XI LOK SABHA DEBATES,   Session V (Monsoon) 

Thursday, August 07/Shravana 16, 1919 (Saka)



Type of Debate:	SPECIAL MENTION

Title:	Need to direct the Haryana Govt. to rehabilitate Eighty
Bengali-Refugee widow families along with their minor children who were
brought to Karnal.

TEXT :
 DR.  ASIM BALA (NAVADWIP):  Thank you, Sir.

	Some Bengali refugee-widows with their small children, after the death
of their husbands, crossed over to India from  the  erstwhile  East  Pakistan,
which is  now,  Bangladesh.  They have been given Eligibility Certificates and
Permanent Rehabilitation Numbers.

	Eighty such Bengali refugee-widow  families  along  with  their  minor
children were  brought  to Karnal in Haryana in 1968.  The Government of India
had given some plans for rehabilitation.  But in 1986 a landmark agreement was
made and signed by Shri S P Chandra, the Director, Social Welfare  Department,
Haryana for  additional rehabilitation.  It is very sad that the Government of
Haryana has passed eviction orders on 28.07.1997  and  so,  police  force  was
deployed at the Mahila Ashram, Karnal; and the sons of the widows were stopped
from entering  the  Mahila Ashram, Karnal.  So, they remain outside the Ashram
which means in the street or in the open air.

	In view of this, action may please  be  taken  against  the  Director,
Social  Security  and Defence, Haryana for violation of the agreement of 1986,
signed by the then Director, Social Welfare Department, Haryana.  Due to this,
mental and physical torture, harassment,  exploitation,  etc.,  are  going  on
against the  Bengali  refugee-families who remain in the Mahila Ashram.  Their
sons may also please be allowed inside the Ashram.

	Therefore, I would like to urge the Government through you, Sir,  that
the  Central  Government  may  send  a  message  to  the Haryana Government to
rehabilitate them immediately.  Thank you.




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