New Delhi
19 October 2005
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
has decided to pay more subsistence allowance to the refugees registered with it. There
are 9,700 Afghans and 1,400 Burmese registered with UNHCR in India today.
However, not all refugees are happy because only the "new" refugees who were
registered with UNHCR on or after August 1, 2005 are eligible for the revised
subsistence allowance.
The allowance will increase to Rs 2,245 from Rs 1,400 for newly recognised individuals
or the head of a family while additional family members will receive Rs 750, up from Rs
600. The upward limit for family allowances is Rs 7,500.
The UNHCR has said that the revised allowance will be valid for one year with the
refugees getting the full amount for the first six months and only half that amount for the
remaining period.
The decision to hike the allowance was recommended by an external consultant who, on
behalf of the UN agency, conducted a survey in May and June to study the living
conditions of the Burmese refugees in India.
The refugees who have been living in India for a decade or more accuse the UN agency
of discrimination and worry about the escalating cost of living and how this might affect
their children's education.
There is consternation among them the UNHCR, which introduced self-reliance program
a few years ago, may phase out the subsistence allowance and stop paying them the
cash after some time.
The UNHCR maintains that not all refugees fall in the "vulnerable category" and
therefore not entitled to the allowance.
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