Govt to form plans with Pandits for rehabilitation

New Delhi, Feb 6: The Centre will constitute a Joint Mechanism along with representatives of Kashmiri Pandits for their rehabilitation and for discussing their problems.

A delegation of Kashmiri Samiti, a nodal agency of Kashmiri migrants, led by Samiti President L N Dhar, held an hour-long meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) M K Narayanan here last night and discussed the problems faced by the nearly 700,000 migrants who have been living in various parts of the country for the past more than 16 years.

The working of the Joint Mechanism will be monitored by the NSA himself, Kashmiri Samiti Political Affairs Committee Chairman Sunil Shakdher said.

The Joint Mechanism, which will have representatives of the Home Ministry also, will hold quarterly meetings to review the progress.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will also write to Chief Ministers of various states asking them look after the welfare of the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community living there.

Mr Shakdher said the NSA had agreed that conditions were not presently conducive for the Pandits to return to the valley and live there.

The delegation also presented a meemorandum to Mr Narayanan highlighting their problems, including providing identity cards to the members of the community.

The memorandum said it is the Government's responsibility to create conducvie conditions in which Hindus and Muslims can live in peace and harmony in the state.

UNI