Religious places frequented by Kashmiri Pandits across Kashmir Valley continue to remain in a dilapidated condition more than 27 years after they were forced to step out of their homes and hearths at the peak of militancy in 1989.
The BJP-PDP alliance Government on Monday informed the State Assembly in the form of a written reply that 185 religious places of Kashmiri Pandits were in a dilapidated condition across Kashmir Valley.
Giving the district-wise details of such religious places Minister-in-charge Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction informed the lower House that 40 temples and other religious places were in a dilapidated condition in Anantnag, 28 in Kupwara, 26 in Baramulla, 21 in Pulwama, 19 in Srinagar, 17 in Kulgam, 14 each in Budgam and Shopian and five in Ganderbal.
Before they were driven out of Kashmir Valley the total number of temples and other religious places of Kashmiri Pandits were 542.
According to the Minister- in-charge a total number of 41,462 Kashmiri migrant families and 1,054 Jammu migrant families are at present residing in different areas of Jammu province.
At present 37,347 Hindu migrant families, 2,252 Muslim migrant families, 1,758 Sikh families and five others are registered in Jammu.
Out of these 18,589 number of Kashmiri migrant families are entitled for cash assistance/cash relief at Rs2500 per soul subject to maximum ceiling of Rs10,000 per family for four souls and free ration as per the scale 9 kg Atta, 2 kg Rice and 1 kg Sugar per family per month and 10 litres of kerosene oil per family per month.
Between 2014-15 to 2016-17 (till Nov 2016) a sum of Rs453 crores (approx) was spent on cash assistance and free ration for these families, the Minister informed the State Assembly. However, the state Government is awaiting approval from the Government of India in support of the comprehensive package amounting 91.96 crores for the settlement of Jammu migrants.