Refugee population may soon go up to 8 millions
NEW DELHI, JUNE 19. – The influx of refugees from Bangladesh is expected to reach the figure of eight million in the near future, judging from the present rate, reports UNI.
According to official sources the largest number of refugees to enter India in any single week came in the first week of June. Within a week the refugee population went up from 3,600,000 to 4,900,000. In the second week another 800,000 refugees entered the Border States to swell the number to 5.7 millions. At this rate, it is feared the figure may well reach eight million very soon.
Out of the 5.7 million refugees only 3.6 millions are in the 535 camps set up in the border States. The others are staying with their friends and relatives. But these refugees also are likely to seek admission in the camps since they cannot stay on with their friends and relations indefinitely.
According to information available up to the end of the second week of June West Bengal has 4,365,418 refugees. However, 1,589,547 of them are outside the camps. Assam has 187,609, Meghalaya 254,024, Tripura 955,264 and Bihar 4,857.
Apart from incurring direct expenditure on various items, the Central Government had so far advanced to the State Governments concerned Rs. 1,620 lakhs for giving relief to the refugees.
A sum of Rs. 8 crores has been advanced to the Food Corporation of India for purchasing adequate quantities of food grains and other essential commodities and for stocking them in their godowns in the border areas. The Corporation has asked for a further advance of Rs. 10 crores which will be released shortly.
For providing relief to the refugees in camps for six months it is estimated Rs. 180 crores will be required.
Feeding the refugees alone for the next six months is expected to cost about Rs. 75 crores.
The foodgrains required will be 362,500 metric tons of rice, 7,500 tonnes of salt, 15,000 tonnes of edible oil, 30,000 tonnes of sugar, 67,500 tonnes of pulses, 10,125 tonnes of milk powder, 1,012 tonnes of baby food and 675 millions multi-vitamin tablets.
The Department of Rehabilitation has fixed the monetary ceiling at Re. 1 per head per day in West Bengal and Rs. 1.10 per head per day for Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura for supply for foodgrains to the refugees. The prescribed quantity of food-stuff per head is : rice 400 gms, dal 100 gms, and vegetables 3,000 gms.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 20.06.1971