Opportunities must for Kashmiri pandit youth in Valley: Omar

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Akbar Majid

23 March, 2011

Omar Abdullah enumerated measures and steps afoot to create conducive atmosphere for the return of Kashmiri pandits to the Valley. However, he said the restoration of sense of security was imperative to help enable large scale return of the pandits.

CHIEF MINISTER of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that while the government is working on a multi-faceted programme for return of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) to the Kashmir Valley, the key to its success is in restoration of sense of security in them on this count.

“Creation of economic opportunities for Kashmiri Pandit youth and reservation in government jobs for them are being focused as a meaningful incentives to the community to encourage their return to the Valley in a conducive and peaceful atmosphere”, he said.

Omar added that the upliftment of those Kashmiri Pandits who have not left the Valley during the disturbance is also equally important as they are bereft of the benefits available to the migrant Kashmiri Pandits under PMRP and other schemes.

Talking to a group of students from University of Chicago (USA), who are here currently working on a research project on Kashmiri Pandits, the Chief Minister said that Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh recently inaugurated the satellite-township of two-room tenement at Jagti, Nagrota for Kashmiri Pandit migrants living in camps in Jammu.

The Chief Minister said that about 2,500 Kashmiri Pandit youth have been provided jobs in the Valley and job orders for equal number is in the pipeline. “This is as a part of the initiative taken to encourage younger generation to return to the Valley and get involved in the economic and life activities”, he said, adding that transit accommodation and other required facilities have also been put in place for these youth.

“There is tremendous improvement in the situation since the KPs migration from the Valley. However, the complete restoration of peace and total elimination of fear psychosis has to be worked out”, he said and added that Government is doing whatever possible with the assistance of Union government to make effective dent in this regard.

“About 3 lakh KPs visited Mela Kheer Bhawani in the Valley last year in a conducive atmosphere and hopefully this trend will further improve giving boost to the confidence of KPs regarding their return”, he said.

University of Jammu is hosting the group of students from University of Chicago, USA and assisting them in their research project on Kashmiri Pandit migrants.