JAMMU, OCT 25: A deputation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, led by M.K. Yogi, Senior KP leader and General Secretary of Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj, and Vinod Pandita, President of the Displaced Kashmiri Pandit Front, met the Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, J&K Migrants, on Sunday and sought time-bound action on long-pending issues affecting the displaced community.
During detailed discussions at the Commissioner’s office, the delegation raised a series of demands concerning financial assistance, employment, property protection, welfare benefits and rehabilitation, stressing that families living in exile for over 37 years require concrete administrative intervention and effective grievance redressal.
A major demand was the introduction of a fresh employment package comprising at least 20,000 posts for unemployed, educated displaced Kashmiri youth, with the representatives seeking one government job for each eligible family. The deputation also called for an enhancement of monthly cash assistance, stating that many registered migrant relief holders depend on this support for their daily needs.
The delegation sought early disposal of pending revalidation, bifurcation and inclusion cases, along with the grant of amnesty on the pattern of previous provisions. It also demanded the allotment of vacant and left-out shops at Jagti Township to eligible beneficiaries.
Protection of migrant properties and a comprehensive return policy featured prominently in the discussions. The representatives urged the department to ensure effective implementation of eviction orders issued by Custodians in cases involving migrant land and immovable properties. They highlighted the pendency of such matters before tehsil-level offices across various districts of the Kashmir Valley under the J&K Migrant Immovable Property Act, 1997.
The deputation further called for a concrete, comprehensive and time-bound return and rehabilitation policy, urging the Relief Department to take up the matter with the Central Government. It also sought faster disposal of genuine migrant-related grievances pending before subordinate offices.
The Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured its members that appropriate action would be taken on the genuine issues raised within a time-bound period. Parvinder Kour, Deputy Commissioner Relief, and Kailash Devi, ACR Relief, were present during the meeting.
In a joint press statement issued after the deliberations, Yogi and Pandita appreciated initiatives undertaken by the Relief Department for the welfare of displaced migrants. They particularly welcomed the practice of holding daily public darbars, describing it as a constructive step towards hearing grievances and facilitating their speedy disposal.
The representatives stressed that sustained administrative intervention, accountability and timely implementation of decisions were essential to address the prolonged difficulties faced by displaced families and ensure meaningful relief.
Other members of the deputation included Vishal Jotshi, Shuban Ji Raina, Babloo Goswani, Tej Dhar, Ashwani Bhat, Sunil Bhat, Rahul Tickoo and Rakesh Ambardar, among others.
