Author: Pioneer News Service
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: January 24, 2008
The Centre has decided to provide a relief package
to the dependents of militants killed in encounters with security forces in
Jammu andKashmir.
The decision, which is first of its kind in
India, will cover hundreds of families whose men took up guns and led the Pakistan-backed
separatist movement killing and maiming thousands of innocent civilians and
men of security forces.
According to a PTI report, besides a relief
package for the dependents of the militants, the Government will also come out
with an aid package for the Kashmir pandits.
The twin measures were finalised at a meeting
convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to evolve a "blueprint for a
new future" in Jammu and Kashmir.
The agency quoting official sources said the
high-level meeting also firmed up steps for easing travel between the two parts
of Kashmir and decided to take up the matter with Pakistan at the earliest.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Jammu and
Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and National Security Advisor MK Narayanan
were present at the meeting.
The package would be in place soon after holding
consultations with other Central Ministries, including Finance Ministry, sources
said.
With 2008 being the election year in militancy-hit
Jammu and Kashmir, an announcement of people-friendly packages is likely to
be made by the Prime Minister at a later date when he is likely to travel to
the border State.
Manmohan Singh reviewed the recommendations
of the Standing Committee and a Monitoring Mechanism set up after the third
round table on Kashmir last year for ensuring implementation of suggestions
made by the working groups on Kashmir.
The Prime Minister, while setting up the two
committees last year, had said that his Government was keenly working for a
"blueprint for new future" for the State.
The meeting favoured increased cross-LoC movement
of people and goods and said consultations with Pakistan should be held for
easing the travel of people from Jammu and Kashmir.
The Prime Minister asked the officials in the
militancy-hit State to reduce the amount of time taken in clearing passengers
for across LoC bus travel, they said.
During the meeting, it was decided to take up
the issues of promoting pilgrim tourism in either parts of Kashmir, no travel
permit requirement for senior citizens and increase goods exchange with Pakistan,
they said.
The important issue to resolve the problems
of refugees from Pakistan, who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, in a time-bound
manner was also taken up during the meeting and all concerned Ministries were
asked to make a speedy assessment before a package is finalised for them as
well, sources said.
The State Chief Minister has been raising the
voice for providing financial relief to the kin of militants killed in police
encounters, reasoning that it was not the fault of widows and orphans if their
bread-earners had taken to gun.
