The State government has gone slow on procuring land for ‘composite townships’ for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley following differences between the coalition partners — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — on how the return of the migrant community should take place.
Sources said the coalition government had identified land in south Kashmir’s Vessu in Kulgam district, Qazigund in Anantnag and Khanpura in Baramulla. However, sources in the State’s Revenue and Home departments, said “the land procurement is very low for time being.”
Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary told Parliament on Monday that the Centre has asked the J&K government to identify land for the ‘composite townships.’
Sources said former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed had opposed “exclusive” colonies for Pandits and stressed on their “absorption in the Kashmiri milieu.”
Sources said while the BJP continues to stress on identification and procurement of land for Kashmiri Pandits, the PDP has underlined the need to “reintegrate the Pandit community” by promoting dialogue within the State first.
Around 505 transit accommodations already exist in Budgam, Anantnag, Baramulla and Ganderbal districts for the community. Around 5,242 two-room tenements were also constructed in Jammu’s Purkhoo, Muthi, Nagrota and Jagti areas.
Job schemeAs part of the reintegration process, 87 migrant Pandits have been employed in the Revenue, Finance, Social Welfare and Education departments in different districts of the Valley in 2015. At least 1917 Kashmiri Pandits have so far joined government jobs in the Valley. The Government plans to accommodate 15,000 unemployed migrant youth.
