Jammu and Kashmir government identifies land in valley for migrant pandits' transit accommodation
SRINAGAR: The PDP-BJP Coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir has identified 90 acres of land in Kashmir for setting up over 3400 transit accommodations for migrant Kashmiri Pandits.
“The J&K government has identified about 90 acres of land in seven districts of Kashmir for setting 3440 transit accommodations for migrant Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley,” a report prepared by Union Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed.
It further disclosed that the PDP-BJP government in the State has issued authoritisation to the executing agency for construction of 400 transit accommodations in Valley for the migrant Pandits.
Sources said the transit accommodations for migrant Kashmiri Pandits are likely to be set up in Central, North and South Kashmir.
The Pandits migrated enmasse from Kashmir after militancy erupted in 1989. The migrated Pandit families are living in Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country.
According to MHA report, at present, there are about 62,000 registered Kashmiri migrant families including Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in the country.
Of the 41462 Kashmiri migrant families living in Jammu province, 37347 families belong to Hindus including Kashmiri Pandits, 2252 are Muslim families and 1758 are Sikh families.
About 20,000 Kashmiri migrant families are living in Delhi/NCR and about 2000 families settled in other states.
The MHA report stated that constructing over 3400 transit accommodations in Valley for migrant Pandits is in addition to 505 transit accommodations already constructed in Kashmir.
These transit accommodations have come up in Sheikhpora in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district and Mattan and Haal in South Kashmir.
The central government had in November 2015 approved employment package for the migrant KP youth willing to perform their duties in the Valley.
“As per the package, about 3000 state government jobs would be provided to the migrant Kashmiri Pandits. The J&K government is implementing the package. So far the State Government has identified 3000 posts in 16 different departments and recruitment process is likely to be started soon,” reveals the MHA report.
In 2008, the central government had announced relief package for migrant Pandits for their return and rehabilitation to Kashmir.
The relief package had provision of 6000 state government jobs (3000 jobs with Central funding and 3000 jobs with State funding), financial assistance for purchase / construction of houses, construction of transit accommodations, continuation of cash relief to migrants, scholarship to students, assistance for self-employment, assistance to the agriculturists and the horticulturist, waiver of interest on unpaid loan, etc.
As per MHA report, so far the J&K government jobs have been provided to 1917 migrant Pandit youth.
It further disclosed that two migrant Pandit families have availed financial assistance for construction of houses in the Valley.
The Central government had announced assistance of Rs 7.5 lakhs to Pandit families willing to reconstruct their damages homes in the Valley.
The government is providing cash relief of Rs 10,000 to migrant Pandit family living in Jammu. Besides it also provides ration to the migrant families.