ARs 500-crore package for rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri migrants living in various parts of the country; Rs 50 crore for creation of a Pashmina board; building international stadia and setting up an IIT are some of the measures proposed specifically for the Jammu and Kashmir.
The funds sanctioned under the “Relief and Rehabilitation of Jammu and Kashmir Migrants” show a three-fold increase from Rs 151.87 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 660 crore this fiscal with a special mention that out of this fund, Rs 500 crore have been earmarked for Kashmiri migrants.
While Rs 500 crore will be earmarked for providing support to Kashmiri migrants in “Rebuilding their lives”, the remaining Rs 160 crore is meant for granting relief to border migrants, reimbursement to the State Government for ex-gratia relief to next of kin of civilians, Special Police Officers, Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel killed in terrorist attacks and cross-border firing and for relief and rehabilitation of militancy-related widows and orphans.
The Narendra Modi Government has flagged rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, who left the Valley after the onset of militancy in 1990, as its priority and ahead of the budget, a series of meetings was held between officials of the State and the Centre.
At present, a total of 60,452 families of Kashmiri migrants are registered in the country, of which 38,119 are in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 1,995 in other States.
The booming Rs 500-crore Pashima trade of the State will now have a Pashmina Wool development scheme for which Rs 30 crore have been earmarked. Remaining Rs 20 crore will be utilised for promotion of other handicrafts of the State.
The Centre also announced assistance for construction of building of Indian Institute of Skiing and Mountaineering (IISM) in Gulmarg and an outlay of Rs 200 crore for upgrading indoor and outdoor stadiums to international standards in Jammu and in Kashmir Valley.
The Centre also announced the setting up of an Indian Institute of Technology in Jammu and included ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir) for the Ultra Mega Solar Power projects which cover Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.