The Governor’s address

KS Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 21 (2002): The Governor highlighted following points in his address in the state Assembly

Review of cases of all detainees: The government has decided to review the cases of all such detainees, who have been detained without trial or are held on non-specific charges or are not charged with serious offences or have been held on charges that are such that the period they have spent in jail exceeds their possible sentence, shall be released.

Doing away with POTA: The existing laws are adequate to deal with militancy and as such there is no need to resort to POTA.

State Human Rights Commission: The government shall strengthen the State Human Rights Commission to make it an effective instrument for redressing the grievances of the people of the state. The government shall extend full cooperation to the Commission to ensure expeditious investigation of complaints of custodial killings and violation of human rights so that persons responsible for the same are identified and brought to book. The recommendations and suggestions of this Commission will receive due, serious and prompt attention of the government.

Relief package: The government shall soon formulate a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package for the families affected by militancy during the past decade. The ex-gratia relief, which is being paid at present to the next of kin of those who are killed in militancy-related violence, will be raised from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. The government will examine whether to keep a part of this amount in affixed deposit in the name of the next of kin so that the financial relief in the shape of interest accurable on the deposited money is available on a monthly basis to the affected family.

Rehabilitation of the former militants: Rehabilitation of those who have left violence and rejoined normal life is high on the agenda of the government. The existing surrender policy shall be substituted by a policy of responsive rehabilitation. The government will reach out to all the victims of militancy, including children, widows and parents of deceased militants, and make an endeavour to provide free education to the militancy-affected orphans.

Commission for reforms in police and administrative functioning: A Commission will be set up by the government to make recommendations for bringing about reforms in the police and administration. The government shall introduce systems to improve efficiency and accountability at all levels in the police force. The process of improving the role and image of the police has to begin from the process of recruitment. The recruitment policy shall be suitably revised to provide better-qualified personnel, which shall form the base of a modern, sensitive, humane, highly-skilled and trained police force.

SOG: The government is also committed to assimilate and relocate the personnel of the Special Operations Group in the regular police force so that they are subjected to the discipline and law and are made accountable for their deeds.

Dialogue: The government appreciates the initiatives taken from time to time by the Prime Minister of India through dialogue and moral persuasion. My government believes that long-lasting peace can be achieved in the state if and only if the Government of India initiates a serious and result-oriented dialogue, without any pre-conditions, with the Members of the State Legislature and other segments of public opinion in all the three regions of the state. It is the considered view of my government that a historical opportunity is knocking at our doors. We have to create an atmosphere of good will and trust. Only then will it be possible for us to walk together, in harmony and not in discord, with combined strength and determination towards a future of peace and prosperity for our people and our nation.

Fractured identity: The second major challenge facing the people of the state in general and the people of Kashmir in particular is that of fractured identity and the deep pathos that has permuted the souls of Kashmiris because of the migration of Kashmiri Pandits. Without the presence of the Kashmiri Pandit community in the Valley, its political and cultural landscape is incomplete and substantially barren. The secure and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes and hearths in Kashmir is an essential ingredient of "Kashmiriyat". My government will seek the cooperation of all sections of the society to create an atmosphere conducive for their safe return to the Valley. It shall take all the necessary steps to ensure their safety and devise effective measures for their rehabilitation and employment.

Regional harmony: The government is also deeply concerned about the intraregional and inter-regional sense of alienation from which the people suffer. This feeling of alienation manifests itself in many forms and shapes and undermines the feeling and pledge of solidarity between various regions and communities. My government is committed to take steps, both short term and long term, to remove the causes of this phenomenon of alienation. In this direction, the very composition of my government and its Common Minimum Programme guarantees that the people from all the regions will fully participate not only in the decision-making process but also in implementing and monitoring those decisions. I can confidently say that my government will be just and equitable in allocating funds to the three regions and that it will empower the administration, particularly in far-off and backward areas with adequate administrative and financial powers to ensure a sense of self-government and due participation in the affairs of the state.

LAHDC: The government  has decided to grant full powers, decided to grant full powers, consistent with the Constitution, to the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. The necessary legal and administrative framework for this purpose is already under preparation. An Autonomous Hill Development Council would be set up in Kargil in consultation with its people for the speedy development of this district.

Languages: The government is conscious of the aspirations of the linguistic communities, who speak the Dogri and Ladakhi languages. It will accordingly, request the Government of India to include these languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Minorities Commission: All the three regions of the state have got religious minorities with their unique sensibilities and special problems. My government shall give full protection to the minorities and safeguard their legitimate rights and shall also, in due course of time, set up a minorities commission to look after their interests.

Borders: The government is aware of the problems of the people living close to the Line of Control and the International Border due to recurrent tension and the cross-border violence. The government will construct permanent shelters in all vulnerable areas to prevent loss of life. Early disbursement of admissible compensation to families, affected by the shelling and mining of borders, will receive high priority.

Welfare measures: With a view to ensure that the various schemes for the welfare and uplift of poor of the state are implemented properly and timely, my government has already initiated certain reforms. The programmes and schemes of the Social Welfare Department would not only provide financial aid to the destitute, but also an opportunity to the beneficiaries to improve their educational skills. The government has already decided to increase the monthly pension in respect of the physically-challenged from Rs 150 to Rs 200 per month and deliver it at the doorstep of the pensioners through a money order. The money order charges in this regard would be borne by the government. A similar approach will be adopted for widow and old-age pensioners. The government shall streamline the grant of scholarships available to students who are handicapped or who belong to the weaker sections of society. The government shall also facilitate the recruitment of physically-challenged persons. Suitable steps would be taken to make the State Women Commission and the State Backward Classes Commission more effective.

Accountability Commission: Another momentous decision of far-reaching consequences that my government has taken is to establish in the state an institution of 'Accountability Commission' for inquiring into the complaints received against the Chief Ministers and Legislators and others. This will ensure that accountability and integrity flows from the highest echelons of power to its lowest corridors.

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