Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 23: The Central Government has formally approved the sanction of additional 3000 Gover-nment jobs under PM’s package and construction of 6000 transit accommodations for the rehabilitation of displaced people in the Valley.
The Union Government has earmarked Rs 2000 crore for the same in recently announced Rs 80,000 crore economic package for the J&K State. A letter to this effect was recently written by Government of India Ministry of Home, Department of J&K Affairs to Chief Secretary of the State, B R Sharma.
As per the Union Government communiqué, it has been made clear that Union Government will provide funds for the 3000 additional jobs for the migrant youth which as per the 2008 return and rehabilitation package announced by then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh was to be borne by State Government.
The letter has made it clear to the State Government that the Kashmiri Pandit families who did not leave the Valley during turmoil and stayed back there be also given benefit of the package and they too will be eligible to these jobs. The State Government has been asked that a formula of one job per family be adopted preferably, the letter added.
As per the letter, the Union Government has agreed to bear the cost towards salary and other expenditure in respect of 3000 jobs for 10 years until these posts are absorbed against the regular posts in the State Government.
While indicating the decision of Union Government to construct 6000 transit accommodations in Kashmir valley for the migrant Government employees, the Union Home Ministry has also asked the State Government that these quarters be allotted to the 6000 package employees. Out of them, the process for appointment on 3000 posts was started in 2008 and remaining 3000 will be started now after the Centre accorded approval to same.
In this regard, the Government of India has asked the State Government to identify the land as early as possible.
The Centre has also urged the State Government that a detailed proposal giving full details about the same including financial implications and time bound implementation plan should be sent to Union Home Ministry as early as possible.
The Centre has also decided that payment for purchasing and acquiring of land for construction of transit accommodations will be made in advance to the State Government after receiving the detailed proposal along with details of the land.
The Centre has urged the State Government to take immediate necessary measures fro implementation of the proposal and send the Action Taken Report (ATR) to the Ministry on the monthly basis latest by 3rd working day of every month. The Centre has also clarified that the expenditure incurred on account of implementation of the return and rehabilitation proposal would be met under the Security Related Expenditure.
It may be recalled that during the UPA Government at Centre the then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh under the return and rehabilitation programme of displaced Pandits had sanctioned 6000 jobs for the displaced youth. Out of them the salaries for the 3000 jobs was to be borne by the Central Government while for remaining 3000 posts was to be borne by State Government.
However, the recruitment process was delayed for two years and in 2010 process was started and till date over 2000 displaced youth were absorbed on various non gazetted posts in the Valley. The State Government later backed out from the agreement of bearing salaries of remaining 3000 jobs on the plea that it has no resources for the same. This resulted delay in recruitment process of remaining 3000 jobs under State category for seven long years.
After assuming office by Narendra Modi led NDA Government at Centre last year, it showed a keen interest on return and rehabilitation of displaced Pandits in Valley. The Union Government while showing its commitment for the same agreed to provide funds to bear the salaries incurred upon these 3000 jobs and gave its nod to the State Government to go ahead with the recruitment process.
Meanwhile, official sources told Excelsior that it has also started process of recruitment by notifying the department wise posts and issuing advertisements in this regard.
Sources said that so far as construction of additional 6000 accommodations is concerned the State Government has already started construction of 192 quarters of 32 blocks at Vessu transit camp in Kulgam district of South Kashmir and Sheikhpora transit camp in Budgam district of Central Kashmir.
Out of these 192 quarters, 96 quarters of 16 blocks each will be constructed at Vessu in Kulgam and Sheikhpora in Budgam.
Sources said for the remaining quarters the concerned Deputy Commissioners have been given instructions to identify the land and the process is on.
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