SRINAGAR: In a significant step towards the rehabilitation and dignified return of displaced Kashmiri Pandits to their homeland, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Sunday inaugurated 1,416 newly constructed residential flats under the Prime Minister’s Special Employment and Rehabilitation Package at three locations across the Kashmir Valley.
The largest of these transit accommodation complexes, built at Zewan on the outskirts of Srinagar, was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating the safe and respectful return of the minority community that was uprooted during the militancy and violence that engulfed the Valley in 1989-90.
Emphasising the broader significance of the rehabilitation effort, Sinha said the return of Kashmiri Pandit families is closely linked to the preservation of Kashmir’s composite culture, spiritual traditions and civilisational heritage. He noted that the Valley’s literary legacy, intellectual traditions and cultural splendour have been profoundly shaped by the contributions of the Kashmiri Pandit community over centuries.
“Kashmir is incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits and is deprived of a precious part of its soul,” the Lt. Governor said. “The dignified return of Kashmiri Pandit families is a commitment to restoring the historical heritage and human dignity of the Kashmir Division. The natural, cultural and spiritual beauty of this region will attain true completeness only when Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters return to their homeland with respect, security and confidence,” he asserted.
The Prime Minister’s Special Employment and Rehabilitation Package, launched in 2010, was designed to encourage the return and reintegration of displaced Kashmiri Pandits by providing government employment and residential facilities. Over the past decade and a half, the programme has enabled nearly 6,000 members of the community to secure government jobs in the Valley, offering many families an opportunity to reconnect with their roots after more than three-and-a-half decades of displacement.
The Lt. Governor formally inaugurated the Transit Residential Complex at Zewan in Srinagar for employees appointed under the PM Package. He also inaugurated two other residential complexes at Kakan Maran in Budgam district and Kulangam Bagh in Kupwara district virtually. Together, the three projects comprise 1,416 flats and represent one of the largest additions to the transit accommodation infrastructure developed for PM Package employees in recent years.
Addressing the gathering, Sinha described the inauguration as a milestone in improving the living conditions of PM Package employees and advancing the larger objective of restoring the presence of Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley. He said that every flat symbolised the aspirations, resilience and determination of families seeking security, stability and a future in their ancestral homeland. According to him, the completion of these residential units reflects not merely the construction of buildings but the strengthening of a long-standing commitment to rehabilitation and reconciliation.
The transit accommodation initiative forms part of a larger project involving 6,000 flats spread across 342 residential blocks at 20 locations in 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley. The ambitious programme was accelerated in mission mode in 2020 to address housing requirements of PM Package employees. Officials stated that out of the 6,000 sanctioned flats, construction of more than 5,200 units has already been completed, while over 3,800 flats have been allotted to beneficiaries.
The Zewan residential complex, the largest under the project, consists of 936 flats housed in 39 blocks and has already been fully allotted. The newly inaugurated complex at Kulangam Bagh in Kupwara comprises 288 flats spread across 18 blocks, while the Kakan Maran facility in Budgam contains 192 flats in 12 blocks. The Lt. Governor directed the concerned departments to expedite completion of the remaining units under the project and ensure that all pending works are executed without delay. Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department, Anil Kumar Singh, informed the gathering that the remaining flats are expected to be completed by December this year, bringing the project closer to full realisation.
While reviewing the progress of the rehabilitation programme, Sinha instructed officials to focus not only on construction but also on the quality of life of the residents. He stressed the need for uninterrupted electricity and drinking water supply, strong security arrangements, efficient waste management systems and a responsive grievance-redressal mechanism. He said the government must ensure that families residing in these government accommodations receive the best possible amenities and services.
The Lt. Governor paid tribute to the labourers, engineers, project managers and government officials whose efforts contributed to the completion of the residential complexes. He also acknowledged the role played by the Public Works Department, district administrations, the Divisional Commissioner’s office, Jammu and Kashmir Police, security forces and agencies responsible for water and power infrastructure. Special appreciation was extended to PM Package employees who have continued to serve in various government departments across the Valley despite challenging circumstances.
The inauguration of the new residential complexes is being seen as another important milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to create the infrastructure necessary for the long-term rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits. As the remaining flats near completion, the project is expected to provide greater security, stability and confidence to thousands of employees and their families, while advancing the larger goal of restoring the Valley’s pluralistic social fabric, officials said.
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