if not in the shape of claims for property lost. It was in 1978 that Government of J&K suggested to GOI for registration of claims on the properties left behind by the POK Displaced persons since it was a fact that there appeared very less hope for the return of POJK displaced persons. homes. Discussions were held by Chief Minister of J&K State with the Union Minister of Works, Housing , Supply and Rehabilitation in August 1978. The J&K State Government represented to the GOI that in view of the facts that even the areas recaptured by India in wars of 1965 and 1971 were given back to Pakistan; Chhamb areas which fell on our Side of the ceasefire line have also been handed over to Pakistan; and ceasefire line has been replaced byline of actual control , the question f taking over Pakistan held areas ( POJK) would seem to be unrealistic. The State Government had further said that even if it is it is assumed that these areas may be taken back , it may not be possible for Mirpur displaced persons to go back and settle there since after construction of Mangla Dam by Pakistan Mirpur town along with the large adjoining areas have been submerged under water. But the Government of India repeated that POK is apart of India but it is under the illegal and forcible occupation of Pakistan..
Government of India has not so far agreed even to register the list of properties left behind what to talk of claims. Government of India fears that even any registration of claims/ losses of the refugees from POK would certainly bring in the question of possibility of eventual compensation for the properties left in POK area. Any action to register the claims could give rise to the feeling that Government have given up the hope for the return of the territory held by Pakistan.]
The Committee on petitions of Rajaya Sabha submitted its report on 13-06-1980 . The Committee had very passionately assessed the grievances of the POK DPs. It is now 27 years after the committee submitted its report but still the innocent families those had great faith in GOI are helplessly looking at skies. Since the interim commitments and demand have not been fulfilled by GOI, the exercise should be done a new, Through a general notice applications be sought from all those who came from POK for registration to know the exact number. Details of properties be obtained and got confirmed from Government of POK and the Grant be given for lands and properties to all those affected at he prices prevailing in 2008 since the DPs have already waited for 60 years .
(*Daya Sagar Author is a leading coloumnist and a writer on Kashmir affairs)
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