Kashmiri migrants
Kashmiri migrant pundits have been told in the past three decades by different political dispensations that they would be brought back to Kashmir and would be given huge opportunities of employment. Many packages were announced by many Central Governments in the past, but the return of Kashmiri Pandits remained a pipe-dream. Kashmiri Pandits have been living outside J&K State for more than three decades and many of them are now so much settled that they don’t want to return back. However, there are many Kashmiri Pandits who are very keen to return and live in Kashmir.
Recently Governor’s administration took note of the status report submitted by the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) regarding employment to Kashmiri migrants.
3000 posts of various categories were created under the Prime Ministers Re-Construction Package (PMRP) for Kashmiri Migrants in 2010. Selections against 2905 posts have been made till date. Under the PMDP-2015, 3000 supernumerary posts were created out of which 2865 posts have been refereed, 1802 posts advertised and selection list against 914 posts issued.
SAC directed the department to ensure completion of pending selections under the PM Package by September, 2019. As regards construction of transit accommodations for migrant employees in Kashmir valley, SAC directed the DMRR&R Department to complete the tendering process for the remaining transit accommodations by September, 2019.
Apart from these measures, the government will have to do the extra efforts for the rehabilitation and for the return of Kashmiri Pandits as they are important part of Kashmir ethos and culture. Kashmir is in complete without them and at the community level also there are efforts going on for the return of Kashmiri Pandits.
Recently Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, held series of meetings with Kashmiri Pandit delegations and said that their organization will work on the ground for the return of Kashmiri Pandits and declared that they are part and parcel of Kashmir.