1995 05 Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi - General Council Meeting held on 26th March, 1995 at Kashmir Bhawan, Kashmir Bhawan Marg, Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi-110024

The meeting started at the scheduled time with the inaugural address of the President, Shri Hriday N. Nehru who while welcoming the delegates said that Kashmiri Samiti as the Central Organisation has to play a vital role under the present circumstances. We pray to God to give us strength to survive as Kashmiri Pandits and as true Indians to protect our identity. During the period when we met last we have lost many members of our community because of natural death and also recently three young boys have died in a road accident in Jammu while going to Jijarkothi on a college picnic and a few are injured and undergoing treatment in Delhi and Chandigarh. One minute's silence was observed in the memory of all those who died during the period. The meeting proceeded as per the agenda.

MINUTES OF LAST GENERAL BODY MEETING: The minutes of the last General Council meeting held on 20th November, 1994 were read out by the General Secretary and some members wanted to know about the functioning of the KSD Publication Trust. The President clarified that the Trust is for publications of Kashmiri Samiti and its general body will comprise the executive members and the editorial board who will have the right to co- opt people having knowledge of publication work. The overall control of the Trust will be with the executive committee of Kashmiri Samiti and the President of the Samiti will be the Chairman of the Trust.

GENERAL SECRETARY'S REPORT

The next item on the agenda was discussion on the report of activities presented by the General Secretary circulated among members for their comments and observations. Some members pointed out that the trader class has been ignored in the report and wanted that the problems faced by the displaced trader community be taken up by the Samiti on priority basis. The meeting was informed that the present struggle is mostly for the welfare of traders, villagers, farmers and low income group employees etc. and every effort will be made in future also to take up these issues with the Govt.

Some members wanted clarifications on the working of migrant employees forum. The General Secretary who is also the President of the Migrant Employees Forum said that the Forum is one of the units functioning under the control of Kashmiri Samiti and all the employees who are drawing their salary from J&K House in Delhi are the members of this forum. There is no financial involvement of the Samiti in the working of the forum but all the events and activities of the forum are discussed and approved by the executive and all its achievements are mentioned in my report.

The setting up of an educational institution by the Samiti also came up for discussion as was mentioned by some members in the context of the advertisement of Greater Noida Development Authority in the daily "Hindustan Times". It was said that only registered societies can respond to such an offer, the initial amount to be paid is only Rs. fifty thousand and the plot can be ideal for an Engineering College and a Management Institute. The President assured that it will be conveyed to the incoming executive for follow-up.

The working of the Kashmiri Samiti on political front as per report on its activities was discussed in detail and it was felt that the very existence of Kashmiri Pandits is based on politics and the present problems of the community have a political bearing. It was unanimously decided that Kashmiri Samiti will continue with its political activities and it has all the infrastructure and capability to fight on the political front.

Shri Sunil Shakdher, Vice President, in response to the details sought by the members about the meeting with the Deptt. of J&K Affairs said that during these meetings, among other things, the problems related to the disbursement of relief and the migrant employees were discussed. The relief has been released in favour of those migrants where it was stopped earlier due to various reasons and 28 cases have been settled. Fresh registration for migrants in Delhi is likely to start though for a brief period. Full security and telephone facilities will be provided in all the camps in Delhi.

The General Secretary's report on the activities for the period under review was then adopted in total.

STATEMENT OF AUDITED ACCOUNTS: The Balance Sheet for the year 1993-94 and income and expenditure statement for the current year upto 28th February, 1995; the copies of which were already distributed to the members ware passed by the General Council after some members sought details of Mass Community Marriages for which Kashmiri Samiti has contributed rupees ten thousand. The President said that since the house feels that the All India Kashmiri Samaj should be asked to give complete account of Mass Marriage Programme, these feelings will be conveyed to them and the details will be put before the next general council meeting.

APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS FOR 1995-97: M/s H.S. Rustogi & Co. were appointed as auditors for the two-year term 1995-97.

ELECTION RESULTS: Shri B.L. Kaul 'Chaman', Returning Officer announced the election results and all the elected members were introduced to the General Council. The Returning Officer informed that Area No. 2 and 9 stand unrepresented as no nominations were received. In this regard, the General Council authorised the Executive Committee to nominate members from these two areas.

In his concluding speech, Shri Hriday N. Nehru welcomed the President-elect, Shri N.N. Kaul, and his team and expressed the hope that the new team will work with full spirit and determination to strengthen the organisation and fight for our survival and look after the sufferings and agony through which our brethren are passing at this stage. He appealed to all members to extend full support and cooperation to make the organisation effective.

The General Secretary informed the meeting that the new executive will take oath on 28th march, 1995 at 4.30 p.m. and requested everybody to participate in the ceremony. The Returning Shri B.L. Kaul 'Chaman' shall administer the oath of allegiance. The meeting concluded with the Vote of Thanks to Chair.

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Courtesy:  April-May 1995 Koshur Samachar