A group of on-ground working youth led by the daughter of Jammu & Kashmir and nationally acclaimed social worker and Artist, Rouble Nagi, submitted a detailed memorandum to His Excellency, the Honourable Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, at Raj Bhavan, Srinagar, highlighting the longstanding concerns and pressing demands of the Non-Migrant Sikh community residing in the Kashmir Valley.
The memorandum, submitted under the banner of the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF), was presented on behalf of the resilient Sikh population who, despite enduring decades of terrorism and marginalization, never left their homeland and have remained steadfast contributors to Kashmir’s social fabric.
‘The Sikh community in Kashmir stayed back not because it was easy, but because it was right. They chose faith over fear, and inclusion over exodus’, said Nagi after the meeting. ‘Now it is time their courage is acknowledged and their contributions are supported through concrete policies’, she added.
The key demands that were presented in the memorandum are: Comprehensive Rehabilitation Policy for Non-Migrant Sikhs who remained in Kashmir throughout the conflict; Inclusion under SRO 425, enabling Sikh youth access to the Prime Minister’s Special Economic Package; Safe and stable postings for Sikh government employees, particularly women; Youth empowerment measures, including land allocation for a Hockey AstroTurf in Baramulla, entrepreneurship support, and commercial kiosks at public hubs.
Additionally, Construction of permanent community bunkers in vulnerable border villages of Karnah (Kupwara) like Tribhoni and Sumbhalpura.
The State Co-ordinator, Rouble Nagi Art Foundation, Amanjeet Singh, emphasized that these demands are not about special treatment but about basic justice, representation, and dignity for a community that has shown unwavering faith in the Union and constitutional values of India. ‘We are proud citizens of Jammu and Kashmir ‘, he added.
RNAF and Nagi called upon the UT administration to act with urgency, compassion, and fairness to uplift a community that has, for too long, remained on the periphery of policy attention.
The Honourable Lieutenant Governor gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured appropriate consideration of the issues raised.
This initiative marks a significant step in amplifying the voice of non-migrant Sikhs in Kashmir, aligning with the broader vision of a peaceful, inclusive, and development-oriented Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
