New Delhi: Taking the Indian government's idea of reaching out to citizens of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir a step further the government announced on Wednesday that its Rs 5 lakh compensation for victims of cross border firing and mine explosions will be available to citizens of PoK too.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Minister of State for Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh said, "The Cabinet has accepted the long pending demand of compensation for victims of cross-border firing, mining explosion etc. This will be available to citizens of POJK too; if Pakistan allows the money to reach them."
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Modi on Wednesday gave its approval to enhance the grant of compensation under "Central Scheme for Assistance to Civilian Victims of Terrorist, Communal, Left Wing Extremist (LWE), Cross Border Firing and Mine or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) blasts on Indian Territory" from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
On August 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said at the all party meeting on Kashmir, "When we talk about Jammu and Kashmir, we should talk about four parts of Jammu and Kashmir — Jammu, Kashmir valley, Ladakh and PoK." He had urged the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to establish contact with PoK residents who live outside Pakistan, gather information from them about the pitiable condition in PoK and apprise the world of it.
Singh's claim that the Union Cabinet's decision on compensation is seen as a step further in needling Pakistan on the issue of PoK even as government alleges that the 46 day long impasse in Jammu and Kashmir is completely Pakistan sponsored.
Approximately 770 km of the Line of Control and approximately 220 km of International Border have been a witness to frequent ceasefire violation and the influx of terrorists since 1990.
More than 50 civilians die every year due to shelling and cross border firing along the Indo-Pak order in Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 13,921 civilians have lost their lives till 2015.
A total of 168 civilians were killed due to naxal violence in Naxal-hit states in 2015.
"Now onwards, any civilian who dies anywhere in the country due to terror attack, LWE violence, firing from across the border, shelling or IED explosion will be given Rs 5 lakh as compensation uniformly. The amount will be given to the next of kin of the victim," an official release said.
The amount will also be given to those who receive 50 per cent or more disability or incapacitation due to the same reasons, it said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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