As the world is observing International Human Rights Day today to highlight the rights violations being faced by deprived communities, the plight of the West Pakistan refugees in Jammu continues.
Since 1947, the West Pakistan refugees are being discriminated against by the successive state governments. The men of the community do petty jobs to earn their livelihood.
Like men, women are also denied Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) so they cannot avail themselves of the benefits of any welfare scheme launched by the government.
Keeping in view their economic condition and to save their children from starvation, some of the women have started working as labourers and collect pebbles from the Tawi.
“Our women have no option but to do such jobs because they are denied the benefits of all schemes being launched by the state government and the Centre for the socio-economic growth of women,” said Labha Ram Gandhi, chairman, West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee.
Despite repeated assurances by the Centre to solve their problems, nothing has changed for the refugees. They have been declared as “unwanted” by the successive state governments.
“A hope was rekindled among our community when a delegation of the West Pakistani refugees called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 7 this year,” said Labha Ram, adding that nothing has changed despite assurance by the Prime Minister.
“Our woes have compounded during the last couple of years because we cannot avail ourselves of the benefit of welfare schemes launched by the state government and the Centre for the marginalised and neglected lot of society,” he further said.
A majority of the West Pakistan refugees are Dalits but are being denied the Scheduled Caste certificate because they are not entitled to PRC.
Unlike other states, PRC is required in J&K to get the citizenship of the state.
Denied basic rights, WP refugees continue to live in penury
