Constitute board for us in Valley: Pandits

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 8

The Kashmir Hindu employees engaged under the Prime Minister's employment package have demanded establishment of a separate Development Board for Pandits in the Valley to address their issues.

A delegation met Union Minister of State (Home) G Krishan Reddy and urged the Central Government to involve representatives of the community, including those who returned to the Valley since 2010 to review the Prime Minister Resettlement packages announced since 2008 after the changing political scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.

Led by the All-Parties Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) chairman, Vinod Pandit, the delegation comprised of, Avtar Krishan Bhat, president Veervan transit camp (Baramulla) and Ranjan Jyotshi, president, Mattan colony (Anantnag) and other members.

They submitted a memorandum of demands which include constitution of the pandit welfare development board, temple prabhandak board, transfer of land identified for employee colonies, particularly in wandhhama and odina to relief and rehabilitation organisation, reopening traditional route of Shardha Peeth temple in PoJK and establishing Shardha Peeth university in Kashmir.

Other demands include additional employment package for the displaced Hindu youth and completing the recruitment process of all pending posts within this year. Reddy is said to have assured the delegation that the Centre would announce a detailed package for the militancy displaced families soon.

"We discussed issues facing the community, especially those who made choice in 2010 to return to the Valley under the PM package. They are facing a lot of problems due to lack of housing", said Vinod Pandit, chairman APMCC.