Jammu, Oct 17: Jammu migrants at Talwara camp have decided to sit on fast- unto- death in front of Parliament from December 15 to protest the government’s failure to implement the Supreme Court (SC) ruling asking the authorities to provide them relief at par with those from Kashmir Valley.
 Mostly from Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch, the Jammu migrants also alleged that they have received no relief for the last three months.
 In 2004, Supreme Court of India has directed the state government to provide relief to these migrants at par with those who migrated from valley migrants after a PIL was filed by J&K Panthers Party (JKNPP) chairman Bhim Singh.
 Presently these migrants are entitled to a cash assistance of Rs 400 per head with an upper limit of Rs 1,600 per family, besides ration, including nine kg of flour, two kg of rice and 10 litres of kerosene per month, besides cash assistance of Rs 300 per cattle.
 Officially, nearly 1,000 families from Jammu region have been classified as militancy-affected migrants.
 “Even though the SC has directed that these migrants should be given every facility enjoyed by Kashmiri migrants, we do not even get half of the relief provided to those from the valley”, said Rajesh Kumar, one of the migrants.
 Talwara, a dusty migrant colony is nearly 100 Km from Jammu and 25 Km from the holy town of Katra. It was earlier used as residential colony for the Salal Hydro Electric Project.
 Nearly 900 odd families comprising 2500 souls are presently putting in shabby and pitiful condition. This habitation is also devoid of any modern facilities   including safe drinking water and electricity.
 “It is a human rights violation as most of the people have left their homes due to militancy. Government has made commitment in their affidavit of December 3, 2004, which was submitted in the Supreme Court, that it will provide equal relief to these families as is being provided to Kashmiri migrants”, said JKNPP chairman Bhim Singh.
 Singh who visited the camp today urged the people to end their two month long Dharna and prepare for a bigger struggle at New Delhi.
 Migrants allege that they have never received regular relief assistance from the administration and at times after months of delay, relief is provided to them.
 “It is unfortunate that since past two months we are on sitting on Dharna, but none of the officials from the administration has bothered to visit us. We are demanding relief as it is the only source of sustenance for us”, said an inhabitant, Rajesh.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST