Govt to shut transit camps, move Pandit staff to flats

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 22

The state government has decided to shut the transit camps for displaced Kashmiri Pandit employees in the Valley in phases after concerns were expressed by security agencies over their vulnerability to mob attacks.

During the 2016 unrest, these temporary camps at Haal (Pulwama), Nutnusa (Kupwara) and Vessu (Anantnag) had come under intense attacks of mobs following the killing of Hizb militant commander Burhan Wani. This forced 2,000 employees, posted in different districts of the Valley, to shift back to Jammu.

A majority of the Pandit youth who had returned to the Valley under the Prime Minister’s employment package in 2010 had been housed in the transit camps that were constructed in 2004-05 when late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was heading the PDP-Congress government.

Sources said the government was waiting for the completion of 400 multi-storey flats at Vessu (Anantnag) and 96 units at Sheikhpora (Budgam) so that employees could be provided secure housing units.

The Haal transit camp is also likely to be shifted as it has become unsuitable for living due to the damage caused by mobs. Sheikhpora already has flats which house Pandits and the new units will create more space for employees belonging to the minority community.

“The Pandit employees will have to rejoin because there will be no compromise on this condition but some of them have genuine issues of accommodation and security consideration which will be taken care of. The construction of flats at Vessu and Sheikhpora will be completed by the year-end and employees will be shifted,” said a senior administrative official.

The sources said Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had been sympathetic towards the woman teaching staff posted in educational institutions in the militancy-infested areas in the volatile south Kashmir.

Officials said 723-kanal land had been identified to build housing units at places excluding Vessu and Sheikhpora. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 1,618.40 crore in 2008-2009 for it but the work was stalled due to the prevailing security conditions.

“Their issue is being discussed at the highest level in the government and their problems will be sorted out. In fact, after our assurances, some of the employees, who were not willing to return, began resuming their duties,” said ML Raina, Relief Commissioner (M).

However, taking up their safety, All Party Migrant Coordination Committee chairman Vinod Pandit said, “It is not that the displaced Pandits don’t want to return but the problem is of housing and education of children. Due to the prevailing situation who will guarantee their safety? They returned voluntarily to resettle but have faced worst situation. These issues need to be sorted out.”

Security concerns  

• Security agencies have expressed concern as mobs had attacked Haal (Pulwama), Nutnusa (Kupwara) and Vessu (Anantnag) camps during the unrest in 2016 
• This forced 2,000 employees, posted in different districts of the Valley, to shift back to Jammu
• The government is awaiting the completion of 400 multi-storey flats at Vessu (Anantnag) and 96 units at Sheikhpora (Budgam)