Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government will provide monthly “subsistence allowance” to the dependents of the persons killed along the Line of Control (LoC) after January 1, 2016 due to ceasefire violations by the Indian army.
A decision to this effect has been taken by the AJK cabinet at an exhaustive session, with Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider in the chair.
According to Fayyaz Ali Abbasi, Senior Member AJK Board of Revenue (SMBR), an amendment has been inserted in the AJK Ceasefire Line Incidents Relief Act, 1992 to pave way for provision of subsistence allowance to the dependents of the martyrs “who were breadwinners of their respective families.”
“Every dependent of such person who has lost life in the incident shall be paid, on the recommendations of the competent officer or the board of officers, with relief of monthly subsistence allowance at the rate of Rs 2000,” Mr Abbasi informed, adding, widow(s) till remarriage; minor, unmarried and divorced or separated daughter(s) and sister(s), son(s) and brother(s) below the age of 25 years; parents and grandparents; and orphan grandchildren below the age of 25 years had been listed as dependents.
He further told that as many as 171 persons, including women and children, had lost their lives in different parts of AJK in Indian shelling from Jan 1, 2016 to this day.
In order to ensure transparency, the competent officer or the board of officers would recommend the beneficiaries after verification of the fact that the deceased LoC resident was the breadwinner of his or her family, Mr Abbasi said.
Speaking at the cabinet meeting, PM Haider said it was yet another milestone in the earnest endeavours of his government to alleviate the sufferings of the people affected by unprovoked and unrelenting ceasefire violations by the brute Indian army.
“Those living along the dividing line are our first line of defence. No amount of money can compensate their sacrifices or substitute their contribution... This is a symbolic gesture to make it known to them that their government stands by them in their testing times,” he said.
Mr Haider pointed out that Indian army was targeting AJK’s unarmed civilian population along the LoC in an attempt to push them back.
However, such tactics had always failed to demoralize brave residents, who were standing shoulder to shoulder with their armed forces to foil enemy’s nefarious designs, he said.
“I have full realization of the problems of the people living along the ceasefire line. Allah willing, we will do our best to ensure that the state fulfills its responsibility of taking maximum possible care of the families affected by India’s aggression,” he added.
The prime minister recalled that it was his government that had enhanced the compensation money to Rs one million for the deceased persons at LoC, Rs 800,000 for persons with permanent disability and Rs 400,000 for persons with serious injuries, apart from other raises.
Additionally, the government had also spent Rs 130 million from its Annual Development Programme for construction/improvement of bunkers, health facilities and link roads, in 13 constituencies of AJK assembly along the LoC over the past two years, he said.
The affected families, he said, were also being included in the central government run Ehsaas Programme.
Tariq Naqash
