SRINAGAR, Sept 1: A group of 82 Kashmiri migrant Pandit youth, who were born after thousands of their elders left their motherland over two dedcades ago fearing persecution by armed rebels, have embarked from on a journey to explore their native places in the scenic Himalayan region.
The youth, all students, will be touring the conflict-torn region for seven days as part of ‘Kashmir darshan’ (visit Kashmir) programme flagged off by state’s minister for revenue, relief and rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla from the state’s winter capital Jammu.
Authorities and Pandits are concerned about the new generation of the migrant minority community losing their idea about Kashmir, where their ancestors or elders lived until an armed conflict started more than two decades ago.
Recently the authorities said around 58,000 Pandit families were living outside the state.
The Prime Minister’s rehabilitation package, including jobs, to woo the families back to the valley largely failed as only a few have returned. Against 6000 posts, only 1,446 youth opted for jobs in four years, according to data by the revenue department.
The migrants are concerned about their security, often blaming the authorities of laxity in taking the issue seriously. Many others simply reject the notion saying the youth are too absorbed in life outside.
Authorties hope efforts such as the tour will help the young among them regain the “lost touch” with Kashmir.
“We have sent over 80 young boys and girls of Kashmiri Pandit community, who were born after 1990 here, to the Kashmir Valley to get a feel of their native places as a confidence building measure,” Bhalla was quoted as saying by PTI.
The students will be going for the first time to the Valley where they will see their religious, native and tourist places, the minister said.
“This tour will bring them closer to the Kashmir Valley and we will get feedback from them after their return,” Bhalla said, adding this tour was organised by the Relief Organisation on the demand of Apex Committee of Kashmir Pandits, and subsequent decision was taken at a meeting by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in this regard.
The students will be taken to various places of importance, including Kheer Bhawani, Martand, Shankracharya apart from various tourist places, he said.
