Jammu, Oct 13 (KNS): Apni Party General Secretary and senior KP leader Vijay Bakaya on Thursday said the government must adopt a humane view for those displaced KP youth who were appointed under special PM Package to earn their livelihood in Kashmir division since 2010.
Addressing a press conference here at Apni Party Office in Jammu, Bakaya said that so far 4200 youth have been employed under this scheme and they were delivering their respective duties in various districts of Kashmir, especially on District Cadre posts like Teachers, Junior Engineers, Accounts Assistant, Social Welfare Supervisor, Computer Operator etc.
"They were working diligently, devotedly and harmoniously with their colleagues but on 5th May of this year one Rahul Bhat was assassinated in broad daylight in the Tehsil Chadoora office which sent shock waves and created a sense of fear among the package employees because Rahul Bhat's killing was targeted killing," he said.
Bakaya said that since May these employees moved to Jammu division and are now persistently seeking for their relocation to Jammu as they fear for their lives.
"Government has rejected this demand and has lately stopped the salary of these employees which is quite concerning. Their demand to feel secure is genuine because they are still fearful if they go back. They would prefer life to livelihood in such trying times," he asserted.
He urged that in this situation the Administration should take a humane view on their pressing demand and find a realistic solution to end the stalemate.
"The package employees who have moved to Jammu must be temporarily attached in the Relief Organization or the Secretariat or in the Election office and assigned work till they move back. They may be provided salary against their posts in Kashmir on production of attendance certificates," he said.
Meanwhile, he further stressed on confidence building measures to be taken by the government in similar lines to that of fast track construction of 6000 flats.
"Ensuring posting of married couples at the same place and exploring the possibility of work from home for these employees will also be appreciable till the situation in the valley improves," he stated.
Bakaya asserted that said arrangement can be a humanitarian gesture which will help in creating a psychological environment for Kashmiri Pandit community to return to the valley when threat perception ceases to exist.
He also raised the important issues of concern with regards to the lack of proper maintenance of the Migrant camps where water supply is erratic. "Even Nagrota camp has had no water for the last week," he added.
He said the Relief Organization needs to be made agile for the quick redressal of the routine problems of the KP community.
"The migrants have been demanding enhancement of Relief but the government remains impervious to their genuine demand. In the last 32 years Relief has increased from Rs1000 to Rs 13000 only for a family of four. Govt. should enhance this meager relief amount because most of these families are totally dependent on this monetary aid and it is difficult for them to make both ends meet," he said.
Press conference was attended by Faqir Nath, Arun Chhibber, Dr.Rohit, Abhay Bakaya, Vipul Bali, Vaibhav Mattoo, Chand Ji Bhat, Vivek Sapru, Bharat Bhushan, Roshan Lal Bhat, GL Pandita, Archana Kaul, Deepak Bradu, Suhail Khajuria, Abhinav Gupta, Ankush Dogra, and Bansi Lal Bhat.(KNS)