New Delhi (Sputnik) — India's Narendra Modi government has announced a financial package for people displaced from West Pakistan living in different parts of India. However, the aid package of $ 8,030 (Rs. 0.55 million) per displaced family falls far short of the $ 46,000 (Rs. 3 mn) recommended by a Parliamentary committee. It also does not address the demand to grant them the status of permanent residents.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved Central assistance of $300 million (Rs. 20 billion) as one-time settlement of 36,384 displaced families from Pakistan's side of Jammu & Kashmir and Chhamb following an announcement of PM's development package for Jammu & Kashmir in November 2015," read a government statement.
The fund is part of a $ 12 billion (Rs. 800 billion) economic package for Jammu & Kashmir announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a year back. The Government is now filling in the details of the aid package.
India was partitioned into two parts in 1947. Shortly thereafter many Hindus and Sikhs crossed over from Pakistan-administered Kashmir and its foothills alleging discrimination against them on religious grounds. These people can cast their votes in federal elections but do not have the right to vote for the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly.
