Ishfaq Gulzar CNI

Misconceptions about Kashmiri Pandits have been deliberately created, portraying them as well-settled and financially secure. It is falsely claimed that all migrant Kashmiri Pandits receive a relief amount of ₹13,000 per family and that they all have been provided with government jobs. However, the stark reality is that they continue to suffer due to financial distress, social neglect, and a lack of opportunities.

The displaced Kashmiri Pandit community has been in exile for over 35 years, having lost everything they owned in the Valley. Their properties were either looted, encroached upon, occupied under draconian land laws, or sold under distress. Despite being highly qualified and experienced, a significant portion of the community remains unemployed and struggles for survival. Many do not own homes and are forced to live in rented accommodations or deteriorating camps, facing extreme poverty and neglect. Those who have managed to build homes or purchase the flats often carry substantial loan liabilities, adding to their financial burden.

Healthcare has become a major challenge, with most unable to afford proper medical treatment. They are burdened with high medical expenses while struggling to access even basic healthcare services. Those who have Anshuman cards are either not functioning or accepted at the time of need by the hospitals in various places of the country they live as exiled persons.
The meager relief amount provided to some displaced families is not only insufficient but is often stopped for months, delayed, or obstructed by bureaucratic hurdles, creating additional hardships. They are frequently harassed with endless paperwork and filling of forms , making it difficult to receive even the minimal aid they are entitled to. Many families have reached the verge of starvation, with children facing difficulties in accessing education due to the inability to afford books, fees, and travel expenses. The lack of funds also means that purchasing necessary medicines becomes an insurmountable challenge.

Contrary to the false propaganda, only about 25% of the displaced KP community receives relief aid, which is structured as follows:

Single-member family: ₹3,250 per month

Two-member family: ₹6,500 per month

Three-member family: ₹9,750 per month

Four or more members: ₹13,000 per month (maximum limit)

This completely disproves the myth that every displaced Kashmiri Pandit family receives ₹13,000 monthly. Even this small relief amount is either unpaid or frequently delayed, forcing affected families into deeper financial distress. Considering the rising costs of living, , paying house rent , household and domestic expenses etc, this amount is grossly insufficient to sustain a family.

Justice has been denied for decades, with no accountability for the genocide, ethnic cleansing, and targeted killings of Kashmiri Pandits. FIRs were either never registered for the massacres, killings, and atrocities committed during the turmoil in the Valley, or, in rare cases where they were filed, no action has been taken for the past 35 years. The Supreme Court rejected our appeals for justice, citing the passage of time, while much older cases of other communities have been actively pursued and addressed. The police, executive and administrative authorities have remained inactive and ignored the killings, loot, arson, and illegal occupation of properties. Instead of addressing these grievances, political parties have only exploited them for their political andelectoral gains, further adding to their pain.

The silence of the nation, human rights organizations, and international bodies on the plight of displaced Kashmiri Pandits is deafening. Despite facing one of the worst cases of ethnic cleansing in modern India, they remain unheard, scattered across various states, living in exile without any concrete steps being taken for their rehabilitation.

It is unfortunate that the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community has not been rehabilitated in their rightful land of ancestors, the Kashyap Bhoomi, in the Kashmir Valley, which should have been the government’s first and foremost priority. No financial grants have been provided to help the community rebuild their lives, nor has compensation been granted for their immense losses, despite repeated requests and appeals. No comprehensive plan for their economic and social upliftment has been implemented. Their political representation has been ignored in both the Assembly and Parliament. No special employment package has been introduced in central government departments to address the crisis of unemployment among displaced Kashmiri Pandits. Additionally, no heed has been given to passing the long-pending Temple and Shrine Bill to protect the religious and cultural heritage of Kashmiri Pandits.

The suffering of displaced Kashmiri Pandits is real and ongoing. They have been ignored, isolated, and left to struggle without support. It is time for the government and society to acknowledge their pain and take immediate steps to ensure their dignified return, rehabilitation, and justice.

The exile of Kashmiri Pandits is not just a tragedy; it is a national shame. The false narratives about their financial well-being are a deliberate attempt to erase their suffering from public memory. The Kashmiri Pandit community remains ignored, unheard, and isolated despite their immense sacrifices and unwavering nationalist spirit.

It is time for the government, political parties, and civil society to rise above tokenism and take real, impactful actions. The Kashmiri Pandits have suffered in silence for 35 years—justice must not be delayed any longer.
[ Kundan Kashmiri]
Community Sevak & President Kashmiri Pandit Conference ( KPC ) — Email kundankashmiri@gnail.com
Mobile No 8802167955