Jammu, Dec 30 (IANS) In a first major step aimed at the return of the Kashmiri Hindu migrants to their homes in the Valley, Jammu and Kashmir’s migrant youth were Wednesday approved reservation in 3,000 government jobs.
The move was approved by the cabinet ministers Wednesday. A cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening was postponed as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi Wednesday.

Sources in the cabinet told IANS that the government has given formal approval for absorbing 3,000 Kashmiri Pandit youths in government service in the Valley. The jobs have been reserved at the district and divisional level.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had April 25, 2008, announced a Rs.1,618 crore package for the relief and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits to the “land of their grandfathers and great grandfathers with dignity”.

In all 6,000 jobs are to be reserved. Kashmiri Hindu youth can apply for government jobs in the open category as well.

“Those availing reservation in jobs would have to permanently station themselves in the Valley and even a single day’s unauthorised absence from duty would cost them their jobs,” an official told IANS.

A clause that the employees would have to take their families to the Valley has been deleted, the sources added.