Pandits press for better living conditions at transit camps : The Tribune India

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Pandits press for better living conditions at transit camps

A view of Jagti township for migrants in Nagrota. Tribune file photo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 7

Displaced Kashmiri Pandits today urged the PDP-BJP coalition government to improve living conditions at transit camps, which house community youths employed under the Prime Minister employment package.

In a statement, the Jagti Tenement Committee (JTC) alleged that the state government had failed to address the concerns of youths who returned to the Valley under the PM package.

“A majority of youths engaged under the employment package are forced to rent private accommodation or share rooms at the transit camps. We also demand speeding up of the construction of 6,000 three-room set quarters at the transit camps,” said SL Pandita, JTC president.

Community members have expressed grave concern over authorities ignoring Pandit youths while carrying out a recruitment drive despite several of them having cleared physical tests and interviews. The JTC, which is a representative organisation of displaced living in the camps, demanded a special drive for allowing youths to join the police.

Pandita said despite a lapse of more than eight years when then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced a rehabilitation package for the community, only 2,200 posts had been filled while 3,800 posts were yet to be filled.

The JTC also expressed its concern over the government slackness in filling up the remaining posts under the employment package. “The government should come up with a clear stand for ensuring implementation of the employment package in its letter and spirit. It should fill up the remaining posts immediately and give an opportunity of employment to the eligible migrant youths,” said Raj Kumar Tikku, another member of the organisation.

The Centre had also approved another package on November 18, 2015, involving an estimated expenditure of Rs 2,000 crore for providing 3,000 state government jobs to the Kashmiri migrants and construction of transit accommodation in the Valley but the state is yet to take any step following opposition from separatists.