Rajnath reviews functioning of Freedom Fighters and Rehabilitation division

New Delhi [India], Dec 18 (ANI): Home Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the functioning of Freedom Fighters and Rehabilitation (FFR) Division of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) today.

As per an official release, Singh reviewed the issues relating to Freedom Fighters' pension, rehabilitation schemes and Enemy Properties, at the meeting.

In consideration of the importance of the new provisions in the Enemy Property Act, 2017 which has been amended recently to include disposal/transfer of Enemy properties, the Home Minister directed that the rules be notified expeditiously.

To this end, it was decided that the custodian office be strengthened and the Division may identify the properties free from encumbrance for quick disposal and monetization.

Similar properties in Pakistan belonging to Indians have been disposed of, Singh said, adding that the appointment of Nodal officers by the State Governments should be pursued to coordinate identification, vesting and valuation of enemy properties.

Singh was notified that the survey of 6,289 properties has been completed while survey of remaining 2,991 properties has to be completed.

The meeting also observed that the properties in the process for vesting numbering 5,863 should also be surveyed at the earliest.

It was further decided that the distribution of pension through banks to the freedom fighters under Swantratra Sainik Samman Yojana should be streamlined by strengthening Pension Distribution Monitoring Cell (PDMC) to reconcile on monthly basis.

It was informed that 73 percent of Pension Accounts have been linked to Aadhaar by the Banks.

The Division was given the target to achieve 100 percent linkage at the earliest by coordinating with all 23 banks.

The rehabilitation issues relating to Sri Lankan Tamilians staying in 107 camps and Tibetan refugees were also reviewed.

The Division has been advised to handle such issues to ensure good living conditions to the refugees.

The progress of developmental activities for settling about 1,000 returnees from former Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and infrastructure development in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in Cooch Behar District of West Bengal was also reviewed at the meeting.

So far, Rs 413 crores has been released to Government of West Bengal for developing the infrastructure.

The progress of the implementation should be monitored regularly to ensure timely completion of the project to rehabilitate the returnees, the Home Minister said.

Other attendees at the meeting were Minister of State for Home Affairs, Hansraj Ahir, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs. (ANI)