Delhi Cabinet clears amnesty relief for J&K migrant families
The Delhi Cabinet has approved a one-time amnesty scheme and relaxed eligibility conditions for displaced families from Jammu and Kashmir living in the national Capital. The move is expected to benefit 1,832 registered migrant families receiving monthly relief assistance from the Government.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced the decision on Monday, saying the Government was committed to the welfare, dignity, and rehabilitation of migrant families displaced from Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the revised policy, the Delhi Government has removed income-related eligibility restrictions for beneficiaries under the Ad-Hoc Monthly Relief (AMR) scheme. Ownership of immovable property will also no longer affect eligibility for relief.
Officials said the decision applies to registered Jammu and Kashmir migrant families who had received relief assistance up to March 31, 2024. The Chief Minister said the Government had introduced the one-time amnesty scheme to correct and update beneficiary records while ensuring that genuine families continue to receive assistance without disruption.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries will be allowed to update family details and Aadhaar information in Government records. Officials said the exercise is aimed at improving accuracy in the database and streamlining future relief distribution.
The Government also decided not to recover any excess payment that may have been made earlier because of technical errors or incorrect records. “The objective is to ensure that relief reaches only genuine and eligible families in a transparent and uninterrupted manner,” the Chief Minister said.
The Cabinet has extended the cut-off date for the amnesty scheme from October 1, 2025, to April 1, 2026, giving beneficiaries additional time to update their records and complete formalities. The Government has also extended provisions related to pending relief dues. Earlier, arrears could be cleared only up to September 30, 2025. The revised decision now allows payment of pending dues up to March 31, 2026.
Officials said existing provisions related to the addition or deletion of family members and family bifurcation would continue under prescribed rules. Verification of claims may also be carried out by Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars wherever required.
The Chief Minister said financial assistance would continue to be distributed through Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer to ensure transparency and timely payments. According to the Government, relief assistance under the AMR scheme is available for a maximum of four members in a family.
The Delhi Government has allocated Rs 30 crore for the implementation of the scheme during the 2026-27 financial year. Officials said relief expenditure under the scheme has been continuing for several years, with payments made regularly between 2019-20 and 2024-25. Following Aadhaar verification and updating of records, the number of beneficiaries has become more accurate in recent years, resulting in lower expenditure under the scheme, officials added.
Chief Minister said the Delhi Government would ensure that no eligible migrant family faces difficulties in receiving relief assistance. She said the Government remained committed to protecting the interests of displaced families from Jammu and Kashmir and would continue taking steps related to their welfare and rehabilitation.
Thousands of Kashmiri migrant families displaced during the militancy period in Jammu and Kashmir continue to reside in Delhi and other parts of the country.
Many of them are dependent on Government support schemes for financial assistance and rehabilitation benefits. Officials said the latest Cabinet decision was aimed at simplifying procedures and reducing hardships faced by beneficiaries during record verification and relief distribution processes.