Srinagar, Aug 06: Shabir Ahmad Gojjer’s life changed forever in 2003 when his father, Ghulam Mohammad Gojjer, a labourer and sole breadwinner of the family, was killed in a mine blast in Khulbagh, Tral. The tragedy left the family, including Shabir and his four siblings, bereft and struggling to survive.
A resident of Nagbal, KulshanPora, Tral, Shabir was among the 158 Next of Kin (NoKs) of civilians killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists who received appointment letters from Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at a poignant ceremony held at SKICC, Srinagar.
“My father was returning from work when he was killed in that mine blast. He was an innocent civilian,” Shabir recalled. “At the time, we were all very young. In 2019, we applied under the SRO scheme and submitted the required documents.”
However, the long wait continued as Shabir had to meet the age eligibility criteria before finally qualifying for a government job. Recently, he was appointed to a position in the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
“We are deeply thankful to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration. I cannot express the happiness I feel today,” said Shabir. “After my father’s death, only one of my brothers was married; the rest of us were still children. Our mother remarried and left us, so we were raised by our elder siblings.”
Since childhood, Shabir worked as a labourer to support his family. “This government job is a ray of hope for me. Now, I can help support my siblings’ education and live with dignity,” he added.
The appointment marks the end of a long struggle for Shabir and many families affected by terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, providing not just jobs but renewed hope and recognition for their sacrifices.
In another case, Kasim Ahmad Gojjer was still a child when his father, Ghulam Hassan Gojjer, a labourer, was killed in a grenade attack at the Bus Stand in Tral in 2017. He died on the spot, leaving the family devastated and without any source of support.
Kasim, a resident of Tral, said they were unaware of any official assistance until some relatives later informed them about the SRO scheme for civilians killed in terrorist attacks. “We were struggling for years, and no one helped us during that time,” he said.
A few days ago, Kasim came to know about an announcement by the LG administration, offering government jobs to the Next of Kin (NoKs) of civilians killed by terrorists. The family applied under the scheme and completed all the required formalities.
“All the verifications by the police and CID were completed, and we were invited to SKICC, where we received the appointment letter,” Kasim said.
He expressed gratitude to the LG administration, calling it a “right decision” that brought relief to families like his. “No one had listened to us for years. Today, we finally feel seen,” he said.
Kasim attended the ceremony at SKICC along with his elderly mother, who is now on regular medication and depends on him for care.
“We had no source of livelihood. We belong to a poor family. This job is a lifeline,” Kasim said, adding that he has been appointed in the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department.
