Government always speaks in high volumes as far as the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants is concerned but the harsh reality is totally different. The J&K government has completely failed to rehabilitate KPs back to the valley since their forced exodus. However, in the year 2009 the then Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has announced a special job package for the Kashmiri Migrants in order to rehabilitate them back to the Kashmir valley. But very unfortunately nothing of that sort has happened till date as J&K government seems to be less interested in making this rehabilitation package a grand success. Recently General Administration Department (GAD) has issued a draconian order by making SO-194 applicable to all those PM package employees who were appointed after 17th June, 2020. Under the SO-194 the migrant employees who are working in Kashmir valley will be getting only basic salary without any allowances like HRA, DA, TA, Medical, no increment during the probation period. These PM package employees are living in rented accommodation across various districts in Kashmir by giving hefty amounts as a monthly room rent. Now the applicability of SO-194 on PM package will make their lives difficult and tough as surviving with such a less salary is next to impossible now-a-days when the prices of all essential commodities have sky rocketed.
It is also pertinent to mention here that these posts are Supernumerary posts and the funds for their salaries are not borne on the establishment of J&K UT. The funds for their salaries are borne completely by the centre government so as such applicability of SO-194 to these supernumerary posts does not arise. Further, Department of Disaster Management Relief Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRRR) has also made it clear that these PM package migrant posts does not come under the purview of SO-194 or SRO-202. Moreover, General Administration Department has also conveyed through their old notification no: GAD/MTG/RB-IV/23/2020/Part-1, Dated: 17-06-2020 that no fresh appointments shall be made under S.O-194. Now one fails to understand as to why the GAD has made SO-194 applicable to all PM package employees who are appointed after 17.06.2020. This order in itself is contradictory in nature and the GAD has miserably failed to explain the rationale behind the applicability of S.O 194 on the PM package. This is sheer injustice and discrimination with this community in particular. This lackadaisical approach of the government have left all those migrant employees in lurch and disdain. Therefore through these columns of your esteemed newspaper I would like to make an humble appeal to the Hon’ble LG to kindly look into this matter and administrative secretaries be directed not to implement S.O – 194 on the PM package as these posts are created for the specific purpose i.e for the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Migrants.
Vivek Koul
Gole Gujral Jammu
