It is a grim irony and a matter of deep misfortune that the employees appointed under the Prime Minister’s Special Employment Package for displaced Kashmiri Pandits - conceived as a cornerstone of their rehabilitation and return—now find themselves victims of official apathy, harassment, and discrimination. The latest directive issued by the Directorate General of Accounts and Treasuries (DGAT) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has sparked anguish and outrage across the community. The order, draconian in tone and arbitrary in spirit, declares that the PM Package employees are “temporary” and therefore ineligible for quasi-permanent status. This proclamation not only undermines the very spirit of the special employment initiative announced in 2009 but also exposes the hypocrisy of the administration’s avowed commitment to the return and rehabilitation of the exiled Kashmiri Pandits. The government, both at the Centre and in the Union Territory, has repeatedly proclaimed its intent to ensure a dignified and sustainable rehabilitation of the displaced community. Yet, by placing their employment on a precarious and temporary pedestal, the administration has shaken the foundation of that very promise. How can rehabilitation be possible when the government chooses to base its entire policy on a wrong and unjust premise? The 2009 implementation of the Prime Minister’s Package, ostensibly a gesture of restitution and hope, was from the outset built on an erroneous interpretation of employment terms, now perpetuated by the recent order. To presume that these employees - many of whom left their homes to serve in the Valley under extremely adverse conditions—are merely temporary functionaries without any claim to permanence or stability, is not only unjust but reeks of discrimination and deceit.

The latest circular from the Finance Department, affirming that package employees are not appointed to substantive posts and therefore cannot be accorded quasi-permanent status, is an insult to both the spirit of the scheme and the resilience of those who accepted it in good faith. This arbitrary classification amounts to bureaucratic treachery—an act of deception against the highly qualified youth of the Kashmiri Pandit community, who, having already been dispossessed and displaced during the mass exodus of 1989–90, continue to live as refugees within their own homeland. They were promised integration, dignity, and security under this package, but what they now face is stagnation, denial of promotions, and an unending cycle of exploitation. It is beyond comprehension how a government that claims to champion the cause of displaced minorities could so brazenly disregard the basic principles of justice and equity. The Prime Minister’s Employment Package was envisaged not as a charitable concession but as a policy of rightful inclusion—an effort to reintegrate the victims of forced displacement into the social and economic mainstream of Jammu and Kashmir.
By branding them as temporary appointees, the state administration has not only nullified the objective of the scheme but has also stripped these employees of their dignity and rights. The government’s latest pronouncement is akin to rubbing salt into the festering wounds of an already distressed community. The Finance Department’s order, which essentially reiterates and legitimizes the original error made in 2009 by the then state government, is a continuation of an institutional wrong that should have been rectified long ago. Instead of correcting the foundational mistake, the administration seems determined to perpetuate and compound it, thereby deepening the sense of betrayal and alienation among the package employees. The Lieutenant Governor’s administration, if genuinely committed to justice and fair play, must intervene decisively to set the record straight. The order must be rescinded, and a new directive must be issued to correct the flawed interpretation ab initio—that is, from the very inception of the package in 2009.
The LG, in consultation with the Finance Department, should ensure that a post-facto rectification order is issued to grant the rightful quasi-permanent status and due promotional benefits to the PM Package employees. Anything less would amount to perpetuating historical injustice under the garb of administrative procedure. The onus lies squarely on the present government to erase the wrongs committed by its predecessors and to restore faith among the Kashmiri Pandit employees who have been the most visible symbols of the community’s connection with their homeland. At present, these employees are serving across the Valley—many in remote, volatile, and inhospitable regions—performing their duties with commitment and courage. In return, they face neglect, stagnation, and humiliation. Denied promotions, deprived of job security, and stripped of dignity, they remain trapped in a bureaucratic limbo. The government’s refusal to recognize their quasi-permanent status not only violates principles of natural justice but also stands in contradiction to the stated policy of rehabilitation. It is an affront to the constitutional promise of equality and fair treatment. The distress within the community is palpable. There is growing resentment and a deep sense of betrayal among the package employees and the larger Kashmiri Pandit population. Various community organizations have condemned the finance department’s order, describing it as discriminatory, unjust, and an outright travesty of the very policy meant to heal decades of suffering. By issuing such an order, the administration has reignited the collective anguish of the Pandit community, many of whom had begun to see the employment package as a fragile bridge back to their roots.
It is imperative that the administration acts with wisdom and empathy rather than arrogance and indifference. To continue with the existing policy framework would be tantamount to institutionalizing discrimination. The government must realize that these employees are not just workers—they are the bearers of an entire community’s hope for reintegration and justice. By denying them stability, the state is effectively undermining the broader goal of rehabilitating Kashmiri Pandits in their rightful homeland. The recent finance department order is not merely an administrative document; it is a reflection of the mindset that still views the displaced as outsiders in their own land. The order reeks of insensitivity, arbitrariness, and bureaucratic callousness. It contradicts the constitutional ethos and the humanitarian intent behind the Prime Minister’s Employment Package. The government’s insistence on continuing the error, rather than correcting it, exposes a troubling lack of political will and moral courage. The administration must desist from adding fuel to the fire. Instead of pouring salt and pepper on the wounds of a community that has endured untold suffering, it should provide a genuine healing touch. The government must move beyond rhetoric and symbolic gestures and take tangible steps to rectify the wrong. It should issue a corrective order that acknowledges the quasi-permanent status of PM Package employees, ensures their career progression, and guarantees them equality in service conditions with other state employees.
The current situation calls for immediate and decisive intervention. The Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister must rise above bureaucratic inertia and demonstrate statesmanship by addressing this long-pending grievance. They must direct the Finance Department to withdraw its arbitrary and unjust order, acknowledge the errors of the past, and ensure that justice is finally delivered to the Kashmiri Pandit employees. The community’s patience is wearing thin, and the trust deficit is widening. The PM Package employees have long been symbols of resilience and hope; today, they stand disillusioned and dejected. The government’s inaction risks not only their morale but also the credibility of the broader rehabilitation policy. The question now haunting every displaced Kashmiri Pandit is simple yet profound - Is the government truly listening, or has it chosen to remain deaf to the cries of its own citizens? Until this wrong is rectified and justice restored, the promise of rehabilitation will remain hollow - a mere mirage in the political desert of apathy and deceit.

Email:---------------------------onkoul2019@gmail.com