Friday, April 29 2005 15:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kozhikode: Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing rehabilitation process in Jammu and Kashmir, its Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, today (Apr 29, 2005) said his Government would rehabilitate about 1,500 Pundits, who left the State during insurgency, by June 2005.

"Until the Pundits who left the State are rehabilitated, we cannot claim that normalcy has been restored," he told a meet-the-press, organised by the Calicut Press Club in Kozhikode.

Besides building houses for them, the Government would also arrange to provide jobs to the Pundits on their return, he said, adding they had expressed their willingness to settle back in Kashmir.

Noting that the Government would be making another significant breakthrough by rehabilitating the Pundits, he said they would be resettled in three or four places identified by the Government.

Police and paramilitary forces would be made accountable to ensure that no violation of human rights took place during their actions, Mufti said, adding all sections had been taken into confidence in the process of dialogue to restore lasting peace in the State.

Focussing on the education sector, the Government had decided to make English compulsory from standard one in all schools in the State, he added.