Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 27: Terming the much touted about Rehabilitation Policy for the former militants as hoax, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president, Mehbooba Mufti has said not coming up to the promises made to those who had returned from Pakistan, bracing unimaginable hardships and other pressures, has once again exposed the insensitivity of the rulers when it comes to dealing with the affairs of the State.
Speaking at a public gathering at Tral, she said backtracking on the promises made to the ex-militants is very unfortunate. She also said the acute development deficit faced by Tral needed a special focus and the PDP on the first opportunity would try to develop it as a model of planned development.
Mehbooba said the Government has turned a blind eye to a serious humanitarian issue- the education and social rights of their children and spouses. They had crossed the LoC as young people, but are returning with their large families; risking their lives during their journey from Pakistan to Kashmir, but have been left high and dry. The former militants face economic insecurity, are jobless and their children and spouses face an identity crisis, because of the insensitive dispensation, she said. In the given situation their children face a dark future, as no school or college here is ready to lend them admissions. The Government should take immediate steps for their honorable rehabilitation in the state, so that they could live a dignified life along with their families, she demanded.
Mehbooba said, though, the entire State is facing the huge development freeze over last five years of now, but Tral has been among the worst hit areas. Given the topography of Tral, it offers a huge potential for tourism, livestock, horticulture and agriculture, but has unfortunately remained untapped, so for. The area, besides very close to the Srinagar-Jammu national highway and in proximity with Srinagar, has been completely ignored by the government, but PDP has a complete road map and vision for its development, she said.
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