Majority of them back to work: Div Com
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 7 : Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang Kundbarao Pole today said that the administration is releasing the salary of the Kashmiri Pandit employees as majority of them have resumed their duties in Kashmir.
Pole said that a majority of Kashmiri Pandit employees, who had stopped work following the killing of Rahul Bhat last year, have returned to duties.
“I reject this notion that all Kashmiri Pandit employees are protesting in Jammu. A majority of these employees have already joined their offices (and) we are releasing their salaries. They have understood the importance of reporting to work,” the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, said.
Pole said while police personnel will be deployed for the security of these accommodations, preference has been given to set up these flats near CRPF camps so that the occupants feel a sense of security and protection.
He said the compounds for Kashmiri Pandits employees will have other facilities like mini hospitals, Anganwari centres and fair price retail shops.
“Till now, 600 flats are completed at Vessu (Kulgam) and Sheihkpura (Budgam) areas. Prefabricated huts have been provided at Natnusa and Veerwan in Baramulla. By March 2023, nearly 500 flats will be completed and in June 2023, we are expecting the completion of 2,000 flats,” the Divisional Commissioner added.
Ater the killing of Bhat, Pandit employees left Kashmir and protested in Jammu, demanding that they be relocated out of the Valley till the security situation improved here.
Though the administration agreed to look into most of the demands of the Pandits, it refused to relocate them out of Kashmir. It further hardened its stand against the protesting employees and stopped salaries of those who did not return to work.
A Pandit employee leader told Excelsior no doubt majority of the employees in Srinagar returned to work but in other districts they have not as they fear for their lives.
Under the PM package, 6000 Pandits have been provided jobs in the Valley and administration is also constructing 6000 flats for them for their security and safety.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
