Steps for Safe Return of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley

Memoranda have been received from time to time from various associations of Kashmiri Pandits for their return and rehabilitation in the Kashmir Valley. The Government from time to time has announced Packages for return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants such as in 2004 and in 2008. Under Prime Ministers Package 2004, 5242 two room tenements have been constructed in Jammu at four locations (Purkhoo, Muthi, Nagrota and Jagti) and have been allotted to the migrants. Further, 200 flats have been constructed at Sheikhpora in Budgam district (Kashmir Valley) and have been allotted to the migrants on sharing basis, who have joined the State Government service under employment component of Prime Ministers Package 2008. Out of these 200 flats, 31 flats have also been allotted to the local migrants who migrated from their native places to other places within the Kashmir Valley. A Comprehensive Package amounting to Rs.1618.40 crore was announced by the Government in 2008 for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, which provided for many comprehensive facilities for the migrants e.g. financial assistance for purchase/ construction of houses, construction of transit accommodation, continuations of cash relief to migrants, students scholarships, employment, assistance to the agriculturists and the horticulturist and Waiver of interest on unpaid loan, etc. The Package is being implemented by the J&K Government and till now, one family has returned to the Valley availing the benefit of Rs.7.5 lakh for construction of house. 1474 State Government jobs have been provided to the migrant youths and 469 Transit accommodations have been constructed in the Kashmir Valley and allotted to the newly appointed migrant employees under the Package. During the last one year, a series of deliberations have been held with the representatives of Kashmiri migrants and the State Government. The State Government has sent a proposal to the tune of Rs.5820 crore vide its letter dated 15.04.2014. The proposal has been examined and in the first phase in-principle approval has been conveyed to the State Government for providing 3000 state government jobs to the Kashmiri Migrants and construction of transit accommodations in the Valley for them. The State Government of J&K has also been requested for expediting the identification of suitable land in the valley for rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Migrants. The review of such plans and packages is a continuous process and will continue to remain so in order to remove the bottlenecks and shortcomings, if any. This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary in a written reply to Shri Sanjay Raut in the Rajya Sabha today.

Steps for Safe Return of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley

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