Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over appointment letters to 27 Next of Kins (NoKs) of victims of terrorism, at Lok Bhavan Srinagar.
Appointment letters were also handed over to 22 NoKs of deceased government employees, under Jammu & Kashmir Rehabilitation Assistance Scheme-2022 and SRO 43.
The Lieutenant Governor reiterated his resolve to secure justice for every terror victim's family. He stated that pending cases will be reopened to hold perpetrators accountable.
Paying homage to the civilian martyrs, the Lieutenant Governor said that for decades, NoKs of our poor and vulnerable brothers and sisters, felled by terrorists' bullets, had clung to the hope of redress. He said the campaign launched from Baramulla last year has provided these families with support, courage, and renewed self-belief.
“Our campaign to deliver justice to terror victims' families has restored their tomorrow. We have succeeded in dispelling the shadow of injustice and ushering a new dawn of justice at doorsteps of terror victims' families. To date, around 400 NoKs have received employment and will continue relentlessly until we reach the very last family still awaiting justice,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that it is not merely an administrative exercise of signing papers, shuffling files, or filling posts but a profound commitment to justice.
“My aim throughout this process is to ensure that no terror-affected family slipped into the cracks of neglect, fading from public and official gaze. I view these appointment letters as true justice- and today's event stands as its living testament,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that under the guidance of Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, important initiatives were taken over the past five to six years with a singular, overarching goal- to forge a Jammu Kashmir undefined by the pains of its past, but brimming with self-confidence.
“In August 2020, I had set this vision-to develop a Jammu Kashmir that measures its strength by the heights of its dreams, and to build a system rooted in social justice, dignity, and equal opportunity,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor directed the Principal Secretary Home to conduct a comprehensive review of the cases pertaining to property encroachment of victims of terrorism.
“I have repeatedly affirmed that lands or homes forcibly seized from terror-affected families will be liberated and returned, and cases yet to undergo investigation will receive impartial, transparent probes,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that the administration is committed to the rehabilitation of those left scarred by terror.
"There are many victims of terrorism who have lost their eyesight or are living with severe disabilities. We will chalk out a robust framework for their rehabilitation. The administration has also outlined a timeline for providing essential housing and other support to the victims of terrorism,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor called upon people to preserve the unity and foil the efforts of separatist elements.
“Adhering to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mantra of ‘Zero Tolerance towards Terrorism’, the administration, Police and Security forces are taking decisive action to dismantle terror networks.
We must remain vigilant against divisive elements attempting to divide us along sectarian lines. We are Indians; our collective duty is the peace and progress of our nation.
Officials and citizens must also work together to strengthen faith in our government institutions,” the Lieutenant Governor further said.
Principal Secretary Home, Shri Chandraker Bharti; Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari; Commissioner Secretary, General Administration Department, Shri M Raju; IGP Kashmir, Shri VK Birdi; Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shri Akshay Labroo; Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Chairman, Save Youth Save Future Foundation, Shri Wajahat Farooq Bhat and other members of the Foundation, senior officials, members of various social organisations and family members of victims of terrorism were present.