New Delhi: Union government has decided to shift Rohingya refugees to Economic Weaker Section (EWS) flats in New Delhi. Around 1,100 Rohingyas staying in tents will be shifted into flats equipped with basic facilities and round-the-clock security.
However, on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs clarified that no such decision has been taken. This comes after Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri applauded the “landmark decision” of relocating the Rohingya refugees.
According to media reports, on Tuesday, the decision was taken after a high-level meeting over the accommodation of Rohingya in the national capital was held. The meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary of Delhi Naresh Kumar and was attended by senior officials of the Delhi government, Delhi Police and Ministry of Home Affairs.
In the meeting that was held during the last week of July, it was emphasised that the Delhi government was bearing around Rs 7 lakh per month rent for the tents where Rohingyas were shifted in the Madanpur Khadar area after a fire incident happen in the camp where they were living.
These refugees will now be shifted to New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) flats in Bakkarwala village of Outer Delhi. “There is a total of 250 flats belonging to the EWS category where all 1,100 Rohingyas, currently residing in the Madanpur Khadar camp, will be accommodated,” said a senior official.
Delhi Police to provide security
In the meeting, Delhi Police were instructed to provide security to the premises where these flats are located and the Social Welfare department of the Delhi Government had been ordered to ensure basic facilities like a fan, three times meals, landline phone, television and recreational facilities in the new campus.
Delhi government has been ordered to equip the flat with basic amenities and hand it over to FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Offices) which will felicitate the shifting of Rohingya into these flats.
During COVID, NDMC had provided these flats in the Bakkarwala area to the Delhi government for isolation of suspected cases of coronavirus infection. All Rohingyas who will be shifted to these flats hold the unique ID of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and their details are on record.
Rohingya Muslims
Rohingya Muslims are described by the United Nations as the most persecuted minority in the world.
They fled their homes in 2017 to escape an alleged crackdown by Myanmar’s military.
To escape discrimination and violence in Myanmar, minority Rohingya Muslims have for decades fled from the Buddhist-majority country to neighbouring Bangladesh and other countries, including India.
Puri hails government’s decision
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday hailed the government’s decision.
He tweeted, “India has always welcomed those who have sought refuge in the country. In a landmark decision all #Rohingya #Refugees will be shifted to EWS flats in Bakkarwala area of Delhi. They will be provided basic amenities, UNHCR IDs & round-the-clock @DelhiPolice protection”.
(The story has been edited with inputs from the News Desk)
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