Jammu, July 3: With the fresh spate of tension gripping Kashmir valley over past two weeks, nearly 900 Kashmiri Pandit youth - selected under the special employment drive under the rehabilitation package for Kashmiri migrants - are in a state of ‘dilemma’ about their future.
 The Special package was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the year 2008 to allow the displaced Kashmiris which include Pandits, Muslim and Sikh migrants to start their  life afresh  back at their  homeland, from were they migrated in 1990.
 During past 3-months Service Selection Recruitment Board and State Public Service Commission (PSC) selected about 1900 candidates for various posts out of which half are females. The twin recruiting agencies had notified about 2,045 posts in the month of February this year and nearly 16000 displaced Kashmiri youth   applied for the same.
  “We saw a ray of hope by getting these jobs but the prevailing situation in the valley has forced us to rethink. We have adopted wait and watch policy”, said Amit Bhat, presently living at Purkhoo camp.
 However, the problem is more with the girl candidates, mostly selected as teachers. “The way situation changes from peace to violence in Kashmir, it has created confusion among us and we are unable to decide what to do. We are happy that we will be returning to valley, but at the same time situation is a matter of concern for us”, said Sujata Raina.
 Pertinently, the package envisaged 3,000 government jobs for migrant youth in Education, Social Welfare, Relief Organization, Engineering, Finance, Tourism, Health and Revenue in Kashmir Division.
  “Conditions in Kashmir don’t warrant posting of community boys and girls in the valley. We had demanded that  they should be adjusted in migrant institutions in Jammu. In particular, the female staff shall be permanently posted in Jammu”, said Panun Kashmir leader Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo.
 Agnishekhar, another leader of Panun Kashmir, said that situation in valley was not conducive for the youth to work there. “Nobody knows when there is peace and when the conditions get out of control.”
 But many believe that they could still work in Valley. “There are many Pandit girls and boys working in Kashmir despite turmoil for past so many years so we can also work there”, said Rohit Bhan.
 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had on April 25, 2008, announced an Rs 1,618 crore package for the relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland and this is for the first time in past two decades that an employment package was announced by the state.
 As per the notification, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board was the selection authority for making recruitment or selection to the non-gazetted posts. The Board conducted a special drive to make selection on the basis of open merit, subject to provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act.
 The posts include 1,760 in the Education Department, 234 in Social Welfare Department, 190 in Relief Organisation, 191 in Finance Department, 500 in Engineering Departments, 35 in Health, 90 in Revenue and 15 in Tourism Department.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
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