FIRDOUS TAK
Jammu, Nov 22: Jammu and Kashmir
government Monday approved the much awaited `Rehabilitation Policy’ paving way
for the return of youth who had crossed over to Pakistan
administered Kashmir with the eruption on
turmoil in the Valley.Well placed sources in the ruling alliance told Greater Kashmir that the state cabinet, which met here for the first time after shifting of Durbar to the winter capital, under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah gave the final nod to the policy, drafted by state and approved by the Union Home Ministry.
The Chief Minister was of the view that once the policy comes into effect, new channel would be opened up enabling these youths to resume their normal life after proper precautions were taken.
“What is proposed is that for those who are desirous of returning without arms and resuming some form of normal life, we will open channels for them so that they can be able to come back,” Omar had said.
National Conference reportedly had a smooth sailing in approving the policy despite reservations from the Congress ministers, who had sought some more time in view of the ensuing elections for Panchayats and urban local bodies.
The cabinet decision will now be followed with the constitution of a high-level committee to be headed by Commissioner/Secretary Home, which will be the final authority to clear the cases under the policy.
As per the policy, youth who had crossed over to Pakistan and PaK will be brought under the ambit of the scheme. The policy had received nod from by the Union Home Ministry also after consultation with the Army and central security agencies, official sources said.
The pre-requisite for getting benefit of the policy would, however, be `change of heart’, one of the cabinet ministers, present in the meeting said. He added that the policy will only for those who want to shun the path of violence and return to the mainstream.
Under the policy, parents of the youth who had crossed over to Pakistan or PaK can approach the Superintendent of Police of their district certifying that their ward wanted to return and live a normal life.
The parents will receive orders from the SP only after the case is scrutinized by all the intelligence agencies operating in the state, the sources said. The case will also be forwarded to the high level committee to be constituted in this regard by the government for final approval; sources said adding that the committee will scrutinize cases which receive clearance from the intelligence agencies.
Such youth will be kept in a camp where they would be monitored and imparted counselling so that they could earn their livelihood, the sources said. In the meantime, if someone arrived with their wife and children, they would also be provided with emergency certificate.
For those youth, who do not have any relation, the surrender application can be filed before the Indian High Commission in Pakistan. Government is also contemplating to provide online information and application form under the policy.
The policy, which was discussed threadbare with Union Home Ministry, is expected to put an end to illegal entry of such youths who were entering India through Nepal, Bangladesh or Wagah border using fake documents and coming to Kashmir, sources said.
Government has selected four entry points – Poonch-Rawalakote (Poonch), Uri-Muzaffarabad (Uri), Wagah (Punjab) and Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi from where the youth, given clearance, can enter the state.
“They will be arrested on the entry point and brought to Counselling Centres”, a senior government officer said adding that such youth, who have cases pending against them in any police station, will be tried before the court of law.
HIGHLIGHTS
* Surrender application to be filed before SP, Indian High Commission in Islamabad
* Youth to be tried for
cases pending against them
PTI
The much-talked about surrender policy for youths who had
exfiltrated from Jammu and Kashmir
between 1989 and 2009 for arms training and have a change of heart now was
cleared on Monday by the State Cabinet.
Under the policy, youths who had crossed over to Pakistan and Pakistan
occupied Kashmir (PoK) will be eligible for
the scheme.
The policy had received nod from by Union Home Ministry too after
consultation with the Army and central security agencies, official sources
said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was of the view that once the policy
comes into effect, new channel would be opened up enabling these youths to
resume their normal life after proper precautions were taken.
“What is proposed is that for those who are desirous of returning
without arms and resuming some form of normal life, we will open channels for
them so that they can be able to come back,” Mr. Abdullah had said.
Under the policy, parents of the youths who had crossed over to Pakistan or PoK
can approach the Superintendent of Police of their district certifying that
their child wanted to return and live a normal life.
The policy, which was discussed threadbare with the Union Home
Ministry, is expected to put an end to illegal entry of such youths who were
entering India through Nepal, Bangladesh or the Wagah border post
using fake documents.
These parents will receive orders from the SP only after the case
was scrutinised by the State CID in consultation with the central security
agencies, the sources said.
Under the policy, the youth will be kept in a camp where they
would be monitored and imparted training so that they could earn their
livelihood, the sources said. In the meantime, if someone arrived with their
wife and children, they would also be provided with emergency certificates.
“There will be a cooling off period, some counselling,
rehabilitation and certain amount of interface between the security forces and
them to be assured that they are not being planted and they are actually people
who are coming back for resumption of normal life. That is the broad parameters
of the policy,” a senior official said.
Asked what could be the number
of such people, the official said “the numbers run into thousands but I am not,
even for a moment, suggesting that all are going to come knocking on our door
on the first day. It may really be a very small trickle that seeks to take
advantage of this but the fact is that people are coming.”
Cabinet approves rehab policy
Youth ‘stranded’ in PaK can return to ValleyShabir Dar
Jammu, Nov 22: After nod from Home minister P Chidambaram, the cabinet Monday finally approved the surrender and rehabilitation policy for youth who had crossed LoC between 1989 and 2009 for receiving arms training and are now willing to return home.
The cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, held exhaustive deliberations on the ways and means to rehabilitate the youth before approving the policy.
It was the first cabinet meeting in Jammu after the Darbar re-opened here earlier this month.
Confirming cabinet’s approval to surrender and rehabilitation policy, Minister for Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir said the rehabilitation policy was the main agenda of the meeting. “It was unanimously approved by the cabinet,” he said.
Minister for Industries Surjit Singh Slathia said that notice in this regard will be issued soon. “The draft has already been formulated by the government and its implementation will start soon”.
Sources said the surrender and rehabilitation policy envisages that the family members of the youth who has crossed the LoC and are presently in Pakistan-administered-Kashmir and want to return back, should approach the concerned Superintendent of Police with an undertaking certificate that their wards want to return.
“Thereafter, the case would be thoroughly scrutinized by various security and intelligence agencies and after their go ahead, the parents of the youth would receive information of return of their wards,” they said.
The policy, sources said, further states that the youth will be kept in rehabilitation camp where they would be monitored and imparted training so that they could earn their livelihood. “If someone arrived with their wife and children, they too would be provided with emergency certificates,” they said.
They said there will be a cooling off period, some counselling, rehabilitation and certain amount of interface between the security forces and the youth to ensure that they are not being planted and actually want to resume normal life. “That is the broad parameters of the policy. Cases would also be filed against them, if found involved in any criminal activity before crossing the LoC,” sources said.
Home minister P Chidambaram has already given a go ahead to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for implementation of the policy during their recent meeting in New Delhi.
“Home Minister was very eager for the package and wanted the state cabinet to approve it without any further delay. Now, that the state cabinet has approved the policy, it will be forwarded to the Centre for approval. The final package will be announced by the Union Cabinet,” a senior cabinet minister said.
Omar first talked about the rehabilitation policy in his address during Chief Ministers’ Conference on internal security in New Delhi on February 7 earlier this year.
Sources said Home Minister readily agreed to the package since it was in line with the recommendation of one of the five working groups set up by the Prime Minister in May 2004. The working group had mooted general amnesty for “misguided youths who want to shun the gun and return to the mainstream”.
“The policy is tipped to be a major confidence building measure for Indo-Pakistan dialogue to get underway,” a senior government functionary said.
Official sources maintain that the proposed rehabilitation package may be extended not only to those who had crossed over to PaK for receiving arms training but also to hundreds of those who had crossed the LoC for economic and social reasons.
The Cabinet also approved the release of COLA for the PSU employees.
RK
Indian state launches 'militant rehabilitation' policy
The government in the Indian state
of Jammu and Kashmir
has given formal approval to a rehabilitation policy for militants.
It is the first time that that such a policy has been introduced for
militants who have allegedly trained in Pakistani-administered Kashmir.The state government says militants must "eschew arms and violence" if they want to take advantage of the scheme.
They must also "accept the integrity of India" and its constitution.
There has been no reaction from Pakistan or the government of Pakistani-administered Kashmir to the announcement.
Thousands of people have joined the Kashmir insurgency since it began 20 years ago.
Officials say the new scheme is different from previous initiatives because it is specifically targeted towards militants who have been or who are based in Pakistan.
It is geared towards those who have crossed from Indian-administered Kashmir into Pakistani-administered Kashmir to get arms training so that they can join militant groups fighting Indian rule in Jammu and Kashmir.
The scheme currently in place - launched in 2004 - offers rehabilitation and monetary incentives only for "local militants".
"The new scheme is only open for those who are willing to [solemnly renounce] violence and the gun," a senior cabinet minister told the BBC.
He added that the process of screening such people would be "very strict" and would involve various security and intelligence agencies.
"We have to be sure that only genuine people make use of [it]," the minister said.
There is no exact estimate provided by India as to how many people are currently receiving training on the Pakistani side, but security agencies reckon it is about 3,000 people.
Pakistan has consistently denied that it provides any assistance to militants fighting in Indian-administered Kashmir.
Indian Home Minister Mr P Chidambram has backed the idea, but the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it was a "dangerous step and a big security risk" which they would "fight tooth and nail".
No comments:
Post a Comment