MHA nod to continue with migrant aid plan

NEWDELHI: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to continue, until 2020, with eight schemes of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) meant for the relief and rehabilitation of migrants, a ministry official said.

The MHA said the schemes will provide relief and rehabilitation assistance to the refugees, displaced people, civilian victims of terrorist/communal crimes, cross-border firing, and riots.

The eight schemes were started, at different times, to enable the migrants and repatriates who have suffered on account of displacement to earn a reasonable income, and to facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities, the MHA said.

“The eight schemes approved for continuance are already in operation and the benefits under each will be extended to intended beneficiaries in accordance with the approved criterion,” a statement issued by the ministry said.

“The financial implication for this decision will be ~911 crore in 2017-18, ~1,372 crore in 2018-19, and ~900 crore in 2019-2020,” the MHA statement added.

A ministry official also told HT that each of the 5,407 Bru refugee families that will be repatriated to Mizoram from Tripura would be given a one-time financial assistance of ~4 lakh, a monthly assistance of ~5,000, a house and free ration for two years as per the agreement signed by the Centre and the governments of Mizoram and Tripura yesterday. The Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum was signatory to the pact.

The cabinet also approved the transfer of Sashastra Seema Bal’s land measuring 5.99 acres at Tawang to the state government of Arunachal Pradesh for construction of a mega-festival-cummultipurpose ground.