Jammu: Displaced Kashmiri Pandits on Saturday staged a protest in Jammu, urging the government to frame a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for their return to the Kashmir Valley along with a fresh employment package for educated unemployed youth.
The protest was organised under the banner of Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) and held outside the Press Club in Jammu. Demonstrators raised slogans and carried placards highlighting long-pending demands related to return, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities.
Protesters said they have been living in displacement for over three decades and continue to await a structured roadmap for dignified return to their homeland in Kashmir. They demanded that the government revisit and expand the existing Prime Minister’s special package, arguing that current provisions are insufficient for the community’s needs.
Community leaders, while addressing the gathering, said that nearly 15,000 educated Kashmiri Pandit youth are still awaiting employment support under rehabilitation schemes. They urged the authorities to announce a new job package and ensure fair opportunities for over-aged candidates and families affected by displacement.
They also called for better political representation and restoration of lost rights, including livelihood support and housing facilities. According to the protesters, only a limited number of families have been rehabilitated so far under existing schemes, leaving a large section still struggling for stability.
The demonstrators appealed to the central government to initiate a structured and time-bound rehabilitation policy that would ensure safe return, employment, and dignity for all displaced families. They stressed that rehabilitation should not remain symbolic but must include practical measures on the ground.
Leaders of the protest reiterated that their agitation would remain peaceful but warned that it could expand further if demands continue to remain unaddressed. They expressed hope that the government would engage with community representatives to find a lasting solution.
The issue of Kashmiri Pandit rehabilitation has remained a long-standing concern since their displacement in the early 1990s due to militancy in the Valley. Successive governments have introduced various relief and employment packages, but complete return and resettlement remain pending.
