14,460 bunkers to be constructed in J&K, 9 new Battalions being raised

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on June 8, 2018, announced that nine new Battalions will be constituted of which two would be for the areas near the border. He said that the Ministry has sanctioned two new women battalions for J&K police: one for Kashmir Division and one for Jammu Division, that would provide employment to around 2,000 women from the state.

Rajnath said that the border areas youth would be provided 60 % quota in special five IRP battalions being raised. He was addressing a press conference at Jammu on the second day of his visit to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reiterating government’s commitment to safeguard the interests of border people and Kashmir migrants in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath said that the Centre is fully aware of the hardships facing these people and has been taking a number of initiatives to address them. He also informed that the Ministry has revisited the scheme of giving Rs 5 lakh for the persons killed during Cross Border Firing and Ceasefire Violations. Now this amount of Rs 5 lakh will be directly credited to the account of next of kin and all conditions relating to fixed deposit have been removed, the Home Minister said.

He said that 14,460 bunkers will be constructed, which includes 13,029 individual and 1,431 community bunkers. The MHA has approved Rs 415 crore for their construction, he added. He further said that government is contemplating construction of Seema Bhawans for the safety of border people, according to a PIB release.

Addressing mediapersons at Jammu, Rajnath Singh said that the Government has decided to give financial assistance of Rs 5.5 lakh per family for West Pakistan refugees settled in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. Nearly 5,764 families will  benefit from this decision, he added. He also said that the relief given to Kashmiri and Jammu migrants that was increased to Rs 10,000 in 2015, has now been further increased to Rs 13,000 per family per month, a hike of 30%.

He also said that an Advisory board for migrants would be constituted to look into the problems being faced by the them that would have representation from all the migrant groups. He also said that five Bullet proof ambulances will be provided to border areas to carry those injured during cross border firing to hospital.

The Home Minister also spoke about the recent decisions taken by the Ministry regarding the compensation for livestock that has been increased to Rs 50,000 from Rs 30,000 presently and that the limit of three animals has been removed.

Union Home Minister also visited the border area of R S Pura in Jammu region and interacted with the families affected by cross border firing and ceasefire violations. Responding to demands of the farmers of the area, the Home Minister assured that Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna in the border areas would also have the special provision for the crop destroyed in cross border shelling. He also visited the district policelines and paid tributes to the martyrs of Jammu and Kashmir police force.

Earlier in the day, the Minister also visited the border district of Kupwara and interacted with the local people living near border areas. He was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti and Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh.