The Government on Wednesday informed Parliament that four Kashmiri Pandits among 14 Hindus were killed by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019. Moreover, 34 people belonging to minority communities were killed by terrorists there in the last five years including 11 in 2021, it said.
Giving this update in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai also said the government is making all efforts to restore assets to Kashmiri migrants and properties of 610 applicants have been returned.
Replying to questions, the minister said after the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, 2105 migrants have returned to Kashmir valley for taking up jobs provided under the Prime Minister's Development Package.
Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated on August 5, 2019 and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Rai said the government has taken several measures to ensure the safety of minorities in the valley. These include robust security and intelligence grid, group security in the form of static guards and day and night area domination.
Making this assertion, he also said the state government has provided jobs to migrant Kashmiris. Giving the break up, he said 841 jobs were provided in 2020-21 and 1,264 in 2021-22. Rai said the government is ready to give jobs to migrant Kashmiris who wish to return and settle in their home state.
The Minister said the District Magistrate has been designated as the custodian of the migrants' properties. The state government has also started a portal to resolve the complaints of migrants.
"The Modi government and Home Minister is capable of returning the assets to migrant Kashmiris. Constant efforts are being made," he said.
Rai said Jammu and Kashmir is on a development track and informed the House the state has received an investment proposal of Rs 51,000 crore for industrial development which will help create employment opportunities for 4.50 lakh people.
The construction of about 13 roads has provided better reach in the state. Prior to 2019, the speed of construction was at 6.54 km per day, which has increased to 20,68 km per day now.
A village housing over 1,000 people is connected with roads.
By 2023, a hamlet with 500 people will also get the road connection, he added. The Minister further said there is a 24 hours electricity supply due to excess power production.
On the employment front, Rai said about 26,303 posts have been identified in the state from 2019 and till date. The process of hiring is underway, he said, and an employment portal has been set up, counselling sections and career centres have been put in place in the state.
Besides these measures, a development package was announced in 2015 for the state, the minister said adding Rs 58,466 crore was approved as part of the package.