Not much progress made in implementation of PM package for migrants
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 30: Notwithstanding decline in terrorist violence and infiltration attempts by Pakistan based and aided militants in Jammu and Kashmir, there is no room for complacency as the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) remains intact and infiltration attempts are still being made from across the border.
These words of caution have been conveyed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs by the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs of Rajya Sabha headed by M Venkaiah Naidu in its report presented to the Rajya Sabha on April 25, 2013 and laid on the table of Lok Sabha on April 26, 2013.
“No doubt there has been perceptible decline in terrorist violence and infiltration attempts from across the border but Government should not be complacent and remain vigilant constantly as terrorist infrastructure on other side of border remains intact and continue to pose a challenge to the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir”, the Committee said, adding “even the Ministry officers have reported that there are 42 militant camps functioning across the borders—25 in PoK and 17 in Pakistan with about 2500 militants”.
According to the MHA, terrorist violence statistics/parameters in 2012 were the lowest in Jammu and Kashmir since the start of insurgency about two decades ago. The situation in terms of terrorist violence has shown 35.29% decline in 2012 as compared to 2011 and the fatalities in respect of Security Forces personnel and civilians came down by 54.54% and 51.61% respectively in 2012 as compared to the previous year. A total of 72 terrorists were neutralized in 2012 in various encounters and operations.
Pointing towards the number of steps the Union Government is claiming to have taken to neutralize the efforts and capabilities of militants to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir, the Department Related Standing Committee said, “the impact of good governance should be visible at the ground level in the remotest areas of the Kashmir valley”, adding “the Union Government in tandem with State Government should make an all-out effort for socio-economic development of the State which could heal the deep wounds of people of Jammu and Kashmir victimized by terrorism”.
The Committee has recommended that the Government should also utilize “advocacy and publicity” to make people aware about terrorism and its negative fallout. “More employment opportunities should be provided to the youth of the State and private sector should also be encouraged in selecting youth from the area for employment”, it added.
About the rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, the Committee said, “it is a fact that relief is a State subject and the Central Government is not dealing with the individual cases of settlement of claims of affected persons. However, displacement of J&K migrants is one of the biggest mass level exodus of a group of people in the country”, adding “in view of this, they should be declared ‘internally displaced persons’ and the Central Government should take responsibility for their rehabilitation as the State Government is not coming forward with many proposals”.
Taking note of the rehabilitation attempts made under PM’s Package, the Committee said, “as against 2184 appointment letters issued to candidates, only 1446 persons joined. Explaining the reason for low number of persons joining the service, it was submitted that some of the selected persons do not want to join in Kashmir valley and also due to some of them getting appointment on two posts and they chose to join higher posts”, adding “we, therefore, recommend that the migrants should be given the choice in terms of place of joining the jobs—at a place where they feel safe and secure”.
The Committee has also recommended that remaining posts should also be filled up at the earliest and action be taken to get the cases in the courts settled at the earliest. The Committee has also expressed serious concern over the fact that nothing has been done by the Jammu and Kashmir Government to fill up remaining 3000 posts despite being its sole responsibility.
Taking serious note of the negative attitude of the State Government, the Committee has stressed that the Union Government should prevail upon the Jammu and Kashmir Government for filling up these posts as soon as possible.
Pointing towards the transit accommodation being created in the Kashmir valley, the Committee has recommended that the Government should make a comprehensive plan for constructing permanent accommodation for migrants so that they can live there peacefully along with their families.
“We are aware of the pitiable condition of the J&K migrants and note that much progress has not been made in the implementation of Prime Minister Package except in respect of employment and transit accommodation”, the Committee said, adding “on one side the migrants have failed to reach any consensus amongst themselves about the return to the Kashmir valley and on the other side the Government has not been able to create conducive environment in the valley so that the migrants feel safe to return to the valley”.
Stressing that Government should create a safe environment involving local communities in the valley so that these migrants could return, the Committee said, “the Prime Minister Package framed in 2008 needs some changes and the revised package should be finalized at the earliest.
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