Job package leaves displaced Kashmiri Hindus families divided

The much-touted Prime Minister’s employment package for displaced Kashmiri Hindus has left families divided and has disrupted the education of their children, defeating the purpose of the ambitious plan to resettle 3.5 lakh minority Hindus in their homeland.
More than 2,500 youngsters have returned to the Valley since 2010 under the package, which is promoted as the biggest confidence building measure for the Pandits since 1989-90 when militancy broke out.
Employees are living in makeshift camps called transit accommodation constructed at Veesu (Anantnag), Haal (Pulwama), Baramulla and multi-storey flats at Sheikhpora (Budgam), where every room houses three to four persons.
The inability of the government to complete the construction of multi-storey apartments in Anantnag, Budgam and Baramulla has further frustrated the employees. Funds earmarked for the construction of a multi-storey housing unit lapsed, as the executing agencies failed to meet the deadline.
“Employees who have kept their families in Jammu in view of the accommodation shortage in makeshift transit camps face months of separation from their loved ones. Those who have shifted to the Valley along with their children feel frustrated by repeated disruption of education due to violence,” said Dharamveer, who works in the Education Department in Anantnag.
The race to get jobs and return to the Valley has separated many families. “Only few couples live and work together. Under the rehabilitation plan, the government had promised to provide accommodation,” said Rahul Bhat, who, along with his wife, is posted in Pulwama, while their five-year-old son is with his grandparents in Jammu.
The previous Congress-led UPA government led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had, on April 25, 2008, announced a Rs 1,618-crore package that included a job component for the return and rehabilitation of Pandits. It was a way to facilitate integration and bridge the gulf between the Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir, but majority of the representative organisations of the displaced Hindus said the plan had failed to address the issues of the community.
ML Raina, relief commissioner, said the turmoil since the summer of 2016 had slowed down the rehab process, but the government would address the concerns. “We understand problems confronting the employees and appropriate steps will be taken in the next few months to address their concerns,” Raina added.

Rs 1,618-crore outlay
The previous Congress-led UPA government led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had, on April 25, 2008, announced a Rs 1,618-crore package that included a job component for the return and rehabilitation of Pandits
It was a way to facilitate integration and bridge the gulf between the Hindus and Muslims of Kashmir
More than 2,500 youngsters have returned to the Valley since 2010