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| J&K Govt's oblique 'no' to rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley, denies accommodation to returnee employees | | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 15: Citing ruthless bureaucratic technicalities, Jammu and Kashmir Government has obliquely backed off from rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants back in various parts of Kashmir valley. It has drawn a definition of its own of Kashmiri Pandit migrants.
For Government of Jammu and Kashmir, young Kashmiri Pandits who have returned to Valley just because of Government employment, have to be left on their own. Despite significant and worrisome increase in militancy related incidents across the Valley, State Government has out-rightly refused to take responsibility of providing safe residential houses to these youth belonging to Kashmiri Pandit community.
According to Revenue department, Kashmiri Pandit youth who have returned to Valley merely for employment purposes must mingle with local populace and hence, are to be left on their own. The department has said that it is not under any obligation to provide accommodation to those employees who have been appointed under Prime Minister's Relief and Rehabilitation Plan for Kashmiri Pandits and posted in various parts of Kashmir valley.
Revenue department has further said that the employees have to arrange accommodation at their own level at the places of posting. By this official communication, Revenue department has virtually asked the Kashmiri Pandit community to arrange for their living in Kashmir valley and stop looking towards the Government for providing them secure accommodations.
Using acute bureaucratic style, the revenue department has told Kashmiri Pandit youngsters who are in Valley that transit accommodation is not meant for them but for those families who intend to return to Kashmir valley as per Prime Minister's package. Thus, the State Government, according to Kashmiri Pandit leaders, has refused to allow young Kashmiri Pandit youngsters from making a beginning in Kashmir valley on their own.
What is more shocking is the fact that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has consented to this proposal of distinguishing between migrant families and migrant youngsters. According to Revenue department, the issue was deliberated upon in the last meeting of the Apex Advisory Committee for Relief and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits held on September 18, 2012 at Srinagar headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The department has claimed that during the meeting, it was explicitly made clear that the temporary accommodation provided to the migrant Kashmiri Pandit youngsters on sharing basis in different transits camps across the Kashmiri valley would be taken back from them because they are not entitled to it. It was further debated in the same meeting that these employees would have to arrange accommodation at their own level at the places of their posting.
Hence, the State Government has virtually confused the relief and rehabilitation package which is being funded directly by Union Ministry of Home Affairs under security related expenditure (SRE). Though it has accepted that Government of India has provided funds for construction of transit accommodation for Kashmiri Pandit migrants at various places across Kashmir valley but stressed that same is meant for Kashmir Pandit families and not the young employees who have shown the courage to return Kashmir despite being grave security risk.
Kashmiri Pandit leadership is appalled over this new distinction of Kashmiri Pandit rehabilitation package by the Revenue department. They have begun questioning intent of State Government and asking painful questions. According to these leaders, denying accommodation to the young Kashmiri Pandits who are returning for one reason or the other would be catastrophic. "It is these youngsters who are likely to stay in Valley. Why would someone who has got employment as well as business opportunities outside the Valley return? Government must review what it has said about Kashmiri Pandits," added a KP Leader. |
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