Let us understand the plight of real victims in J&K
   06-May-2019

 
Most of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), who were displaced because of Pakistan invasion and usurpation of large tract of J&K are staying in Jammu region and none were welcomed in Kashmir region. The issues and claims of the people, who are known as Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) displaced people, remained unaddressed for more that 65 years. Since, most of them do not speak Kashmiri, they have not been welcomed in the valley. Neither Kashmir Valley leadership has done anything to address their concerns nor GOI has shown any willingness in this regard. Perhaps, GOI has remained over occupied with the issues related to “Kashmir Valley” or demands or questions and ideologies raised from there. These displaced persons have not been given adequate socio- economic support so far which could be quoted.
 
Refugees who entered J&K in 1947 from West Pakistan were made to stay in J&K by Maharaja Hari Singh. All of them stayed in Jammu Region. These people are staying in J&K for last 65 years and have not been conferred Permanent Residentship of J&K. Hence, they can neither join Government Engineering, Medical or any other Professional Colleges run by J&K Government nor can they join J&K Government Service. They belonged to backward classes and their educational, social and economic backwardness has further grown. Objection to granting them PRC has come only from Kashmir Valley leaders since they have no socio-cultural affinity with the people of Kashmir valley.
 
The stretch of LOC and IB is more along Jammu Region as compared to Kashmir Valley. The people living there often remain disturbed and get uprooted due to disturbances from Pakistan side. No policy or programme has been made by the GoI as well as the State Government for their regular rehabilitation over the years. This has also been acknowledged on the floor of Legislative Assembly by J&K Government even in 2013. Maybe it has been due to the fact that such areas do not fall in Kashmir Valley. The education, agriculture, trade and health of these people is in miserable condition and needs special attention.
 
J&K was affected with terrorist activities very acutely in 1989. The backward and far flung areas of Jammu Region falling in Doda, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua, Ramban and Reasi too were badly affected. These people were educationally, professionally and economically backward and many of them dependent on meager assistance and livestock earnings. They came under the pressure of terrorists. Both Hindus and Muslims suffered badly due to the rise of terrorism in Kashmir valley. Many had to leave their houses. Many got killed and got disabled permanently. But they have not been given proper attention by Kashmir Valley centric J&K Leaders and GOI in terms of relief and rehabilitation. Many returned back to live miserable life. They have lost lives, health, education and what not. They have been running from pillar to post for support and even have gone to courts but their grievances have not been addressed by the Government of J&K who is supposed to take their case as first priority with GOI but has failed to do son in last 25 years.
 
 
Some elements are working to divide people of J&K on communal lines. Some foreign agencies are also working in this regard. Making Jammu a separate State may also help in checking such designs.
 
Vital Statistics Table—A  
 

SN

Reference

Jammu Region

Kashmir Region

Ladakh

Region

1

Number of Districts during Maharaja Times

5 (Jammu, Kathua,Udhampur,

Reasi & Mir Pur)

3 ( Anantnag, Baramulla and Muzaffarabad )

  
 

Number of Tehsils

17 plus two Jagirs

10

  

2.

Number of Jagirs during Maharaja Times

2 ( Poonch and Chenani )

Nil

  

3.

Area (August 1947)

32145 +4170 = 36315 sq km or 14010 sq miles

16.27% of the State

22133 sq km or

8539 sq miles

9.92 % of the State

164739 sq km or

63554 sq miles

73.8 1% of the State
 

Region wise % of area Aug 1947

      
 

Area excluding the areas occupied by Pakistan in 1947

26293 sq km

15948 sq km

96701 sq km
 

Area occupied by Pakistan in 1947

10017 sq km

27.58% of Jammu region

Or 4.5 % of the State

6185 sq km

27.94% of the Kashmir region

or 2.79% of the State

68038 sq km

41.3 % of the Ladakh Region

or 30.65 % of

the State

4.

Population 1941 Census

2010557

1728686

311915

5.

Areas occupied by Pakistan

Mirpur District and small part

of Poonch

Muzaffrabad

Gilgit/ Baltistan

6.

Districts Excluding POJK

4 plus two Jagirs

Just 2+

  
 

Districts Made in J&K after 1947 ( excluding Areas occupied by Pakistan

6

Jammu, Udhampur, Doda, Kathua, Rajouri, Poonch

3 Anantnag, Srinagar, Baramulla

Leh
 

Districts made in 1979 vide government orders

Kept as only 6

Raised from 3 to 6 by

SRO 306 of 6/6/1979

Srinagar, Badgam,

Anantnag, Pulwama, Baramulla, Kupwara

2 Kargil and

Leh
 

Districts as recommended by Wazir Commission (1981) in 1984

6 + 3 new = 9

6 + 1 new = 7

2
 

Districts made by Cong PDP G. N Azad Government in 2006/07

6 +4 = 10

6 +4 =10

2

7.

Elected MLC in Legislative Council as per Section-50 of J&K Constitution

14

12

2

8.

MLAs in J&K Assembly

before 1995 Delimitation as

got distributed through

unfair delimitations ignoring the ground facts like

Section-50 of JK Constitution and Section 4 (2a) of

RPA 1957

31+1= 32

42

2
 

MLAs as per 1995

Delimitation order of K.K Gupta Commission

37

Section-4(2a) of RPA ignored.. Population, Geographical Compactness, Nature of terrain, Facilities of Communication and like considerations.

46

Jammu Region has much

larger area ( less

compactness ), bad terrain, much less

road networks

and communication facilities as compared to Kashmir Valley

4

9.

MPs (Member Parliament)

2

3

1

10

Population as per 1981

Census

2718113

3134909

134372

 

Population 2001 Census

4395912

*Questions have been raised on census figures that were released

5441341

( *large increase

inspite of migration & terrorism)

  
 

Voters as per 2002 Assembly Elections

*28, 92000

*25,46000

  

11.

Area Excluding POJK

26293 sq km

15948 sq km

96701 sq km

12.

Settled displaced people from POJK

Almost all

Nearly nil

  

13

Settled refugees from West Pakistan as accommodated

by Maharaja in 1947

Almost all who came

Nil

  

14

Displaced persons due to terrorism that hit J&K in

1989

Majority stayed / stays in Jammu Region

No displaced families stayed back in valley

Nil

Displaced Persons from Pakistan occupied areas of Indian State of J&K and Refugees from West Pakistan

Majority stayed /stays in Jammu Region

  

15

Disturbed Line of Control and International Border

(LOC & IB )

Much larger along Jammu Region as compared to Kashmir valley

Smaller part of LOC

Larger part of LOC

16

Government managed

Medical Colleges

2

4