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| AZAD FAVOURS RETURN OF KASHMIR PANDITS TO KASHMIR | | ‘HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE TO ADDRESS MIGRANT ISSUES’ | |
Jammu, November 7
Making a fresh attempt to woo Kashmir pandits, living in exile in their own state for last 17 years in different parts of country, Chief Minister, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday promised community members that a high level committee of senior officers of the Government will be constituted to study issues related to their better rehabilitation and suggest measures to address their genuine concerns.
Speaking at a one-day conference of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu Chief Minister also issued a passionate appeal to the displaced community to return to Kashmir where separate flats had been constructed at Sheikhpora in Budgam district.
He said ever since coalition government took charge the security scenario had witnessed marked improvement and it was time for Pandits to return to Kashmir. He also advised migrants not to treat this facility as permanent settlement but as transit camps.He said once the migrants started returning to the valley tenements at Mattan and Khirbhawani would also be completed which was to be followed by measures for permanent resettlement of the displaced people.
He said return of Pandits to Kashmir could further improve the situation resulting in reestablishment of age-old traditional amity and brotherhood. Mr Azad said that the distance between Pandits and muslims had been narrowed down and it was time for the members of the displaced community to take advantage of the rehabilitation plan. He also promised community members that he will discuss issue of enhancement of cash relief with the centre government in the wake of steep price hike of essential commodities in the recent years.
In few days, “I will set up a high level committee which will look in to your demands before submitting its report to me, Azad said amidst thundering applause from the community members.
He said on the basis of the report the Government would tackle problems connected with their return to Kashmir and to improving their economic lot.
Pandit leaders also apprised the Chief Minister about nonpayment of rent by the security forces for their houses they had occupied since 1990.
Mr Azad assured them that the matter would be examined by the Government. He said the security forces may not be able to vacate the houses but arrangements were to be made where each landlord received rent on time.
The Pandit leaders demanded reservation for the community people in Government departments. They wanted that migrants living outside the camps be treated at par with camp people while releasing cash incentives.They said that all migrants be provided with free ration and compensation for the rent they were paying.They also wanted the state Government to supply electricity free of cost to the displaced people and take in hand steps for improving the living conditions in the camps. A demand was made for releasing free ration and cash assistance to all those Pandit employees who had retired during the last 16 years.
Giving an assurance to Kashmiri Pandits that complaints about fraudulent transfer of land and houses, belonging to the migrants, in connivance with revenue officials he said, such people would be dealt with strictly and guilty will be brought to book.
Mr Azad also assured Pandit leaders that the Government was committed to improve their living standard and said that the state Government will take up employment for displaced youths with the Government of India. He said a large number of Pandit employees had retired during the last 16 years and a way would be found to provide jobs to the unemployed youths belonging to the displaced community. |
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