All India Kashmiri Samaj

All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) is an organisation for Kashmiri Pandits created to voice the issues associated with the Kashmiri Pandit diaspora.

Main objectives

As per the website of AIKS, their main objectives are:

  • To represent the mainstream voice of Kashmiri Pandits across the globe.
  • To protect the socio-cultural identity of the KPs.
  • To provide relief and support to deserving members of the community.
  • To secure conducive atmosphere for return and rehabilitation.
  • To strengthen the bonds and connectivity with its affiliates.

Formation

All India Kashmiri Samaj is an independent organisation, a federal setup, constituting affiliated units throughout the globe. Kashmiri Samiti was one of the affiliated unit a few years back and disaffiliated because of certain reasons. The role of the Samaj was to create a nationwide awareness campaign about the communal violence against the pandits of Kashmir.[1]

The AIKS has also been campaigning for adequate representation of Kashmiri Pandit community in state legislation and civic bodies of Jammu and Kashmir.[2]

Current activities

Amongst other activities, the AIKS has been working towards highlighting the suffering of the Kashmiri Pandit community, working towards providing timely and adequate relief for the migrants outside Jammu and Kashmir, implementation of the employment package for KP youth as well as providing a special package for Kashmiri Pandits that stayed behind in Kashmir during the exodus of the 1990s.[3] In November 2012, the AIKS President Moti Kaul has made a demand to the Government of India for immediate enhancement of cash relief, implementation of employment package and better living conditions at migrant camp at Jagti in Jammu region of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. Kaul has also accused the Indian Central Government and the J&K State government for being insensitive to the requirements of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and for not taking adequate action for 22 years.[4]

AIKS has no youth wing, but encourages youth of the community to join the organization to be the second line leaders to take over the leading role in due course of time. A decade back there was a youth wing. Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj or YAIKS is a separate entity and presently no links with AIKS. This organisation has been campaigning for the full implementation of Prime Ministers employment package for the Kashmiri Pandit youth.[5] The Prime Ministers employment package, aimed at providing jobs to 6000 displaced Kashmiri Pandit, was announced in April 2008. YAIKS has used peaceful means of demonstrations like hunger strikes in order to enforce implementation of the package within the Jammu and Kashmir state government.

As of January 2014 only 25% of the Package is implemented.[6]

References
  1. "Kashmiri Samiti, Delhi. A brief history". partitionofindia.com. 8 December 2004. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  2. "All India Kashmiri Samaj demands Political space for Kashmiri Pandits". Jammu: dnaindia.com. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  3. "All India Kashmiri Samaj presents Memorandum to Governor". Kashmir Images. 7 August 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  4. "All India Kashmiri Samaj accuses Centre, J&K State Government of being insensitive". The Times of India. Chandigarh. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  5. "KPs demand proper implementation of Prime Ministers employment package". Srinagar: rediff.com. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  6. "Kashmiri Pandits demand full PM employment package". Jammu: Outlook. 2 March 2012. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
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