They need security in Kashmir, not assurances
Notwithstanding the shrill political rhetoric surrounding it, the issue of re-settling Kashmiri Pandits requires political will and skilful planning. The BJP-led Government in the Centre and the BJP-PDP combine heading the State Government have committed themselves to bringing the Pandits back to their homeland. However, they aren't the first ones to do so, and if they are serious about the cause, they must learn from the mistakes committed by previous regimes.
They will also inevitably face stiff resistance from Islamist hardliners in the valley, who are already coming together to throw a spanner in the works. The Government, both at the Centre and the State, must have a joint strategy in place to firmly tackle these elements. They will also need to accept, and explain to the public, that in complex situations such as these, there are often no ideal solutions — you just have to find the one that works best and, more importantly, implement it in an effective and sincere manner.
Take, for example, the debate over whether the new settlements should be for Pandits-only or if they should be composite housing arrangements where people from all communities can live together. Sure, the latter sounds good on paper and, arguably, is necessary to ensure that the new settlements don't turn into ghettos, thereby, defeating the entire purpose of re-integration. However, given how the Pandits have only a generation ago suffered the trauma of having their neighbours turn on them, it might be a bit rich asking the few who are risking their lives and uprooting themselves yet again to return to the valley, to now live in a challenging neighbourhood — merely because we want to tick off the communal harmony box and feel good.
Moreover, even from a security perspective, it might be easier to protect semi-exclusive settlements than composite ones. This is possibly why the UPA Government had favoured exclusive settlements, but still its plan failed miserably. The NDA is trying out composite settlements but it knows security will be an issue. At the same time, composite colonies might be more effective in undercutting the Islamists' complaint of a demographic makeover.
Another issue relates to permanent housing. The new settlements are meant only to be transit options. This brings up the question of Pandits’ homes that were either destroyed or have been illegally occupied. Then there is there is the key question about how the Government will convince the Pandits to make the move (given the past record at resettlement, the Pandits have every right to be suspicious). For example, the five colonies built by the UPA are hardly any better than the slum-like settlements the Pandits have in Jammu and Delhi.
Similarly, the Government jobs on offer aren’t enticing, given that salary disbursement remains an issue and the fact that many young Pandits are exposed to opportunities across the country. Finally, as it becomes clear that another wave of radicalisation and militancy may be coming to Kashmir, Pandits may have another reason to not move to a hostile environment. That said, if the Government is committed to the cause and not just looking to gain political mileage, it can still manage each one of these issues and deliver on its promise.
