On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced that one member of each family that lost a loved one in the recent cross-border shelling in Jammu and Kashmir will be given a government job and assured the affected people that their proper rehabilitation remains a top priority for his administration. The LG made this announcement while he was meeting the victims of Pakistani shelling in Poonch and Rajouri areas. He said that the families of the deceased have already been provided compensation of Rs 16 lakh, while the injured have received ex-gratia as per government norms.
It may be recalled here that in the aftermath of Pahalgam massacre, as India launched Operation Sindoor to target terrorist camps in POJK and Pakistan, Pakistan troops resorted to indiscriminate shelling on civilian populations along Line of Control. In the Jammu region, particularly in Poonch, 27 people were killed and over 70 injured in artillery shelling, missiles and drone strikes by Pakistan. Huge destruction was witnessed in Uri and Kupwara sectors in Kashmir region.
No power on earth can bring back those who have lost their lives but those who survived need top-most government priority so that they are rehabilitated with dignity. It is appreciable that LG administration has come up with the decision of proving government job to a closest kin of every deceased and has also provided compensation but need of the hour is to have a concrete policy for the safe-guard of Border and LoC dwellers. These people are first line of defence and they always face the wrath of the enemy whenever there are tensions. While the LG has assured that an assessment of damaged caused by shelling is underway and once completed, relief will be distributed without delay, need is to speed up the process of assessment.
During the present crisis, it has come to the fore that there is huge shortage of bunkers where people could take shelter during such circumstances. That said, the government need to have a long-term policy regarding the safety and security of the people who live along LoC and IB. The UT administration should make a comprehensive plan for construction of individual as well as community bunkers and take up the issue with the Central Government for financial assistance. As already mentioned, these people are the first line of defence but unfortunately the remain invisible and non-existent for the governments, that be, unless there is some catastrophe.