Humiliation being faced by Manohar Kumar, a West Pakistani refugee youth, during a recruitment rally on the outskirts of Jammu, has authenticated Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir’s observation that woes of these “helpless” people are mounting with every passing day.
The Union minister, while reviewing the progress of various packages announced by the Centre for all categories of refugees and displaced persons on Thursday, had expressed his anguish over the delay by the state government in issuing “identity certificates” to West Pakistani refugees.
“My son Manohar Kumar had qualified all tests including the physical test for recruitment in Central forces but was shunted out at the last stage as he failed to prove himself a resident of Jammu,” rued Mohan Lal. “Although all refugees are living in penury, my son somehow managed to pass Class 12 with the hope of living a dignified life but the inhumane approach of the state government has shattered all his hopes,” Lal said, adding that getting an identity certificate was rather impossible for poor and marginalised refugees.
The Union Home Ministry had asked the J&K Government to issue identity certificates as a “relief” to these refugees after they repeatedly knocked the door of the Union Government to solve their problem.
As these refugees are not eligible for government jobs in J&K, it was decided to issue them identity certificates so that they become eligible for jobs in the Central government departments.
Despite direction by the Union Government in 2016, the PDP-BJP government in J&K failed to complete the process as coalition regime virtually succumbed to the threats of the National Conference (NC) and the separatist leadership, who created the fear of “demography change” to oppose the move.
As per official data, there were 5,764 families, consisting of 47,915 persons, who had migrated from West Pakistan at the time of Partition and settled in various areas of Jammu province. At present, their number is not more than 1.5 lakh.
West Pak refugees fighting for identity since 1947
