Historic Moment in J&K Assembly: PoJK Referred by Its Full Name for the First Time: Relief Data Revealed

For the first time in the J&K Assembly, a historic moment unfolded when PoJK was officially referred to by its rightful name—Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Until now, it was only addressed as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in official speeches, documents, and Assembly discussions. But this time, it was recorded as PoJK, which not only reflects India’s constitutional stand but also acknowledges the pain and identity of lakhs of displaced persons.

 

 

 

These were the families who, during the horror of 1947 were forced to flee their ancestral homes in Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir. They lost everything overnight—land, homes, and generations of memories. After facing the horrors of violence and displacement, they came to the Jammu region and slowly began rebuilding their lives from scratch.

 

 

Now, in a written reply to BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia in the J&K Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who also heads the Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry, revealed that the government has allotted over 9.23 lakh kanals of land and 2,421 urban plots and quarters to these displaced families in the Jammu region. This includes 26,319 families who crossed over from PoJK during the 1947 violence and settled in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri, and Poonch.

 

 

The land allotment was given in different phases—evacuee land in 1954 and proprietary rights on state land in 1965. Urban plots and quarters were also handed over in 1971. Evacuee land totaling 6,80,850 kanals and state land of 2,43,000 kanals was given to these displaced families.

 

 

 

Along with this, 46 rural bastis (settlements) were regularized under the slum improvement scheme to help dps live with dignity.

 

 

Not just the 1947 displaced persons, but displaced persons of 1965 and 1971 from Chhamb were also supported. Around 2 lakh kanals of land was allotted to them through a special rehabilitation authority. 10,065 families from 47 Chhamb villages were shifted to safer areas and settled in 156 bastis across Jammu, Samba, and Kathua.

 

 

Many PoJK families complained that they got less land than promised. To help them, the Government of India announced a compensation package in 2000. People were given Rs 5,000 per kanal, which was later increased to Rs 30,000 per kanal in 2008. The ceiling amount was also raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh. Urban displaced families who didn’t get plots were given Rs 2 lakh each.

 

 

According to information shared by the Minister, a total of 31,619 families had crossed over from PoJK to the Indian side during the Partition in 1947 and Pakistan’s attack on J&K. Out of these, 26,319 settled in Jammu and Kashmir, while 5,300 families moved to other parts of India- some of whom later came back and settled again in J&K.