Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said that there is "tremendous improvement" in
the situation in the Valley since the migration of Kashmiri
pandits but complete restoration of peace and plans to
eliminate fear psychosis have to be worked out.
"There is tremendous improvement in the situation
since the Kashmiri pandits' (KP) migration from the Valley,"
Omar told a group of students from University of Chicago (US)
currently working on a research project on KPs.
However, the complete restoration of peace and
elimination of fear psychosis have to be worked out, he said.
"(State) government is doing whatever possible with
the assistance of Union Government to make effective dent in
this regard."
He said while the government is working on a
multifaceted programme for return of Kashmiri Pandits, the key
to its success is in restoration of sense of security in them.
"Creation of economic opportunities for KP youth and
reservation in government jobs for them are being focused as a
meaningful incentives to the community to encourage their
return to the valley in a conducive and peaceful atmosphere,"
Abdullah said.
Another important work is to uplift those pandits who
stayed in the Valley during the period of disturbance, he
said, adding that they are bereft of the benefits available to
the migrant KPs under Prime Minister Reconstruction Programme
(PMRP) and other schemes.
The Chief Minister noted that Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh recently inaugurated a satellite township of two-room
tenement at Jagti in Nagrota for KP migrants living in camps
in Jammu.
About 2,500 young pandits have been provided jobs in
the Valley and job orders for equal number is in the
pipeline, he said. "This is as a part of the initiative taken
to encourage younger generation to return to the Valley and
get involved in the economic and life activities."
The Chief Minister also enumerated other measures and
steps afoot to create conducive atmosphere for the return of
KPs to the Valley.
University of Jammu is hosting the group of students
from the US university and assisting them in their research
project on KP migrants.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 22, 2011, 18:00