Deputy CM Shinde Pushes for Compassionate Appointment for Pahalgam Attack Victim’s Daughter in Pune

Maharashtra’s Deputy CM Eknath Shinde has intervened to expedite a long-pending government job assurance for Asawari Jagdale, whose father, Santosh Jagdale, was among the six victims from

Pune | 17 February, 2026- Maharashtra killed in the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. Nearly ten months after the tragic incident in which 26 people lost their lives when terrorists opened fire at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, Asawari had yet to receive the compassionate employment promised to her by state leaders, despite repeated assurances and representations by political figures. Shinde, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio overseeing civic bodies including the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), spoke directly with Naval Kishore Ram, the PMC commissioner, instructing him to arrange a meeting with Asawari and initiate the administrative process to create a suitable government position aligned with her academic qualifications and experience. The directive from the deputy chief minister emphasised that the state government intends to approve her appointment as a special case on compassionate grounds, underscoring the administration’s sensitivity to the family’s loss and ongoing hardship. Officials have already contacted Asawari to ascertain her educational background so the offered post matches her credentials, a step seen as crucial to formalising her induction into government service.

The delay in implementing the employment assurance had drawn growing attention and concern, with the victim’s family expressing frustration over nearly a year of waiting despite earlier commitments from top state leadership. Asawari’s situation also prompted intervention from representatives at the national level, underscoring both the emotional and financial strain the family has endured since Santosh Jagdale’s death. Following the attack, the state government had announced compensation of ₹50 lakh for each affected family from Maharashtra alongside promises of government jobs for eligible next of kin, but the promised appointment had yet to materialise until Shinde’s recent push. BJP leader Navnath Ban publicly stated he would take up the matter directly with the Chief Minister to ensure swift progress, reflecting cross-party concern over the prolonged delay. Asawari, who holds advanced academic qualifications and has private sector experience, had earlier voiced that the promised support was slow in coming, adding urgency to political and administrative action.

Shinde’s intervention appears to have accelerated government movement on the issue, with the PMC set to proceed with formal steps toward her employment under compassionate appointment rules. Senior civic officials have indicated that the process will be aligned with her educational qualifications to ensure the position is suitable and sustainable. This development marks a crucial moment for Asawari and her family, highlighting the interplay between political assurances, bureaucratic follow-through, and the real‐world impact of policy commitments in the aftermath of terror tragedies. The compassionate employment policy, designed to support families of victims through institutional backup and economic stability, will become a tangible reality for Asawari if the appointment is finalised smoothly — offering not only a source of livelihood but also a measure of fulfilment of the state’s commitment to its citizens affected by terror violence.

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