Suhail Dar
Reconstruction of the houses of several Pandit families, that had begun the last year, is about to be completed in the Mattan area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
During the 1990s, almost 30 families left the Mattan area of Anantnag, which is renowned for its communal harmony.
Among the several family heads, who are reconstructing their houses, is Pandit Kakaji who is building a two-storey house for himself and his brother’s family. The local Muslim villagers have extended support to the families, who also make sure to visit the site every day in order to enquire about the progress of the work.
As the armed rebellion began in the valley towards the end of 1988, pandits migrated from Kashmir amid the atmosphere of fear. Kakaji had moved to Jammu along with his family.
Kakaji came back to Kashmir back in the year 2008-2009 when the former Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, had announced employment opportunities for nearly 15,000 unemployed migrant youths. The then GoI had also decided then to provide one time assistance of ₹5 lakh in each case, out of which 50% would be grants & 50% as loan.
Other schemes launched and implemented by the Manmohan Singh government were Housing scheme assistance, Transit accommodation to returnee migrant families, cash relief, student scholarships, assistance to agriculturists, waiver of interest on loans. Along with that, under the PM Package, 5,242 two room tenements were also constructed in Jammu at four locations.
Kakaji believes that the construction of the house will be completed this year and the families will move into the new house within 2022. Kakaji said, “There is no threat here. There’s complete communal harmony in the village.”
Throughout the years the families left the village, local muslims took care of the properties. “Many Pandit families are rebuilding their houses in the village. The Kashmiri Muslim neighbors, who are taking care of their property, are helping pandits rebuild their homes and making all necessary arrangements,” he said.
The elderly in the village are celebrating the return of Pandits into their houses. “We all welcome their return and we are happy that they are getting back to their old houses. Pandits are part of Kashmir and they should live with their Muslim brothers like before the 1990s,” a villager said.