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Kargil's ravaged residents await winter with trepidation

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Residents of Kargil, devastated by the recent war, have reposed whatever is left of their hope in the state government's decision to provide free rations to all displaced persons who have returned to their homes after fleeing the area during the conflict. There was no agricultural activity in the region this summer because of the hostilities.

Following the announcement of Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah that the people of Kargil, Drass, Batalik, Kaksar and other areas ravaged by the war will be provided free food, fuel and fodder during the winter months, the state government has begun relief operations among the residents.

The Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Khurshid Ahmad Ganai told this correspondent that nearly 7,000 families in Drass and 1,000 families in Kargil and other areas were eligible for the relief during the winter months. "We will provide them the relief as per their requirements till the next summer," he added.

Ganai said that the state government has already released Rs 3.5 million to the deputy commissioners of Leh and Kargil for the provision of relief to the affected persons. The state government, the division commissioner said, is providing seven kilograms of rice and two kilograms of atta per person each month to those whose crops suffered total loss during the fighting in Kargil-Drass sectors. These persons will get this free ration till May next year.

Moreover, the government is also providing a monthly stipend of Rs 200 per person from each family that had to migrate and whose homes were destroyed. This is in addition to the ten litres of kerosene for each family every month. For the purchase of fodder for animals the state government is providing the locals Rs 150 per month for a large animal and Rs 30 for each small animal. This is subject to a maximum of Rs 1,000.

The divisional commissioner said that many families in Kaksar, Kharbu, Batalik and Drass whose houses were damaged and who could not return to their homes because of the fear of shelling are being provided house rent. These families are living in Kargil and other areas and each family is given Rs 200 every month as house rent.

The locals are also being provided free medical aid and money is also being given to them for purchase of drugs if these are not available in the hospital. The locals of Drass, Kargil, Turtuk, Batalik, Kaksar and other areas whose homes were damaged during the heavy shelling are being given fifty percent of the total loss assessed by the revenue authorities or rupees one hundred thousand, whichever is less.

The Minister of State for Food and Supplies Ajay Sadhotra told rediff.com that the winter stocking of essentials in Kargil and Leh districts have been completed a month before the usual deadline. He said the locals are being given free ration and fuel as per the package announced by the government. The all-important Srinagar-Kargil highway will close officially later this month.

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