Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 19: Not satisfied with progress on the implementation of much talked about Prime Minister’s 6000 job package for Kashmiri migrant youth announced way back in 2008, the Centre has urged the State Government to expedite the recruitment process and ensure that advertisements regarding appointment of remaining 3000 posts are issued at the earliest.
These instructions were given to State Government representatives in a review meeting held by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in North Block New Delhi today to assess the progress on return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants, highly placed sources told Excelsior.
Sources said the meeting sought information from State Government officials regarding progress made on implementation of PM job package, acquisition of land for construction of 6000 quarters for rehabilitation of the employees engaged under PM package on their return to Valley, release of ration, construction of additional transit accommodations at Migrant Colony Vessu in South Kashmir’s district of Anantnag and Sheikhpora in Central Kashmir district of Budgam.
Sources said MHA also sought report from the State Government representatives over the payment of relief to Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants as has been approved by Union Government already and host of other issues concerning both Kashmiri and Jammu migrants. It also stressed on extension of the same facilities to Kashmiri migrants putting up at Delhi which have been given to migrants putting up at Jammu.
Showing keenness on construction of 6000 quarters for migrant employees, the MHA urged the State Government to make estimation on the funds to be incurred for the land acquisition and submit the same to Centre for funding, sources added.
The MHA was represented in the meeting by Joint Secretary Home Affairs, Rajiv Punani and Director MHA Kashmir, Sanjay Rai, while the State Government was represented by Special Secretary Revenue and Relief, Dr Nakash and Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, R K Pandita. Besides, the representatives of Delhi Government also attended the meeting.
The MHA, while urging the State Government to expedite the recruitment process under PM’s employment package stressed that the process be started on war footing basis and there should be no further delay. Besides, the recruitment of 3000 new posts to be appointed under Phase II, the MHA urged the State Government representatives to ensure the recruitment of 800 posts falling under phase I who have already been interviewed long back and whose appointment orders were not issued till date.
Sources said State Government informed the MHA that the recruitment process has already been set into motion and 17 departments have been identified for 3000 posts. However, before issuing advertisements for the them, the modalities will be discussed with the Administrative Secretaries of the concerned departments, they further informed the meeting.
Regarding payment of cash assistance to Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants, the State Government representatives informed the MHA that the funds for the same were not received till date while the orders for issuing the ration as per old pattern in favour of both Kashmiri and Jammu migrants have been already issued.
Regarding acquisition of the land for construction of 6000 quarters for the migrant employees the MHA was informed that the process was on.
It may be recalled that the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit to Jammu in 2008 had announced a job package of 6000 posts for Kashmiri migrant youth to be recruited in two phases of 3000 posts each. While the funds for the appointment of 3000 posts under phase I were to be borne by Union Government, the funds for the remaining 3000 posts were to be generated by the State Government from its own resources.
The recruitment process under phase I was started in 2010 and till date only 2200 appointments were made under this phase also. The recruitment process was constantly delayed after the State Government showed its inability to arrange the resources to bear the salaries of the remaining 3000 posts to be recruited under phase II.
However, after the taking over as Prime Minister in 2014, the new Union Government led by Narendra Modi agreed to bear the salaries of the remaining 3000 posts also and urged the State Government to start the recruitment process as early as possible. However the same was also delayed generating a lot of resentment among the displaced people from Valley.
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