New Delhi:

Lt Governor VK Saxena has approved relaxation in educational and age criteria to all 88 anti-Sikh riots survivors who have applied for jobs under the Delhi government, Raj Niwas officials said on Sunday.

The applicants have been granted full relaxation in required educational qualification and extended upper age limit to 55 years for all the 88 applicants, they said.

The relaxation has been approved for their appointment as multi tasking staff in different government departments.

“Repeated representations had been made by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, public representatives and groups of victims, who had met LG recently, in this regard,” said a note from LG office.

A rehabilitation package, including provision of jobs was sanctioned by Union Home ministry on January 16, 2006, for the survivors of 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Revenue department of Delhi government in a subsequent special drive got 72 applications out of which appointment was given to 22 applicants by obtaining age relaxation from the then LG.

In October, 2024, Mr Saxena granted full relaxation in required educational qualification for left out 50 applicants out of total 72. The revenue department was also directed to process the cases for granting employment to the children of the applicants who surpassed the age of employment, officials said.

The department held special camps last month and invited applications for employment to family members of 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims.

A total of 199 applications, were received, of which 89 candidates were found eligible, but all these were above the age limit and a few also missed out on the required educational qualification, they said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Thursday distributed appointment letters to 47 survivors of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

According to a statement, six additional appointment letters will be issued to successors of beneficiaries who have exceeded the age of service.

Speaking at an event to distribute the letters at the Tilak Vihar area of west Delhi, Mr Saxena announced that 437 pending applications for appointments are under verification. The revenue department will hold special camps to complete the formalities, he said.

1984 सिख विरोधी दंगों का दंश झेल रहे 47 पीड़ितों को, भर्ती योग्यता में छूट देने के बाद, आज नियुक्ति प्रस्ताव पत्र वितरित किए। साथ ही संबंधित विभाग को 437 अन्य आवेदनों के सत्यापन को जल्द से जल्द पूरा कर उन्हें नियुक्ति प्रस्ताव पत्र देने का आदेश दिया।

इन परिवारों के लिए यह केवल… pic.twitter.com/OouZInkpfK

— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) November 21, 2024

Mr Saxena also directed officials to rename the ‘Widows’ Colony’ — which primarily houses riot victims — according to the suggestions of the local residents.

The move comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls and was welcomed by the BJP.

“Providing jobs to the 47 victims of the anti-Sikh riots in the city, and direction to rename the Vidhwa Colony is a reflection of the affection and bonding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Sikh community,” Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said.

The government jobs for the survivors of the anti-Sikh riots have come after a wait of over four decades, with the Delhi LG last month relaxing qualifications for recruitment of victims of the 1984 riots, said a Raj Niwas statement.

“This decision, pending for decades due to procedural delays and insensitive red tape, has enabled a larger pool of candidates to secure employment, by becoming eligible for it,” the statement said.

Mr Saxena, in a post on X, said the jobs for the affected families will mark a new beginning for them and help them regain self-respect.

He said their pain of losing loved ones in the horrific riots could never be reduced but the wounds certainly can be healed with sympathy and compassion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)