J&K CM hands over appointment orders to 1706 education KP youth

Scoop News December 05, 2010

Jammu, December 5 (Scoop News) –Flagging economic security as an essential ingredient in the rehabilitation and return of Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrants to the valley, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Sunday said that much progress has been achieved in creating sense of security in them for return to their native place.

The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering of Kashmiri Pandit migrants at a function held here to distribute appointment orders for government jobs to the candidates selected by Service Selection Board under the Prime Minister’s package for Kashmiri migrant educated youth.

The package is the component of a comprehensive programme to encourage the return of Kashmiri migrants to their native land and live in peace and palatable environment.

As many as 6000 jobs are being created in various government departments for Kashmiri migrants in two phases. Under the first phase 1706 selection have been made by the Service Selection Board through the process of selection while 1300 such selections are in the pipe line. The migrant educated youth selected would serve in the valley in various departments and help return of migrant families.

Omar Abdullah recalling the saga of bloodshed and disturbance during the period of militancy said that the lack of sense of security and fear psychosis compelled the Kashmiri Pandits to leave the valley. “You have suffered a lot. You went through a difficult period. Your new generation is unaware of the cultural heritage and secular amity Kashmir has been abode for ages”, he said adding that more practical action was required to encourage the rehabilitation and return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.

“So far we only heard slogans in your favour and in favour of your return to Kashmir”, he said adding that creation of economic security by way of providing jobs in government sector to young educated Kashmiri Pandits in the valley was a concrete step in this direction. “It will prove an important milestone in restoring their confidence and return to the valley”, said Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister said that his government would work in tandem with the Union Government to work for more and more job securities and economic welfare of Kashmiri migrants along with enhancing their sense of security. He said state government would take every measure for the welfare and upliftment of the community.

Omar said that befitting accommodation at various places in Kashmir has been created while many such housing complexes are in the pipeline. He said 4000 unit Jagti Housing Colony near Nagrota, Jammu was likely to be completed by January next year adding that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi would be invited to inaugurate this complex. However, he expressed the hope that a day will come when such migrant colonies would not be required anymore and all Kashmiri migrants be the part of civil society in the valley.

The function was also addressed by the Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla, Minister for Education Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed and Minister of State for Revenue and Rehabilitation Nasir Aslam Wani.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Medical Education R.S. Chib, Minister of State for Health Javed Ahmad Dar, Political Advisor to Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana, Legislator Vijay Bakaya and members of Apex Advisory Committee of Kashmiri Pandits and senior officers among others.

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