Following its recent announcement of providing a monthly allowance of Rs 13,000 to displaced Kashmiri Hindu families, the Rekha Gupta government is now preparing to establish a Kashmiri Academy and Museum in the capital.

The new academy, to be modeled after the existing Urdu, Hindi, Sindhi and Punjabi academies, will be dedicated to the preservation, enhancement, and promotion of Kashmiri culture, language, art and heritage. A museum will also be established to showcase the community's millennia-old cultural and religious history in a single, dedicated space.

According to sources, if the plans proceed smoothly, the academy could be established by the end of next year. A location is expected to be finalised soon, after which construction will begin.

Long-Standing Demand Fulfilled

For 35 years, since migrating from Kashmir due to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, the displaced Hindu community in Delhi-NCR has been demanding the creation of an academy and museum to preserve their unique identity for future generations.

The current government has taken this demand seriously. Recently, a delegation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus, including Ravinder Pandit, President of the All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS), met with Delhi's Minister for Tourism, Art, and Culture, Kapil Mishra. After a detailed discussion, an agreement was reached to move forward with the project.

Sources familiar with the initiative state that the academy will place a special emphasis on promoting Kashmir's ancient Sharada language, along with its literature, cuisine, and traditional attire. The museum will highlight the thousands of years of Kashmiri culture, dating back to the ancient Sanatani period, and its significance to India. In line with this, the government has also responded positively to the idea of organising a two-day "Sharada Mahotsav" (festival) in Delhi.

Initiative Follows Financial Relief Measures

This cultural initiative comes just days after the Rekha Gupta government provided significant financial relief to the community. The government removed the income-limit barrier that was preventing 1,800 displaced Kashmiri Hindu families from receiving their Rs 13,000 monthly allowance. This decision will allow the resumption of payments, which had been stalled for 18 months.

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Furthermore, new applications for the allowance have also been approved, which will benefit more than 500 additional displaced Kashmiri Hindus.

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