Srinagar, Mar 7: The valley based Pandits have accused the state government of denying them any rehabilitation package on pattern of the one announced for their counterparts who had migrated to Jammu.
“We feel let down as the successive regimes never bothered to address our problems,” members of the Pandit families living in different areas of old city told Greater Kashmir.
During early 90’s and onwards hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit families left for Jammu and other states in view of disturbed political conditions in Kashmir. Over the years government has on number of occasions announced different kinds of relief and rehabilitation packages for them including the Prime Minister’s rehabilitation package of job opportunities and monetary benefits.
However, no such rehabilitation package was ever announced for the Pandit families living in Kashmir, members of the non-migrant KP families said.
“We were ignored by the government after we decided to stay back in Kashmir,” they said.
A widow, Ganpatyar Bubbli Pandita, said, “I am living with my only daughter. We approached government for some monetary support on number of occasion, but every time we were dejected.”
A student, Vasuda Pandita said. “My family is living in miserable conditions. The government didn’t give any relief to us.”
Family members from different localities said since they were not economically sound, they preferred to stay put in the Valley. “Government is neither listening to us nor showing any importance. We have been totally ignored,” said Rani Suri, another widow.
“At times we regret our decision of staying back. The government provided many opportunities to the people who migrated to Jammu and other places in the form of jobs, accommodations, reservations, promotions, but we have been ignored,” said an educated unemployed Kashmiri Pandit.
The Minister for Revenue and Relief, Raman Bhalla, categorically said the rehabilitation of migrated Kashmir Pandits was the government’s priority.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 7 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 8 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST