Mr. Swami Raj Sharma said that most of the migrants had relatives and friends in Jammu and were staying with them. “But how long can they stay with relatives and friends?” asked Mr. Vihnu Dutt.
According to him, there were. a number of migrants who did not have any relatives and friends in Jammu but the government did not appear to be taking their problem seriously. The free food grain have been offered only for one month, he said and added: “The Government is slow even in issuing ration cards. Only 900 families have got cards so far.”
But the government has its own reasons to go slow. An officer said on the condition of anonymity: “If we give them liberal assistance, influx from Srinagar will further increase.”
However notwithstanding the government’s tightfistedness, the people are coming an in increasing numbers.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 16, 1990
