Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Sunday, October 17, 2010

A Faustian Bargain

Consequence of poor leadership: G. N. Azad, during his tenure as the CM, treats a few Jammu based Kashmiri Pandit (KP) leaders to free meals and membership in the "Working Groups" constituted by New Delhi, and in return seals the deal for permanent exile of KP's in Jagti.

RISING KASHMIR

Govt Settling Pandits in Jammu

4200 allotments begin from Dec

Srinagar, Oct 15: The government will start the allotment process for over 4,000 flats for Kashmiri Pandit migrants at Jagti in Jammu district from December, officials said.


They said the process of allotment of the 4,200 two-room flats, constructed under the Prime Minister's Rehabilitation Plan, is likely to begin in December this year.

The government has constructed 4,218 two-room flats at Jagti in Nagrota area of Jammu for those Kashmiri Pandit migrants who are living in one-room dwellings provided to them. Those migrants who have acquired their own houses will not be considered for the houses, they said.


The relief organisation, created for welfare of the Kashmiri migrants following the eruption of militancy in the Valley in 1990, has started a verification process after reports that some migrants were holding on to one-room dwellings even after acquiring their own houses.
"As per the present policy, migrants who have shifted to their own houses shall not qualify for allotment of two-room tenements as these are meant only for those families who do not own any residential accommodation in Jammu," they said.


The officials said the verification process in this regard is in full swing and is likely to be completed by mid-November. “While preference will be given to migrant families living in camps and one-room tenements, the state government will frame a separate policy to allot the left over flats to those migrant families living in rented accommodation,” they added.

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