Kashmiri Pandit Leaders Urge Home Minister to Address Plight of Displaced Community

Jammu, April 08, 2025: As the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley surpasses thirty-six years, concerns over their continued displacement and precarious living conditions are reaching a crescendo. In a joint press statement today, prominent community leaders M.K. Yogi and Vinod Pandita appealed to the Union Home Minister and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for urgent intervention and a time-bound resolution to the community’s most pressing issues.

Yogi highlighted the paramount need for the immediate and dignified rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits in their ancestral homeland. He emphasized that this long-overdue action must be given the highest priority. Adding to this critical concern, Yogi also advocated for a significant increase in the current monthly relief assistance, calling for its enhancement from ₹13,000 to ₹25,000 to better meet the community’s needs. He further pressed for immediate action on the numerous outstanding issues faced by PM Package employees serving in the Kashmir Valley, including addressing concerns regarding permanent transfer policies, promotions, absorption into permanent employment, and suitable housing.

Pandita echoed Yogi’s concerns, adding further emphasis on the critical need for a new, dedicated employment package for educated Kashmiri Pandit youth. This, he argued, is essential to address the alarming rates of unemployment within the community. Pandita also stressed the urgent need to finalize and distribute outstanding compensation for damaged and destroyed properties in the Kashmir Valley. He also advocated for the construction of additional housing units in Jammu to alleviate the hardships faced by those currently relying on rented accommodation. Further emphasizing the need for improved governance and accountability, Pandita called for the immediate reactivation of the migrant grievance portal and the complete implementation of the Immovable Migrant Property Act of 1997, holding the custodian fully accountable under its provisions.

The joint statement serves as a potent call to action, highlighting the profound and enduring hardships faced by the Kashmiri Pandit community. The leaders’ appeal underscores the urgency for decisive action to address the community’s long-standing concerns, offering a path towards a more secure and hopeful future.