Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir Valley

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7-Dec-2022: Security of Kashmiri Pandits in Valley

The Government has a policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir. There has been substantial decline in terrorist attacks from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021. 14 persons belonging to minorities including 3 Kashmiri   Pandits   have  been  killed  in   Union  Territory  of  Jammu  and Kashmir since January, 2022 till 30th November, 2022. There were certain media reports of Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti highlighting their security concerns. Various measures have been taken by the Government to protect the lives of minorities which include: -

  1. Group security in the form of static guards;
  2. Day and night area domination;
  3. Round the clock Nakas at strategic points;
  4. Patrolling and speculative Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs);
  5. Security arrangements through appropriate deployment. Inter-alia a robust security and intelligence grid is in place in Jammu and Kashmir to thwart any attempt at the hands of the terrorists.

26-Jul-2022: Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir

As per information provided by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, no Kashmiri Pandit working under the Prime Minister’s Development Package has resigned recently in protest of the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit in Kashmir Valley.

The Government has taken several measures to ensure safety of Kashmiri Pandits in the valley.  These include a robust security and intelligence grid, day & night area domination, proactive operations against terrorists, round the clock checking at Nakas, patrolling in the areas where the Kashmiri Pandits reside, deployment of Security Forces at strategic points to thwart any terrorist attack.

Under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP), 5502 Kashmiri Migrants have been provided Government jobs. Government has also approved construction of 6000 transit accommodations for Kashmiri Migrant employees engaged/to be engaged in different departments of Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir in the valley.  Further, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has launched a portal on 7.9.2021 to address the grievances of Kashmiri Migrants.

17-Mar-2021: Return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir Valley

As per the report of Relief Office setup in 1990 by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, 44,167 Kashmiri Migrant families are registered who had to move from the valley since 1990 due to security concerns.  Out of these, the count of registered Hindu Migrant families is 39,782.

Special Jobs for the Kashmiri migrant youth under the PM package has been an important  component  for  the  rehabilitation   of   Kashmiri migrants. A total of nearly 3800 migrant candidates have returned to Kashmir in the last few years to take up the PM package jobs. Post abrogation of Article 370, as many as 520 migrant candidates have returned to Kashmir for taking up the jobs that have been provided to them under the rehabilitation package. Another nearly 2,000 migrant candidates are also likely to return under the same policy in the year 2021 on successful completion of the Selection process.

The Government has devised policies for Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants, under the Prime Minister’s Packages in 2008 and 2015 for Return and Rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants to Kashmir Valley.

Various components of these policies are given as below: -

  1. Housing: In order to encourage the rehabilitation of Kashmir Migrants back at their ancestral places in Kashmir Valley, the government announced the following incentives in order to help those families which were desirous of settling back at their original places or residence.
    1. Assistance @Rs. 7.5 Lacs for repairing their fully or partially damaged house.
    2. Rs. 2 Lakh for dilapidated/unused houses.
    3. Rs. 7.5 Lakh for purchase/construction of a house in group housing societies for those who have sold their properties during the period after 1989 and before the enactment of JK Migrant Immovable Property Preservation, Protection and Restraint of Distress Sale 1997.
  2. Enhancement in cash assistance: Cash relief has also being provided to Kashmiri Migrants, which has been increased from time to time i.e. Rs. 500 per family in 1990 is raised to Rs. 13,000 per family @Rs. 3250 per person.
  3. Employment: Out of a total of 6,000 posts announced under PM Packages, nearly 3,800 Kashmiri Migrants have been rehabilitated directly by way of providing government employment. These employees are working in various districts of Kashmir Valley, which include Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara, Pulwama, Bandipora, Anantnag and Ganderbal. Remaining posts are also at final stages of recruitment.
  4. Construction of Transit Accommodation- In order to provide accommodation to the 6,000 Kashmiri Migrants who are getting employed in the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the valley, 6,000 Transit Accommodation units are being constructed for Kashmiri Migrants Employees in various districts of Kashmir Valley at an estimated cost of Rs.920 Cr. So far, 1,025 dwelling units have already been constructed which include 721 dwelling units in the district of Budgam, Kulgam, Kupwara, Anantnag and Pulwama. Another 1,488 units are under construction and land has been identified for about 2444 units.