Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 3: The Union Government has proposed to constitute a 10-member committee of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) to monitor implementation of return and rehabilitation package of the displaced Pandits from Valley.
The panel, according to the proposal of the Union Home Ministry, includes representatives from migrant camps of Jagti, Muthi and Purkhu besides representatives of various KP organisations.
The proposal has been sent to Governments of Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi, asking them to consult various associations of Kashmiri migrants and offer inputs in the matter at the earliest.
The proposed Committee was framed following the series of meetings held by some heads of KP organizations with the Union Home Ministry officials in New Delhi in the month of January and February this year.
Sources in Union Home Ministry while confirming that such a proposal has been mooted and submitted to the State Government said the Government is contemplating to constitute a penal for comprehensive solution of long standing issues of displaced Pandits including their honourable and dignified return and rehabilitation in Kashmir valley.
Sources said that the decision of constituting a Committee of displaced Pandits was taken by the Centre which will be consulted from time to time on vital issues concerning the community as well as on the proposed return and rehabilitation of the Community. Earlier, leaders of many KP organizations were meeting the Union Government representatives in Delhi claiming to be the real representatives of the Displaced Pandits and to avoid this confusion in future the Government has proposed a Committee with whom it can discuss issues concerning the displaced people in future including its safe and dignified return and rehabilitation in Valley, sources added.
The proposed committee includes representatives of SK Foundation (Sunil Shakdhar), Sampooran Kashmir Sangathan (Anoop Koul), All India Kashmir Samaj (Vijay Aima), Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch (Ajay Bharti), Panun Kashmir (Ashwani Charungoo), Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (K K Khosa), Jagti Tenements Committee (S L Pandita), Muthi camp (Payrey Lal), Purkhu camp (Daya Kishen), and Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (R K Bhat).
It may be recalled that various meetings were convened by Union Home Ministry during last over one year on return and rehabilitation of displaced Pandits representatives under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister of State Hari Bhai Choudhary. Some meetings were also attended by Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States Dr Jitendra Singh also, sources added.
Sources said the opinion was framed from these meetings that a Committee of displaced Pandits be constituted to be consulted on issues concerning them from time to time.
When contacted Dr Jitendra Singh said the proposal was mooted earlier. He, while reiterating the commitment of Modi Government on dignified and honourable return and rehabilitation of displaced Pandits in Valley said this is a commendable initiative of Union Home Ministry.
It may be recalled that Narendra Modi Government, after assuming office in 2014, had announced an over Rs 500-crore package for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants.
This year’s budget saw that more than half of the Rs 580 crore fund allocated for the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants remained unutilised during 2015-16 fiscal.
According to the Union budget, Rs 580 crore was allocated during 2015-16 but as per revised estimates, only Rs 280 crore was provided, leaving Rs 300 crore unutilized.
Showing keen interest for rehabilitation of the displaced Pandits the Union Government not only issued directives to State Government to expedite the recruitment process under PM’s job package announced way back in 2008 by then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh which is still hanging in balance.
The Centre also agreed to bear the salaries for 3000 jobs out of 6000 jobs under PM’s package which otherwise were to be borne by State Government after the State Government showed its reluctance to bear salaries of these posts due to paucity of funds.
Not only this but the Centre also approved construction of 6000 quarters for the package employees in the Valley and out of which construction of 100 quarters each at Vessu in Kulgam district of South Kashmir and Sheikhpora in Budgam district in Central Kashmir has been started, sources said.
When contacted Secretary Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Afzal Bhat said that a proposal for construction of over 2000 quarters for migrants has also been sent to the Finance Department for approval few days back.
It may be recalled that there are about 62,000 registered Kashmiri migrant families in the country who left Kashmir valley due to the start of militancy/terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 1990s.
Besides this, the Prime Minister, during his visit to Kashmir valley in November last year, had announced a package of over Rs 80,000 crore for the State, of which Rs 5,263 crore were meant for security and welfare of displaced people of the State.
This included amounts towards jobs for Kashmiri migrants, rehabilitation of families from Chhamb and PoK, construction of houses, and setting up of five India Reserve Battalions.
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