Jammu, October 18 (KNS): Kashmiri Pandit leaders have urged the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to formulate a concrete, time-bound rehabilitation policy for displaced Kashmiri Pandits to facilitate their return to the Valley with honour and dignity.

In a joint press statement, M.K. Yogi, General Secretary of Vishwa Kashmiri Samaj, and Vinod Pandita, President of the Displaced Kashmiri Pandit Front, appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to frame a comprehensive policy for the community’s return and rehabilitation, keeping all security considerations in view.

The leaders said that a large number of Kashmiri Pandits have been living away from their homes since 1990 and expressed concern over what they described as the absence of a concrete rehabilitation framework to ensure their resettlement in the Valley.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

They demanded an enhancement of the monthly cash assistance for displaced families from Rs 13,000 to Rs 25,000, citing the rising cost of essential commodities.

The leaders also called for the creation and advertisement of 20,000 additional posts for educated unemployed displaced Kashmiri Pandit youth, expressing concern over growing unemployment and the resulting frustration among the younger generation.

They further urged the authorities to construct additional accommodation for migrant families living in rented premises in Jammu and other parts of the country and ensure the implementation of the Migrant Property Act, 1997, in letter and spirit.

Several social activists, including Virender Ganjoo, Jyoti Dhar, Sanjay Raina, Inderjit Raina, Dazy Dhar, Vishal Jotshi, Meenakshi, Bal Krishan Bhat, Shuban Ji Raina, Sahil Pandita and Sushma Dhar, also endorsed the demands.(KNS)