PM's package for Kashmiri migrants is a substantive initiative

JAMMU: Welcoming the package announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for Kashmiri Pandits, the leaders of the community said on Tuesday that it was the first ever
substantive initiative for providing incentive for the displaced people to return to their homes.

The prime minister rightly chose to announce this package during his two-day recent visit to Jammu, the General Secretary, in charge of migrants of J&K Pradesh Congress
Committee Chuni Lal Bhat and member state apex committee for migrant affairs Roshan Lal Raina said.

They said they were confident that all necessary precautions will be taken to ensure that the funds allocated for the package are not misappropriated as has been happening
in the past.

The government should involve community representatives in the process and exercise vigilance and utilisation of funds and execution of works on the ground, they said.

Referring to the opposition of some community leaders about Rs 1600 crore package, they alleged that such leaders have developed vested interest to run their outfits by
exploiting the members of the community.

Some community leaders in Delhi and Jammu have opposed this package without understanding the pain of migration of
those who are living in camps, they said.
     They also suggested that state government should call a
meeting of deputy commissioners in the valley and find from
them about the status of encroachments of properties of
Kashmiri Pandit so that appropriate measures are taken before
they start moving to valley for settlement.