Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Sept 12: The Centre will announce the much talked about return and rehabilitation package for Kashmiri migrants by making it a part of the economic package for development of infrastructure in the State which will be announced shortly.
According to highly placed sources, a top level meeting with State officials and officials of Union Government which was held in New Delhi last week gave a final touch to the package that will be a part of major economic package likely to be announced for the State in next some days.
Sources said under the package 10,000 flats will be constructed at two different places in Kashmir valley for the return and rehabilitation of displaced people which will include 6000 migrant employees being recruited under PM’s employment package.
Sources said each flat will consist of six floors having lift facilities. Out of them, 5000 flats will be constructed at Vessu in Kulgam district of South Kashmir and Sheikhpora in Budgam district of Central Kashmir where the transit accommodations for PM package employees are already existing.
Sources said each migrant employee to be appointed under PM’s package will be allotted a flat in the newly constructed flats. However, there will be no coercion on return of displaced people and those willing to return will be allotted the rest quarters, sources added.
Sources said the migrants other than Government employees will be provided relief for two years after their return to Valley till they become in a position to earn their livelihood. The other components of the compensation will be the same which were in the earlier package, sources added.
Sources said appointment of 4000 employees out of 6000 employees announced by then Prime Minster, Dr Manmohan Singh will also form the part of new package and unlike past this time the appointment will also be made on gazetted posts like lecturers, Assistant Engineers, Tourist Officers etc. The process of the recruitment will be expedited and there will be no delay as was done in the past, sources added.
It may be recalled that out of 6000 job package announced by Dr Manmohan Singh way back in 2008, only 2000 migrant youth were appointed in various Government departments during last seven years.
Sources said that granting of relief and other facilities to the Jammu migrants at par with Kashmiri migrants will also be the part of the package who over the years were struggling for the same and the BJP had promised these hapless people to provide justice to them.
Sources said that in case more migrants show their willingness to return the Government will construct more accommodations later on.
It may be recalled that earlier the Union Government had sanctioned a Rs 1600 crore package for the Kashmiri migrants under which Rs 7.5 lakh were to be provided to each displaced family for construction of houses on their return to Valley. However, this package saw no takers among the migrants and State Government had submitted a fresh proposal to Centre of Rs 6000 crore package with payment of Rs 20 lakh per family for construction of a house in Valley. But the same was not approved by the Central Government and it was returned to State a number of times for seeking clarifications.
Sources said after taking over by the BJP led NDA Government at Centre last year a fresh exercise had begun on return and rehabilitation of the displaced Pandits in Valley and State Government officers were summoned to Union Capital number of times to discuss the contours of the package.
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