63.93% decrease in militancy related incidents in 2020: MHA

29.11% decrease in special forces fatalities

The Home Union Home Ministry (MHA) in its annual review report termed the recently concluded District Development Council (DDC) elections as the landmark decisions and said the militancy incidents have decreased by 63.93 per cent if compared with 2019 figures.

Also, there is a decrease in fatalities of special forces personnel by 29.11 per cent.

In the annual review report, the Home Ministry said that "The number of militant  incidents in 2020 (up to 15 November) decreased by 63.93 per cent as compared to the corresponding period in 2019."

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"There was also a decrease in fatalities of special forces personnel by 29.11 per cent and a decrease in casualties of civilians by 14.28 per cent in 2020 (up to 15th Nov) as compared to the corresponding period in 2019", the report reads.

The MHA report said that one-time financial assistance of Rs. 5.5 lakh per family provided to 36,384 displaced families from PoJK and Chhamb under Prime Minister Development package.

It said that a one-time financial assistance at the rate of Rs.5.5 Lakh per family for the 5,764 families of West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) in Jammu & Kashmir state is also be provided at par with displaced persons of PoJK and Chhamb.

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The report said that GoI has taken further steps towards Integration of the new UTs with the Union.

"Adaptation of central laws and state laws in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh. Orders were notified for adaptation of 48 central laws and 167 state laws in respect of UT of J&K. Orders relating to adaptation of 44 central laws and 148 state laws in UT of Ladakh were also notified." the annual review report said.

The report said that the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Removal of Difficulties) order, 2020 was notified on 31.03.2020.

"It removes difficulties with regard to section 75 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 for administering oath to new judges appointed to the common High Court for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh", it said.

"A bench of central administrative tribunal was established at Jammu on 08.06.2020", it said.

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"The Jammu and Kashmir official languages Act, 2020 was notified on 27.09.2020. The Act came into force w.e.f. 29.09.2020. Kashmiri, Dogri, Urdu, Hindi, and English have now become official languages of UT of J&K."

Date wise orders issued by MHA

6 March: CISF takes over the security of Jammu Airport Security of Srinagar Airport was handed over to the CISF on 26th February, the report said

4 April: MHA issued an order to make domiciles of J&K eligible for all government posts in the UT.

14 October: Union Cabinet approved a Special Package worth Rs 520 crore in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh for a period of five years till FY 2023-24 and ensure funding of DeendayalAntyodayaYojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in the UTs of J&K and Ladakh on a demand-driven basis without linking allocation with poverty ratio during this extended period.

ALSO READ: Srinagar: 3 militants killed, say police; families allege deceased were students

21 October: Cabinet approved the extension of the Market Intervention Scheme for procurement of apples in J&K for the year 2020-21 on the same terms and condition as was done last season i.e. 2019-20.

26 September: Delegation of Ladakhi veteran leaders met Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in New Delhi."Union Home Minister assured the delegation that the Government of India was committed to empowering the LAHDC of Leh and Kargil and would safeguard interests of the people of the UT of Ladakh. Following the assurances, the delegation agreed to withdraw its call for the boycott of the ensuing LAHDC, Leh elections," the report said, as per news agency KNO.

About the District Development Council (DDC) Elections in UT of Jammu & Kashmir MHA said that "The Government of India amended the Jammu & Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989 on 16.10.2020 to set up District Development Councils (DDCs) in each district of Jammu & Kashmir. In a landmark decision for the first time, West Pakistan’s refugees were entitled to exercise their franchise."

"The creation of this was the last and final step in establishing a fully functional Panchayati Raj System in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir as mandated under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, 1992," the report reads.

For the first time in history, DDC elections were held in the UT of J&K. The elections were held in eight phases from the last week of November to the third week of December.

"2,178 candidates contested for 280 constituencies. Out of a total of 58,34,458 eligible electors, 30,00,185 cast their votes accounting for a net turnout of 51.42 per cent," the report said, while stating that it reflects the commitment of the Prime Minister of India to strengthen grassroots democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. (Agencies)

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