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Cutting migrants off

Sir,

It is with reference to your editorial "cutting migrants off" dated 31.10.2001 which has directly reminded the Farooq Government of the promises made a priorities fixed on the advent of his popular Government in 1996. The return of migrants from Kashmir was really said to be the top priority. Now the NC Government headed by Dr. Abdullah is about to complete its tenure the return of Kashmiri migrants remains as it was before 1996. i.e. a distant dream.

The people of the State in general and the migrant Kashmiri Pandits in particular had high hopes that Farooq will be able to surmount the ugly situation created by a handful of Islamic fanatics in the Valley in connivance with their think tanks across the line of Control. But the account of these six years, if taken, shows that no remarkable success has been made to bring the ground realities under control. The militancy during these years has not been taking the toll in Valley only but has also engulfed other peaceful areas of Jammu region as well not to talk of most sensitive and secured railway station of Jammu which too was not spared by the militants.

It was the common impression of the migrants that Dr. Farooq feels the Pain of this hapless lot so they hoped a handsome and appropriate percentage of job share in the Government services. The recruitment of KPs during his period is not more than 0.38 percent. Farooq Sahib must need give a thought to those families whose earning members have got since retired and who are still struggling to get their pension cases settled and final G P Fund refunded.

During past some time we have been reading the achievements of Farooq Govt, through advertisements in many local papers and national dailies. But how shall a person who has not been listened and his sufferings reduced can share the triumph of the State Government. Many laws were enacted by the NC Government in order to put a seal on distress sale of KPs left over property in the Valley but what has happened to that law, which even Dr. Sahib agrees to have failed by stating that almost every migrant has sold his property in the Valley.

The regularisation of adhoc employees on the posts of Kashmiri Pandits must scratch the dust on the wisdom of the central leadership which receive the wrong input in order to fill the belley of a few who are taken rather mistaken for the true bonafide mentors of the future of this exiled and striated community.

Yours etc...
Pawan K Pandita
Durga Nagar,
Jammu.

Promotee teachers' plea to CM

Sir,

Briefly expressing the tale of 400 migrant teachers who have been promoted to the Masters Grade during the period 1990 to 1998 and posted in various districts in Kashmir valley. These promotee teachers, senior most in the cadre, were unable to join their duties on promotion at respective places of postings in the Valley due to insecure situations there and having migrated to Jammu and other parts of country on this very compelling ground.

The woeful tale to these teachers has time and again been made known to the Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah requesting for amendment of para 2nd of Govt. order No. 362 on 12.1.1999, thus bestowing the rightful benefits of promotion till the time normalcy is achieved in the Valley and these teachers are able to join their respective places of postings. Dr. Farooq Abdullah the Chief Minister was benevolent enough to give assurance that matter would be resolved soon but inspite of lapse of 2 1/2 years by now no action has comeforth. Amongst this lot of promotee teachers about 200 have by now retired 5 of them are dead and left overs are only 200 and amongst them too, a large number is at the verge of their retirement. Amongst the existing 200 teachers few are already working in camp schools while a meagre number needs such adjustment.

Because of length of service these promotee teachers have almost crossed the minimum of the grade of Master and thus it will involve only meagre financial implication.

The Minister for Revenue J&K in March 2000 committed on the floor of the house that Government had agreed to give promotional benefits to the promotee masters and accordingly a meeting of the core committee with the delegation of the Displaced Promotee Teachers Forum was held on 17-12-2000 in Civil Sectt. Jammu Again assurance was given for the resolution of the problem the Cabinet meet by way of submitting a "Memo" injecting amendment to para 2 of Govt. Order No 362 thus making authorisation to pay the promotional benefits to these teachers. Since then two cabinet meetings were held but this issue was not a subject matter there.

In August/Sept 2001 the Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah visited the migrant camps and made public proclamation that the Government was going to give promotional benefits to the migrant employees. This reiterated assurance was taken as a word of promise by the promotee employees hoping that their miseries would be over as are related to this subject. But these have been assurances only but nothing positive has been there where the matter gets stuck is to be located so that issue gets solved. We pray to the Chief Minister in whom we have firm hopes and faith, to kindly give the commitment a practical shape so that the plight of these employees is over.

Yours etc...
Roshan Lal Raina
Vice President
Displaced Promotee Teachers, Forum ,
Jammu.