These families, the majority of which comprises Kashmiri Pandits and Dogras, were forced to leave their homes in October this year and were moved to the national capital by the Jammu and Kashmir government on the pretext of their safety.
The J&K Government has promised to allot them quarters in Jammu in the coming March so that they can live without fear of losing their lives in shelling in future. But before that time, these displaced families with members as small as six-month old have to live in the conditions which are completely appalling.
Thousands of Kashmiri migrants were moved to tiny one-room sets that can house only a single bed in Shastri Park when they were first landed here. Now, they are getting ready to move to the small tents that the next Delhi government, in accordance with J&K government, is going to set on a huge ground in the area in January.
While the state government has assured cluster homes and rehabilitation of the displaced Kashmiris, its apathy could be very well understood by the decision to shift these unfortunate families to tents in Delhi’s extreme cold winter that usually hits 30 C in January.
The tents will be raised up in a playground that is just 10 steps away from the area’s sewer line. The stinking area infested with insects promises diseases and is certainly not a suitable condition for living but the government has given it a deaf ear.
The sudden displacement has left the youths stigmatised and resentful. Mukesh Bhatt whose father was running a successful carpet business in Doda said that he finds it hard to live in such conditions. ‘As a kid, we used to visit New Delhi but we never knew one day, we would come here and stay in these pitiable conditions,’ Singh sighed.
As much as these displaced people are facing troubles in the Capital, the other issues that are haunting them include food and basic amenities. So far, these migrants are dependent on NGOs and donors as they are not getting any financial help from J&K government or Delhi government.
Jyoti Singh, who left her ancestral house in Doda with her family, said that they have not received any help from either of the governments. ‘We have been thrown to this situation where we neither have house nor a way to earn our livelihood,’ Singh said.
She added that to fight the crisis, they send young boys from the camp who are well versed with Hindi for collection of money. ‘Even though we are getting support from NGOs, we have prepared a team of young boys who go from place to place and ask for monetary help. In a day, they are able to collect between Rs 2,500-3,000 which we later distribute among 550 families,’ Singh added. Some children even do the menial jobs like picking apples in the Azadpur Mandi.
The J&K Government has promised to allot them quarters in Jammu in the coming March so that they can live without fear of losing their lives in shelling in future. But before that time, these displaced families with members as small as six-month old have to live in the conditions which are completely appalling.
Thousands of Kashmiri migrants were moved to tiny one-room sets that can house only a single bed in Shastri Park when they were first landed here. Now, they are getting ready to move to the small tents that the next Delhi government, in accordance with J&K government, is going to set on a huge ground in the area in January.
While the state government has assured cluster homes and rehabilitation of the displaced Kashmiris, its apathy could be very well understood by the decision to shift these unfortunate families to tents in Delhi’s extreme cold winter that usually hits 30 C in January.
The tents will be raised up in a playground that is just 10 steps away from the area’s sewer line. The stinking area infested with insects promises diseases and is certainly not a suitable condition for living but the government has given it a deaf ear.
The sudden displacement has left the youths stigmatised and resentful. Mukesh Bhatt whose father was running a successful carpet business in Doda said that he finds it hard to live in such conditions. ‘As a kid, we used to visit New Delhi but we never knew one day, we would come here and stay in these pitiable conditions,’ Singh sighed.
As much as these displaced people are facing troubles in the Capital, the other issues that are haunting them include food and basic amenities. So far, these migrants are dependent on NGOs and donors as they are not getting any financial help from J&K government or Delhi government.
Jyoti Singh, who left her ancestral house in Doda with her family, said that they have not received any help from either of the governments. ‘We have been thrown to this situation where we neither have house nor a way to earn our livelihood,’ Singh said.
She added that to fight the crisis, they send young boys from the camp who are well versed with Hindi for collection of money. ‘Even though we are getting support from NGOs, we have prepared a team of young boys who go from place to place and ask for monetary help. In a day, they are able to collect between Rs 2,500-3,000 which we later distribute among 550 families,’ Singh added. Some children even do the menial jobs like picking apples in the Azadpur Mandi.