Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting to review and address various issues pertaining to PM Package employees serving in the Kashmir Division, with a focus on transit accommodation, career progression, rehabilitation measures and welfare initiatives for displaced communities.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Finance; Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department; Principal Secretary, DMRR&R; Commissioner Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs; Commissioner Secretary, Planning; Commissioner Secretary, GAD; Secretary, Revenue; Secretary, Rural Development Department; Secretary, Transport; Relief Commissioner (Migrants); Chief Engineers of R&B Department; representatives of various departments and senior officers of DMRR&R.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary took a detailed review of the transit accommodation infrastructure created for PM Package employees across different districts of Kashmir. Stressing the need for optimal utilization of the facilities, he directed that all completed flats be allotted and occupied at the earliest. He instructed the Relief Commissioner (Migrants) to ensure that all completed accommodations are taken over by the eligible employees by the end of July this year without fail.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed the status of flats under construction at various sites. He further examined the status of allied infrastructure and utility services including electricity, drinking water supply, internal road connectivity, boundary walls and Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to ensure that the colonies are fully functional and habitable.

The meeting also discussed plans for operation and maintenance (O&M) of the transit accommodations as well as migrant colonies in Jammu. Deliberations were held on creation of additional accommodation facilities in Jammu, with land identified at Purkhoo for expansion.

Reviewing the service-related issues of PM Package employees, the Chief Secretary took stock of matters concerning promotions, preparation of seniority lists and inter-district transfers within the Kashmir Division. Departments presented cadre-wise details of PM Package employees and informed the meeting about the status of Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) and related service matters.

Several other issues concerning the welfare and rehabilitation of displaced persons were also discussed. These included cases under the Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme (RAS) relating to deceased employees, provision of adequate budgetary support for operation and maintenance of migrant colonies by line departments, and development of an integrated online portal for digitization of records of displaced communities including Kashmiri Pandits, West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) and families displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

The Principal Secretary, DMRR&R, Chandraker Bharti gave the meeting a comprehensive overview of the rehabilitation and resettlement initiatives being undertaken by the Department. He informed that the department has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for operation and maintenance of migrant colonies across Jammu and Kashmir divisions and that works would be taken up after completion of the requisite formalities.

He further apprised the meeting that the PoJK Bhawan at Suketar has achieved nearly 50 percent physical progress and is targeted for completion by January next year. He also informed that the Community Hall at Jagti has reached around 90 percent completion and is nearing completion.

Relief Commissioner (Migrants), Dr. Arvind Karwani, informed the meeting that out of the sanctioned 6,000 transit flats for PM Package employees, 4,648 flats have been completed while construction of the remaining 1,352 flats is in progress. He further stated that 3,257 flats have so far been allotted to eligible employees, including 532 allotments made since the last review held in March this year.

He also briefed the meeting on the status of allied works and utility services being developed to make all transit accommodation colonies fully ready for occupation and use by PM Package employees.

The Chief Secretary reiterated the Government’s commitment towards ensuring dignified living conditions, timely resolution of service-related concerns and strengthening rehabilitation measures for displaced communities. He called upon all departments to work in close coordination for expeditious completion of pending works and prompt resolution of issues affecting PM Package employees and migrant families across Jammu and Kashmir.