JK govt to transfer relief amount to bank accounts of migrants

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir government will transfer the relief amount directly to bank accounts of migrants from January 2016 on-wards.
"In a significant move, it was decided that the relief which is at present given in the form of cheque shall be directly transferred to bank accounts of all relief category migrants from January 2016 onwards," an official spokesman said here on Thursday.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Minister for Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs and Relief & Rehabilitation Syed Basharat Bukhari to discuss the issues concerning Kashmiri migrants.
It was also decided in the meeting that all relief category migrants shall be given an option to choose if they would want to take ration or cash in lieu of monthly ration, the spokesman said.
The minister also asked the relief commissioner to ensure that next of kin of the relief category migrants with authorisation are also provided ration.
Regarding the issue of bifurcation of ration cards, it was decided that the process will be simplified and the minister asked the concerned officers to ensure that all pending cases are addressed by 31st December.
The Commissioner Secretary Relief & Rehabilitation, Navin Kumar Chaudhary, asked Relief Commissioner R K Pandita to come up with a citizens charter with regard to services being provided by the department so that timely and hassle free services are provided.
During the meeting the matter with regard to direct transfer of salaries to the bank accounts of Kashmiri migrant employees posted in the Kashmir Valley was also examined.
The minister asked the authorities concerned to ensure that benefits of the recently launched schemes are also extended to Kashmiri migrants originally residing in those areas covered under the area specific schemes.
With regard to medical facilities available in migrant camps, the minister asked the Secretary of Health and Medical Education to ensure adequate supply of medicines and staffing at the sub centers. He also asked Director Health Services to rationalise number of staff at sub centres and ensure that surplus staff is engaged at other healthcare institutions.
The minister called for installation of biometric attendance for employees of all departments in migrant camps to ensure their attendance for hassle free service to the migrants.