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| Fractured indiscrimination not acceptable | | 
By K.N. Pandita
Chief Minister seems to have given some serious thought to her government’s policy towards the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. It is reflected in her vote of thanks speech in the assembly as well as in other public announcements and addresses.
A changed and softened attitude is in fitness of things and stands out as a sign of matured statesmanship. That is what was lacking in most of the leaders who ruled the roost ever since militancy surfaced in the State. Therefore revisiting the policy towards the displaced community has to be hailed as a healthy sign.
However, importance lies in deeds and not in words alone. Words can be soft and sympathising to win the goodwill of the distressed community. That is all right and of course a component of the renewed process. But what actually matters is the action on the ground.
We are not sitting on judgment. That is not the purpose. But the affected community has a plethora of problems that need fair and equitable treatment. If there is the attitude of non discrimination, it should be all pervasive and not selective.
Additionally, what is actually needed is the culture of revised approach to the issue of displaced community. The bureaucracy has to develop new culture that discards the stereotype and ushers in a new and pragmatic approach to Pandit problems.
Let us concretise it. The Education Department’s standing directive is that a teacher/principal who has rendered three years of service in far-flung area of the state, will not be sent back to that or any other far-flung area again once he is transferred to a more convenient place. This is a very humane and justifiable decision of the government.
But we have examples of several among displaced teachers who have rendered three years or more of service in far flung areas and have been transferred to more convenient places on their request after fulfilling all conditions.
However, it is surprising that some of the teachers/principals from among the displaced community who fall in the category of having served in far flung areas are under orders of transfer again to far flung areas although they have not put in more than a year and half at present posting.
The discriminative aspect of this measure of the Education Department is that re-transfer to far-off places has been ordered only in the case of displaced teachers/principals from Kashmir and not for other categories.
We have cited this example to elucidate that Chief Minister’s goodwill gesture towards the displaced community has not percolated down to various strata of administration. If the Chief Minister just picks up this case with the Education Department and asks for full details, she will find that there is a big gap between her approach to the issue and the approach of the bureaucracy.
How should this gap be narrowed? There has to be an effective mechanism that ensures perpetuation of the policy of the government. One method could be that of creating a cell for migrants’ grievances which would serve as the focal agency of registering the grievances, difficulties and problems of the displaced community, referring these to proper quarters and seeking the response within specified time frame. Also the cell should be accessible to different delegations from the displaced community who will place community problems for open debate. The Cell could also serve in advisory capacity to bring relief to the distressed community.
What is needed is to create new approach in the administrative structure of the State that must not look at the issue of displaced persons from dark glasses. Goodwill can have small beginning and now that the chief minister has taken the initiative, entire administrative structure must take the cue from her. Fractured indiscrimination cannot be acceptable because it will not restore the trust that the CM is talking about.
(The writer is the former Director of the Centre of Central Asian Studies, University of Kashmir, India)
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