‘Package employees to be provided secured accommodations’
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 10: Maintaining that Narendra Modi Government is committed to weed out terrorism from J&K, Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha today said terrorism is on its last breath and Government will soon finish terror eco system from soil of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lt Governor, while speaking at the Abhinandan Samaroh organised by All Minority Employees Association of Kashmir (AMEAK) at Abhinav Theatre here today in collaboration with Vomedh warned that some handful people can’t be allowed to take entire UT to ransom and the Government is determined to finish terror ecosystem.
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“Government of India is committed to weed out terrorism whether it is Rajouri-Poonch or Kashmir”, Sinha asserted and assured the minority employees serving in Valley that the Government is committed to their wellbeing.
He said J&K was hit by terrorism over three decades back and people were deprived of social justice and their rights were usurped during the turmoil. But with the efforts of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, a new ray of hope has emerged for the people of the UT, he added.
Sinha said PM created a trust among the people and he is very much concerned for the development and progress of J&K as a whole and various measures were taken by his Government in this regard.
The Lt Governor, however, made it clear that the culture (Sanskriti) can’t be rejuvenated by the Government but the society has to come forward for it. The Government can only create a mechanism or provide the support, he added.
Sinha regretted that a section of the people had to leave Kashmir due to threat. They even sold their land for pennies while recalling the tremendous contribution of Kashmiri Pandits and eminent scholars from Kashmir to Indian aesthetics.
“Some vested interests created trouble in Valley and damaged the aged old principles and great values nurtured for centuries together”, he added.
He said it would be better if these people regret for what they have done. Some of them admit it but their hearts have not changed as yet, he added.
The Lt Governor asserted that peace can’t be purchased but it has to be restored and maintained. He assured the gathering that the Government is committed to the same.
Maintaining that terrorists damaged the peaceful eco system in J&K, Sinha said that some terrorist related incidents which have not probed so far will be probed now.
He assured the minority employees that Government is committed to protect their rights. Without naming any politician, he said some people say something in Kashmir and another in Jammu. “But I say same thing in Kashmir and same in Jammu”.
“Such people need to be identified but unfortunately we could not identify them in time,” Lt Governor said and warned that he is not afraid of anybody but his commitment is to give justice to everyone and serve the last man in the last queue.
He said both minority and majority communities suffered in terrorism but present Government has resolved to break the back of terrorism. He also assured package employees that they will be provided secured accommodations in the Valley and said that everyone has to join hands in building a new J&K.
He said that some issues of the package employees were solved while pending at the last stage of solution.
He reiterated the commitment of the J&K Administration towards the well-being of minority employees and to immediately address all their concerns through the established institutional mechanism.
On the occasion, the Lt Governor said the administration is sensitive to the needs and aspirations of every section of the society.
“Our aim is to fulfil the dreams of the common man, provide new heights of success to people’s aspirations and every person needs to be empowered to contribute in developed India”, he said.
He said peace and development has brought qualitative change in people’s lives and standard of living. The Lt Governor congratulated the individuals and organizations from diverse fields honoured on the occasion for their outstanding contribution to the society.
“I am extremely happy to see people are working with a new commitment for a brighter future of the nation,” he said.
J&K is the land of almost all major religions known to humankind. Respect for all religions, sects and co-existence has enriched cultural heritage. Everyone will have to work together to restore its glorious past and promote virtues of culture, humanity and selfless service, the Lt Governor further added.
He also assured all necessary support by the administration to enable the creativity and dedication of the 5163 youth registered by Relief & Rehabilitation Department for self employment.
Earlier highlighting the problems of package and the minority employees in Valley and other issues of the displaced community, Rohit Raina, general secretary AMEAK said the employees serving in Kashmir are the fourth generation of the KPs who faced mass exodus in 1989-90. He said due to lack of job avenues in Jammu these youth left for other parts of country or outside country while the remaining on the insistence of community elders returned to Kashmir for service to keep the culture alive.
He said the package was announced in 2009 and it was implemented in 2010 with the efforts of then Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, Vinod Koul who worked hard in providing accommodations to package employees in Valley and took personnel interest in settling their problems during his tenure as RRC and later Commissioner Secretary Revenue.
However, after that the package employees were totally ignored and it was only after the LG Manoj Sinha took over a ray of hope again emerged among the minority employees in Valley as he also took keen interest in settling the issues by providing benefit of SROs, posting of couples in same locality and staring of construction of accommodations on war footing basis.
He said after taking over as Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha assured to solve all the issues which created a sense of belongingness among the package employees and salaries of those employees were released within no time after the LG’s intervention which was kept withheld.
He, however, demanded that an Apex Committee of KPs be framed besides the Temples and Shrines Bill be passed the issue which is being pursued by Pt. Prem Nath Bhat Memorial Trust for about two decades now.
Principal Secretary Culture, Suresh Kumar Gupta, Divisional Commissioner , Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner, K K Sidha, Secretary Cultural Academy, Bharat Singh Manhas and SSP Jammu, Vinod Kumar were present on dais.
The introductory address was made by Bharat Singh Manhas, Secretary Cultural Academy.
On the occasion, Sandhya Dhar, founder of Jigar Foundation, Avtar Bhat, Special Correspondent Daily Excelsior, Hira Lal Bhat well known social activist, Anil Bhat, Bureau Chief PTI, Sanjay Dhar of Sharika Foundation, Ashwani Sadhoo of KP Blood Bank, Rajiv Pandita social activist, Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat of Vomedh, Vikas Pandita, business entrepreneur, Anil Bhan, entrepreneur, Swami Babloo Ji, spiritual activist, Sanjay Saraf, social activist, Ramesh Marhata, anchor and broadcaster, Team Rising Athlete and Team K P Helping Hand were honoured by AMEAK. The awards were presented to them by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
Those prominent persons who attended the function included Kuldeep Khoda, Ex DGP, Vinod Koul, former Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, Ajay Bharti, ex MLC, B L Bhat Chairman, SRMA-VK-Nagdandi, Swami Kumar Ji, spiritual Guru, Swamy Radhay Dass Ji, spiritual Guru and Dr Sushil Wattal, a social activist.
The programme was coordinated by Bindya Tickoo.
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