WB Govt announces financial relief for 138 workers returning from J&K

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Tuesday that 138 laborers that returned from Jammu and Kashmir will get Rs 50,000 from the Government. The relief will help them to establish new means of livelihood. The 138 workers returned to West Bengal after terrorists killed five laborers in Jammu and Kashmir.  

'Workers will receive financial assistance shortly' 

"We have also decided to provide Rs 50,000 to each of these persons so that they can start their fresh livelihood here again. They will receive the financial assistance very shortly," she announced. The Chief Minister also said the laborers would be brought under the beneficiaries' schemes of the state government schemes like Khadya Sathi, Banglar Awas Yojana, etc for which they are entitled. 

The Workers were bought back citing security issues. Earlier, the workers had issued concerns and said if they were not provided with jobs and assistance from the government they would have no option but to return to the Kashmir Valley. "We went to Kasmir for Plywood work. We were brought back here after five laborers were killed in Kashmir. If the Government gives us proper facilities to stay and give us jobs, then we will stay here. Else, we have no option but to return to Kashmir to feed ourselves, a laborer said. 

READ | West Bengal: Migrant workers who returned from Kashmir demand jobs

5 laborers from West Bengal killed

On October 29, terrorists killed five laborers from West Bengal at Katrasu in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Police sources said the labourers were staying at their rented accommodation when the terrorists barged inside, dragged them out, and then shot them. Five of the laborers succumbed to their injuries. Three more laborers are still missing according to sources. 

Several incidents of violence have been reported against migrant truck drivers and businesspersons. Earlier, a trucker from Udhampur district was killed by terrorists in Anantnag District of Jammu and Kashmir. On October 24, militants killed two non-Kashmiri truck drivers in the Shopian district and set their apple-laded vehicles on fire. 

READ | Mamata Banerjee to bring back 131 West Bengal workers from Kashmir

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