Kashmir Bhawan Calling

Dr Romesh Raina GS, Kashmir Samiti 2004  

The present Kashmiri Pandit Community politics is an extension of its socio-cultural struggle. To make it more responsive and rooted, all our activities in Samiti are directed towards its accomplishment and achievement of a goal.

History is not the mythology of dead, especially KPS, they derive their history from civilisational greatness and these historical memories continue to be passed on from generation to generation. It is these ties of history which firmly bind us to our ancestral land. Successive migrations and these 14 years of exile have brought them face to face with the basic issue of survival which is gradually emerging as a central issue before them. This has been at the centre of intense debate. Cross currents and undercurrents of various thought processes and our civilizational values provide a firm base to build the next generation and a new vibrant entity.

Reconstruction of the past is an important part of the community building exercise. Geographic detachment has only added a sense of urgency to it. The effort draws its strength from creative thinking, healthy Executive Council debates and hard work. Samiti as a result decided to evolve a broad framework by involving the peripheral KP Welfare Organisations working in NCT Delhi as a first step in this regard. The objective being to increase their participation in community affairs and to send a message of concern towards this vital aspect. Extended Nodal agency is borne out of this concept and this experiment has already started producing results. The endeavour is to make this entire exercise useful to the community. Infact KPs are not trying to re-discover their roots but explore the crucial features of their existence. At play is the crucial factor of survival of KPs as a community. The activities of this month are

(1). Education Admission Process. KSD played a significant role in extending the reservation of seats for our student community this year too and because of our efforts some other states also extended this facility in their states.

Maharashtra Admissions

This year 624 students were admitted in various Technical Institutions in Maharashtra. The Counselling process began from 13th July upto 17th July, 2004 Kashmiri Samiti representative actively assisted the students by providing them the necessary information and vital inputs regarding the entire counselling process and the colleges

Indraprastha University Delhi

About 12 students were provided admission under Migrant Quota this year. KSD actively participated in the admission process and assisted the students by providing them vital information about various colleges and streams.

Delhi University

Sixty Nine Kashmiri Migrant students were granted admission in various colleges by Delhi University under Kashmiri Migrant Quota this year also. Vice President Shri Rakesh Kaul, Shri Avinash Tickoo, and Ramesh Raina (Secretary's). played a significant role in streamlining the admission process and also in helping students in procuring the migrant certificates from the Divisional Commissioner's Office at a short notice thus helping many students in getting admissions which otherwise would have become difficult in the absence of proper documents.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Admissions

This year also students were admitted in various Kendriya Vidhyalaya across the country under Kashmiri Migrant Quota.

(2). Interaction with Kausher Sabha

KSD was invited by Kausher Sabha, Vipin Garden on 1st August, 2004 for an interaction were more than hundred people had assembled to express their solidarity with Samiti as also a list of their problems and greater participation of their association with Samiti was impressed upon. General Secretary of Samiti assured the office bearers of the association namely Shri M.L.Bhat (President) and Shri K.L.Kaul (Secretary) that Samiti's policies and programmes call for a united approach to the problems being faced by the exiled KPs and the participation of Kausher Sabha in community affairs is a step in that direction. In connection with the foundation stone laying ceremony of community temple at Vipin Garden on August 21,2004, members of Sabha extended the invitation for participation to all the Biradari members on the day at 3 p.m.

(3). Meeting with Secretary to Resident Commissioner Government of J&K.

An all front line Kashmiri Pandit Organisation meeting was convened by the Secretary on 23rd July, 2004 in his chamber. This was in continuation to our efforts regarding the problems in voters list of J&K The agenda was to discuss :

(1). Inclusion of fresh voters who are more than 18 years of age.

(2). Correction of voters list.

(3). Addition and Deletion of names (especially discrepancies).

The various participants in the meeting includes S/Shri Rakesh Kaul, Sanjay Wali (Vice Presidents KSD), Dr. Romesh Raina (General Secretary KSD), Shri Avinash Tickoo (Secretary KSD), Dr. BL.Khachroo (President KPUF), S/Shri Surender Nath Kalla (President Vetasta Welfare Association Najafgarh), PN.Sharma, Nag Arjun Ganjoo (President KPWA-DG), Shri Ashok Kumar Jalla(VP KPWA-DG)

The aforementioned issues were discussed in free and fair manner with every organisation expressing its view point on the subject. Some differences did crop up during the discussion and the anomalies if any would be corrected, the Secretary assured the delegation

(4). Nodal Cell Meeting.

In response to the Nodal Cell Meeting on 29th June, 2004, under the leadership of the President Shri Sunil Shakdher, this office has received the details of the meeting which are reproduced here for the benefit of the readers.

(1). The Kashmiri Samiti raised the issue of settlement of pending relief cases in which payment has been stopped. After detailed discussion, the Samiti was asked to send the list of various Deputy Commissioners within a week after which the respective Deputy Commissioner will verify and decide the cases within two weeks of submission of the list.

(ii). The Samiti also requested for uniform mode of distribution of relief. They stated that in some districts the relief was distributed by cheque, whereas in some districts it was being done in cash. After detailed discussion, it was decided that the payment could be made by cheque/ATM card as has been done in the South-West District. The Samiti also wanted that in case of any delay in payment, the Samiti office bearers could also be informed about the dates so that the person concerned could be informed accordingly. DCs agreed to do so.

(iii). On the request of Samiti regarding fresh registration/issue of identity cards to the migrants who migrated after the cutoff date of registration 1.e 12th February, 1993, the Divisional Commissioner stated that a reminder should be sent to Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India from his side.

(iv). As regards registration for DDA flats, the Samiti requested that the scope of the policy may be widened to include non-camper registered migrants also. They further requested that the case of Palika Dhani Camp inmates should also be finalised. After detailed discussion, it was decided that the whole issue will be reviewed by Deputy Commissioner (New Delhi) in consultation with NDMC.

(v) The Samiti also raised the issue of allotment of fresh Tehbazari to unemployed Kashmiri

Youths, It was decided to write a letter to NDMC for considering their claims as per their policy/ rules.

Sd/-

(S.K.Jha) ADM (HQ).

(5). Donations.

Kashmiri Samiti Delhi expresses its gratitude to Dr. U.Kaul, Dr. Subash Wangnoo, Dr. Anoop Ganjoo, for their help in purchasing one Air- Conditioners for Samiti. Shri Bhushan Lal Bhat Coordinator played a role in procuring these donations.

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Courtesy:- Dr. Romesh Raina General Secretary, Kashmir Samiti and 2004 August Koshur Samachar