Kashmiri Pandit youth unhappy with employment policy

JAMMU - The Jammu and Kashmir government’s new employment policy, unveiled by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has left Kashmiri Pandit youth unhappy as they don’t find mention in it. Differences within the state cabinet seems to be the reason for the omission, said an official.

Abdullah had Saturday announced that unemployed youth between 20-37 years of age would get a monthly stipend ranging between Rs.500 and Rs.1,000.

There would be different grades for youth who have studied up to Class 10 and above, he said while unveiling the employment policy here. The stipend would cost the state exchequer more than Rs.250 crore per annum.

The government would also offer easy loans to the youth for starting their own businesses. Unemployment has been listed as one of the reasons for the growth of militancy in Kashmir.

But there was no word about the employment of Kashmiri Pandit youth who have been brought up in migrant camps and looking for jobs for years. Members of the community said they felt let down as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised 6,000 jobs to Kashmiri Pandit migrants.

“It was all rhetoric, we have been taken for a ride,” said Mohan Kishen Dhar, a migrant who has been knocking many doors for a job for over 18 years.

Government sources said the omission in the government policy was due to “differences” within the state cabinet.

However, state Revenue and Relief Minister Raman Bhalla insisted that they be made part of the package.

After Bhalla’s intervention, Abdullah said that an employment package would soon be announced for the Kashmiri migrant youth but did not specify a time frame.