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India News Jammu & Kashmir Politics

5-Phase LS Polls in J&K, Assembly Elections Later

Election Commission said the J&K administration voiced security concerns over holding Assembly elections together with the Lok Sabha elections….reports Asian Lite News

Polling for Jammu and Kashmir’s five Lok Sabha constituencies will be held in five separate phases from April 19 to May 20 and the Assembly Elections will be held after the Parliamentary elections in the UT.

Announcing the poll schedule for the Lok Sabha elections at a press conference in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that the Udhampur-Kathua Lok Sabha constituency will go to polls on April 19, the Jammu constituency on April 26, the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency on May 7, Srinagar on May 13, and Baramulla on May 26.

Counting will be held on June 4.

The CEC said that all the political parties which met the Election Commission during its recent visit to J&K had asked for simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

“But, the administration there said in one voice that given the security concerns, the Assembly elections cannot be held together with the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.

He noted that there are 90 Assembly constituencies in J&K and if there are 10-12 candidates in every constituency, that would make a total of around 1,000 candidates.

“Each candidate has to be provided double column security which means an additional 500 companies of CAPF would be required for this, which is not possible as the security forces could not be spared in such numbers at the moment. Once the Lok Sabha elections are over, we will soon hold the Assembly elections in J&K,” the CEC said.

In an important disclosure, CEC Rajiv Kumar said that the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 provided for 107 Assembly seats, out of which 24 were kept for Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).

“This left 83 Assembly seats out of which 7 were kept reserved for the SCs. Then came the Delimitation Commission, 2022. After accepting the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission, a fresh notification was issued, which increased the number of Assembly seats from 107 to 114. Out of these, 24 were kept for PoJK, 7 for SCs while 9 seats were reserved for the STs. In addition to this, 2 seats were kept for the migrant Kashmiri Pandits through nomination, while one of these would be a female. In addition, one seat was kept for refugees of PoJK again through nomination,” he said.

“The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 and the Delimitation notification of 2022 were not in sync. Thus there was no question of holding Assembly polls at that time. The two were brought in sync with each other through the J&K Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2023 which came into force in December 2023. Thus our time for holding Assembly elections in J&K started in December 2023. This means there was no delay on the part of the Election Commission,” he asserted.

The data released by the Election Commission shows there are 86.9 lakh voters for the Parliamentary election in J&K, out of which 44 lakh are men and 42 lakh women.

A total of 67,000 voters are persons with disabilities (PWDs) and there would be special arrangements like ramps and wheelchairs at the polling booth for them. Interestingly, in J&K, 2,886 electors would be over 100 years old, while 3.4 lakh first-time voters will also exercise their democratic rights in these elections.

As many as 11,629 polling stations are being set up for the five Lok Sabha constituencies out of which there would be an average of 747 voters at each station and in no case, would the number of voters at any polling station cross 1,500.

For transparency, 50 per cent of polling stations will have webcasting while 80 will be exclusively manned by female staff. All polling stations will have basic facilities like chairs, lighting, drinking water, and separate toilets for male and female voters.

There are special instructions for the poll staff to ensure that the polling station wears a festive look to attract the voters.

For the first time, those above 85 years of age can choose to vote from their home and these votes would be collected by the poll staff in the presence of the representatives of the political parties.

There are special instructions to DMs and SPs in J&K to ensure that the polls are free, without any fear or inducement. Furthermore, no uncharted flight will be allowed to bring anything into J&K during the poll schedule.

‘96.8 Crore Voters in India’

A total of 96.8 crore voters will be eligible to cast their vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar said on Saturday.

Addressing a press conference here to announce the dates of Lok Sabha elections and assembly polls to four states, Rajiv Kumar said there will be 10.5 lakh polling stations and 1.5 crore polling officials and security staff will be deployed to conduct the elections in the world’s largest democracy.

“We are committed to give the nation a truly festive, democratic environment. The term of the 17th Lok Sabha is due to expire on 16th June 2024. The terms of the Legislative Assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also due to expire in June 2024. Elections are due in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Kumar said approximately 49.7 crore voters are male and 47.1 crore voters are female.

“We have 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between the age group of 20-29 years,” he said, adding that 88.4 lakh voters are of PwD category, 2.18 lakhs are centenarians and 48,000 are transgenders.

The CEC was accompanied by the two Election Commissioners. (ANI)

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India News Jammu & Kashmir Politics

EC Mulls Simultaneous LS, Assembly Polls in J&K

The long wait for Jammu and Kashmir seems to have come to an end as the Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering holding simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls…reports Asian Lite News

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday said that the poll body will decide on holding Lok Sabha Elections and Assembly Elections together or separately in Jammu and Kashmir after reviewing the security situation.

The long wait for Jammu and Kashmir seems to have come to an end as the Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering holding simultaneous assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

A team from the poll body, led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, is on a three-day visit to the Union Territory.

“We are concerned about Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in J&K. The majority of political parties we met in Srinagar and Jammu demanded that Assembly and Lok Sabha polls be held simultaneously,” CEC Rajiv Kumar told media persons at Jammu.

“As far as holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, we will take a final call after a thorough security review and consultations with the political parties. One thing is sure: we want early Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in J&K.”

Kumar said strict vigil will be maintained on online cash transfers through wallets in Jammu and Kashmir. People above 85 years and those with disability will be provided voting at home facility in J-K.

Chief Election Commissioner further said that the Election Commission has received details from the State Bank of India (SBI) related to the electoral bonds and will share all relevant information in time.

The reply came amid the fact that the Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI) has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court apprising that, in compliance with the top court’s order, the date of purchase of each electoral bond, the name of the purchaser, and the denomination of the bond purchased have been furnished to the Election Commission of India.

Kumar informed us that there will be a total of 76,876 service voters in 2024, for whom ballot service will be provided. Apart from that, all security agencies are aware, and the district police chiefs, top police officers of the Kashmir region were asked about the on-ground security situation in the state and the requirement of additional security forces.

When asked about Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party not getting allowed to the meeting held by the election commission, he said, “There is a dispute in the party, we meet national parties and regional parties. This party is under dispute; when their dispute is settled, we will meet them.”

Rajiv Kumar also appealed voters of J&K to take part in coming elections in large number. (ANI)

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India News World World News

J&K Forms Panel to Root Out Foreigners Staying Illegally

As per its terms of reference, the panel shall prepare a monthly report of missing foreigners in J&K and submit the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs by the seventh of every month….reports Asian Lite News

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday set up a panel to identify foreigners who are staying illegally in the union territory since January 1, 2011.

The J&K Home Department has constituted a committee headed by the Financial Commissioner/ Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department to identify foreign nationals illegally/overstaying in the union territory since January 2011.

It comprises officers of the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, the Bureau of Immigration, Amritsar (Punjab), Senior Superintendent of Police, CID, Special Branch, Jammu, Senior Superintendent of Police, CID, Special Branch, Srinagar, all district SSPs/SPs (FROs) and State Coordinator, Immigration Visa Foreigner Registration Tracking (IVFRT) J&K.

As per its terms of reference, the panel shall prepare a monthly report of missing foreigners in J&K and submit the same to the Ministry of Home Affairs by the seventh of every month.

Earlier this week, Jammu Zone Inspector General of Police, Anand Jain, on Monday reviewed the crime position and overall functioning of Kathua District with all supervisory officers and other police officers.

The disposal of cases registered during the current year and previous pendency was reviewed, discussed, and instructions issued, according to a press release.

Inspector General of Police Jammu Zone, Anand Jain, was accompanied by DIG JKS Range Shakti Pathak and his team of officers and was given a guard of honour at Kathua on his arrival.

In his first visit, IGP Jammu Zone interacted and welcomed all the officers, noting that the basic concept behind conducting the meeting is to see and discuss where the fault lies and how to improve the quality of the investigation.

The focus was laid on narcotic drug and psychotropic substance (NDPS) cases, bovine smuggling cases, crimes against property and Crime Against Person, and inquest proceedings. The participants were briefed to concentrate on NDPS cases with special reference to find out, source, carrier and destination, as per the release.

“With regard to the theft cases, a strategy needs to be framed, night patrolling enhanced, and the beat system also improved. He also emphasised effective prosecution of NDPS cases and other cases of tenuous nature to ensure that the cases end in conviction,” the release said.

IGP, while briefing the officers, advised them to finalise the pending cases/public complaints to give relief to the general public and directed I/Os to speedily dispose of cases assigned to them for conducting the investigation.

He asked the officers to strengthen the CI grid and stimulate the basic functioning of the police by way of effective supervision over the functions of police stations. (IANS/ANI)

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Defence India News

India blocks 14 apps in J&K for spreading terror

In official communications to higher-ups, the intelligence agencies informed that these apps are spreading terror propaganda in the Valley…reports Asian Lite News

After getting inputs from intelligence agencies, the central government has blocked 14 messenger mobile applications that were largely used in Jammu and Kashmir for spreading terror, sources said.

According to sources, these mobile applications were used by terrorists in Kashmir to communicate with their supporters and on-ground workers (OGW). “Agencies keep track of channels used by Overground workers (OGWs) and terrorists to communicate among themselves. While tracking down one of the communication, agencies found that the mobile application does not have representatives in India and it is difficult to track down activities happening on the app,” said an official.

Thereafter, with the help of other intelligence agencies operating in the valley, a list of such apps was prepared that pose a threat to national security and do not follow Indian laws. After getting the list prepared, the concerned Ministry was informed of the request to ban these mobile applications. These apps have been blocked under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, the official added.

In official communications to higher-ups, the intelligence agencies informed that these apps are spreading terror propaganda in the Valley.

Sources said these apps include Crypviser, Enigma, Safeswiss, Wickrme, Mediafire, Briar, BChat, Nandbox, Conion, IMO, Element, Second line, Zangi, Threema among others. (ANI)

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World’s highest railway bridge in J&K nears completion

The people of Jammu and Kashmir will get the bridge after two decades of waiting since the project was approved in 2003 but was delayed shortly due to fears of stability and safety….reports Asian Lite News

World’s highest railway bridge over the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir is soon to get operational for rail traffic.

The much-awaited world’s highest railway bridge spans the Chenab River at a height of 359 m (1,178 ft) above the river, which is 35 meters taller than Paris’ Eiffel Tower. The arch bridge between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is 1,178 feet above the riverbed, forming a crucial link from Katra to Banihal. It is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), a dream project worth Rs 35000 crore.

The bridge has passed all the mandatory tests. However, the Chenab railway bridge is near completion at present as the incumbent regime laid a special focus on the project worth Rs 1400 crore.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir will get the bridge after two decades of waiting since the project was approved in 2003 but was delayed shortly due to fears of stability and safety.

In the year 2008, the contract for constructing one of the highest railway bridges was awarded by the then government.

With the passage of time, the construction of the bridge was started again, however, it missed several deadlines.

To make the bridge ready for commissioning, all the mandatory tests have been conducted successfully.

Union Minister of Railway, Communications and Electronic and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that all the tests on Chenab Railway Bridge have been conducted and were successful.

The tests that have been conducted to check the stability and safety of the world’s highest bridge include high-velocity winds test, extreme temperatures test, earthquake-prone test and hydrological impacts due to water level increase.

The Railway Bridge is ready for commissioning; officials said and added that track lane work has been started over the bridge.

The Union Minister of Railway, Communications and Electronic and Information Technology, who visited the bridge for an inspection, has said that two more tests are to be conducted tomorrow, which include running a motor trolley and bolero customised rail operation on the bridge.

The base of the steel and concrete arch bridge, 42 kilometres from Reasi town, was completed in November 2017, allowing for the start of the construction of the main arch which was done in April 2021.

The milestone on the bridge was achieved in August last year when the overarch deck of the bridge was completed with a Golden Joint’, paving way for the laying of the track.

As per the officials, the construction work on the bridge started in 2004 but had to be suspended in 2008-09 to consider the aspect of the safety of rail passengers in view of frequent high-velocity winds in the area.

Once completed, the bridge will be able to withstand winds with speeds up to 260 kmph and will have a lifespan of 120 years, the officials said. Besides the highest railway bridge, the USBRL project has many firsts like the longest railway tunnel having an overall length of 12.75 km, the first cable-stayed bridge which when completed will be an engineering marvel of the 21st century.

Reportedly, the construction of the highest railway bridge was the biggest civil-engineering challenge faced by any railway project in India in recent history.

Over the last three years, engineers have been building the arch with the help of two mammoth cable cranes installed on both banks of the Chenab — the Kauri end and the Bakkal end, report said. (ANI)

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Asia News India News Interview

‘Political Shift in Pakistan Lacks Substance For Improved India Ties’

I am sceptical that the Pakistani political leadership has had a change of heart regarding its relations with India, says Prof. Sumit Ganguly in an interview with Asian Lite’s Abhish K. Bose 

Sumit Ganguly is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and holds the Tagore Chair in Indian Cultures and Civilizations at Indiana University, Bloomington. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is the co-editor (with Eswaran Sridharan) of the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of Indian Politics. An author of a number of books on South Asia, Prof Ganguly is widely considered as an expert on South Asia. Asian Lite’s Abhish K. Bose asks Prof Ganguly some pertinent questions on the crisis being faced by Pakistan.  

Abhish K. Bose: While Pakistan is confronting a rare economic crisis, one of their longstanding strategic partners, the U.S., is doing nothing substantial to bail out that country, which is facing its own share of domestic headaches. Does it indicate a significant shift in geo-political perceptions and priorities on the part of the US? If yes, why? What added bearing will this have on Indo-US relations?   

Sumit Ganguly: The US, at the moment, is preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, the issues it faces with the PRC in Asia and beyond and with a range of domestic issues. Under these circumstances, Pakistan’s fate is a relatively low priority for the United States. Nevertheless, there are some in the US Department of State who are trying to keep the relationship alive in the forlorn hope that they can elicit some form of counterterrorism cooperation from Pakistan. This, in part, explains the recent decision to upgrade its fleet of F-16s. Ironically, Pakistan is paying about $400 million for these upgrades at a time when it is faced with near bankruptcy.

Abhish K. Bose: Pakistan is indebted foremost to the  Chinese banks. Why doesn’t China intervene to avert a collapse? Is Pakistan going the Sri Lanka way? If, like in India, Pakistan had a stable democratic mode of governance, could the outcome have been different to what it is today? Or, a theocratic State, irrespective of the role of the army, unviable in the long-term?     

Sumit Ganguly: To begin with, Pakistan is not a theocratic state. A theocracy is a state that is ruled by clerics. It is, however, a state based on religion. That being said, even if both India and Pakistan were robust democracies it is not entirely clear that they could resolve their differences amicably. From its founding Pakistan has had an irredentist claim to Kashmir. This claim has not been abandoned regardless of which government has come to power. Of course, had democracy been consolidated in Pakistan, one wonders if a different outcome might have obtained.

Abhish K. Bose: What is the role that patronising and funding militancy and cross-border terrorism has played in causing the present disarray in Pakistan? What, if any, are the lessons that countries like India can learn from the plight of Pakistan? 

Sumit Ganguly: India learnt its lesson from the Sri Lankan fiasco. After all, it is well known that RAW supported and trained the LTTE. This lead to a serious, eventual blowback. Yes, Pakistan’s dalliance with a range of irregular forces and terrorists have come to haunt it. Yet, far too many Pakistanis have deluded themselves into believing that that they are victims of terrorism.

Abhish K. Bose: The recent statement of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif that after three wars with India Pakistan has become sensible enough to want to live in peace with India. Is a civilian government in Pakistan free enough from the control of its army to choose the path of peace with its neighbours? Will religious extremists in that country tolerate such an option? If this change in perception is due to an economic crisis, will it not revert to the old mode of antagonism when the crisis blows over? Or, do you think there is a genuine change in perception and priorities? 

Sumit Ganguly: I am quite skeptical that the Pakistani political leadership has had a change of heart. Even if they have it is far from clear to me that they have the requisite ability to dramatically change course when it comes to relations with India. The military still remains primus inter pares and controls the relationship with India. Furthermore, distrust and hatred of India has become woven into Pakistan’s political culture. More to the point, the rise of Hindu nationalism in India is adding fuel to the fire.

Abhish K. Bose: To what extent, do you think, has the Russia – Ukraine war accelerated the economic downslide of Pakistan, already strained by the pandemic-induced slowdown?  

Sumit Ganguly: I think that the war has exacerbated matters. However, the problems were of long standing and indeed structural.

Abhish K. Bose: How significant is the role of Pakistan in furthering  the geo-political roadmap of China? China has invested hugely in Pak as part of the belt and road project.  What will be the role donned by Pakistan if and when China emerges as a major global player?  

Sumit Ganguly: The Sino-Pakistani nexus was forged after the 1962 war. For both countries, this is one of the few alliances that has endured. China’s commitment to the BRI is both designed to serve its own parochial, material interests while making Pakistan even more dependent on the PRC.

Abhish K. Bose: Taking into account the border disputes India had with China and Pakistan, and China creating periodic tensions in the border, what would be most prudent strategy for India to fend off these adversaries?  What should be thrust areas?   

Sumit Ganguly: India has to pursue two simultaneous strategies. First, it needs to bolster its domestic military capabilities. Second, it needs to strengthen its security partnership with the United States. For the foreseeable future it will lack the necessary wherewithal to cope with the threat from the PRC.

Border Security Force exchange sweets with Pakistan Rangers at JCP Attari on India’s 73rd Republic Day, in Amritsar on January 26, 2022. (Photo Pawan Sharma_IANS)

Abhish K. Bose: The Pakistan PM has recently demanded the mediation of UAE in the Kashmir issue.  Do you think India will take kindly to internationalising the Kashmir issue? Wouldn’t it serve the political interests of the BJP better to keep the Kashmir pot stirring?

Sumit Ganguly: India has never taken kindly to any effort to internationalize the Kashmir issue. This government will prove no exception to the rule. Actually, apart from its drastic decision to dispense with Article 370 which had conferred a special status on the state of Jammu and Kashmir the BJP does not have any compelling reason to stir the pot in Kashmir. All they want is political quiescence. 

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Dismantling terror ecosystem in Naya J&K

Kashmir youth have said no to guns, stone pelting and street protests have become a history as the people in the Valley have chosen to stay away from violence…reports Asian Lite News

Security forces dismantling terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir have brought down the local recruitment in terrorist outfits to zero leaving the terror sponsors sitting in Pakistan frustrated.

From January to October this year, 40 foreign terrorists have been killed in different encounters in the Himalayan region and the ones who are on run are being chased by the security forces.

All the terror outfits are facing leadership crisis as the mercenaries sent by Pakistan are finding it hard to garner local support.

Post abrogation of Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution of India, terrorist bosses sitting across the Line of Control have made multiple attempts to disrupt peace in J&K but all their attempts have been thwarted due to security forces working in close coordination with each other and the people.

Foreign terrorists, who have been killed in the first 10-months of this year, were instrumental in provoking and luring local youth into terror groups and pushing them on the path of death and destruction.

The foreign terrorists operating in J&K have been using locals as shields to save themselves from getting killed. But now the time has changed as the locals are refusing to become cannon fodder.

Kashmir youth have said no to guns, stone pelting and street protests have become a history as the people in the Valley have chosen to stay away from violence.

During the past few months security forces have seized ready-made IEDs in the Jammu region. These IEDs were air dropped through drones. Using the low cost IEDs is a new strategy aimed at keeping the conflict alive.

Infiltration, compared to previous years, was on decline from January to October this year but after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the international watchdog on terror financing and money laundering, removed Pakistan from its ‘grey list’ last month the infiltration attempts have increased. Terror camps have returned to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the terrorists are planning to infiltrate into J&K in a big way.

(Photo – Nisar Malik IANS)

Pak putting facade of ceasefire

On October 26, 2022, Army accused Pakistan of trying to disrupt peace and harmony in Kashmir “while putting on the facade of ceasefire.”

The Army said that a major infiltration attempt by terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector in North Kashmir was foiled on the night of October 25 by killing an infiltrator, while his accomplices managed to flee back. The killed terrorist was identified as Mohammed Shakur, 32, son of Yakub, belonging to Syedpura in PoK.

The Army said that a number of inputs pertaining to possible infiltration by a group of terrorists through Sudpura in Kupwara district were received by the security forces and since then the area has been kept under surveillance.

“Timely action and close coordination between Indian Army, JKP and other Intelligence agencies led to foiling of the infiltration attemptin Kupwara and potential threat to peace in hinterland,” the Army said, adding, “Continued engagements along the Line of Control are uncanny reminders of efforts by Pakistan to infuse terrorism in Kashmir and disrupt peace and harmony while putting on the facade of ceasefire understanding. Youth in PoK are being used as cannon fodder by Pakistan from the last three decades with a fruitless aim to constantly disrupt progress towards collective peace.”

During the past few days, the Army has foiled multiple infiltration attempts along LoC in Kashmir and Jammu regions. Pakistan after being delisted by the FATF is trying to push in terrorists into J&K as the terror bosses seem to have regained the lost freedom in the neighbouring country.

Terrorists playing dirty game

By targeting the members of minority communities and the outside labourers working in Kashmir terrorists are playing another dirty game.

Such actions are being carried out to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Kashmir and to damage the age-old fabric of communal harmony.

Terrorists want to provoke people across India to target Kashmiris working in other states. But the people are acting in a matured way and are not falling into the trap laid by the hate mongers.

Photo Nisar Malik IANS)

People don’t want terror to return

People in Kashmir have understood that Pakistan is neither a well wisher nor a sympathizer. A common man in J&K has witnessed unprecedented development during the past three years. He doesn’t want bloodshed, shutdowns and stone pelting to return.

Residents of J&K are acting as ears and eyes of the security forces and have joined the battle against terror. They are refusing to provide shelter, food and other logistic support to terrorists and are providing tips to the security agencies about the presence of terrorists in their areas.

Local youth are not showing any inclination towards joining the terror groups. Nor are they acting as their conduits. J&K youth after 2019 have learnt to chase their dreams and are staying away from the violence. Only a handful of misguided youngsters are falling in the trap of terrorists and are helping them to execute their nefarious plans but most of the youth have said no to stones, guns, grenades and bombs.

Pak refuses to accept defeat

J&K denizens saying no to violence, has annoyed the terrorists and their bosses and they are making every possible attempt to punish the locals for refusing to become a part of their proxy war.

Pakistan is in denial and is refusing to acknowledge the defeat. The terrorist handlers have passed the instructions to foreigners in J&K to take over the lead role to keep the pot boiling. They somehow want to derail the development process in J&K so that fear and terror return. However, the security forces and the J&K natives are working in close coordination and are determined to defeat the elements inimical to peace. There is no possibility about terror returning to the Himalayan region.

The terrorism is on its last legs as all the stakeholders have come together to play their role in restoring everlasting peace and normalcy in J&K.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led dispensation has put such a system in place in �which a common man has become an equal stakeholder. He is aware that peace is prerequisite for development and the foreign mercenaries being pushed in by Pakistan cannot be entertained in “Naya Jammu and Kashmir”.

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SPECIAL 2022: J&K on Self-Reliant Mode

In the two years since the bottlenecks of Article 370 were removed J&K is witnessing a new dawn. JKUT is defining itself as a hungry untapped economy, finally entering the playing field with the rest of the nation….reports Asian Lite News

 Developmental work in Jammu and Kashmir is raising the bar for efficient engineering, good governance, and a pluralistic yet united approach to growth in the country. The Union Territory is working its way up in silence under Prime Minister Modi’s direction to transform JKUT into a Smart City with impetus on its culture and tradition. The Center is building a highly self-reliant model demanding responsibility and accountability from the people for employment and growth.

With an open-door policy on grievances and feedback, a transparent system of management is shaping up. Transparent Governance through an “Empowerment” portal which enables monitoring and public overview of works being executed and resources is another initiative of the government. Citizens can view online details of development works being implemented in their areas, offer feedback and suggestions. 32,889 works costing Rs 9,757 crore are presently available online. The youth is being mobilised to engage themselves in the greatest era of development. A few of such landmark projects are detailed below.

Major consumer services such as electricity and water bills can be paid online, allowing freedom of time and place. The Housing and Urban Development Department too has shifted its base online with a response time of 21 days for building permissions, among other services. The website shares all its master plans, services, emergency contact list to allow maximum public knowledge and participation.

In Jammu, the development project of the Tawi River Front has been sanctioned. The project is based on the well-received model of the Sabarmati River Front to give an aesthetic look to Tawi. 3.5 km of pathways along the river are being constructed for public access. Presently the Phase-1 of the project stands at the cost of Rs 194 crore and will take about 1.5 years to be completed.

JKUT’s dream project, “A road to every village”, broke the record in the country by achieving the highest ever road length under PMGSY in 2020-21 — construction of 3,167 km roads and blacktopping of 5,500 km roads. The transport ministry has specially focussed on the beautification of roads with tourism potential.

Power Development in the UT has a distinguished history. Recently hydropower projects of 3,000 Megawatts (MW) capacity standing at Rs. 22,315 crore have been revived and accelerated. MOUs for projects worth Rs 29,600 crore with a capacity of 3284 MW have been signed. Moreover, Rs 5,000 crore is being invested in power distribution system strengthening. Unsurprisingly, the power generation capacity is expected to double in 3 years!

In the sphere of industry development, the government is implementing a New Central Sector Scheme in the J&K. The scheme offers four incentives: Capital Investment Incentive, Capital Interest subvention, Goods & Service Tax Linked Incentive (GSTLI), and Working Capital Interest Subvention. A total outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore has been earmarked for the revival of old industries. Under the scheme, the silk factory at Rajbagh (Srinagar) has been upgraded at Rs 23 crore and the renowned Bemina Woollen Mills has been modernized at the cost of Rs 4.5 crore.

Under the SEHAT-PMJAY (Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana) scheme aimed to provide free insurance cover of upto 5 Lakh per family to all the residents of the JKUT, a world-class health infrastructure is underway in the region. So far 55.56 Lakh beneficiaries have registered. The government has committedly spent Rs 7,177 crore, the highest budget allocation for health in the country, to strengthen the health sector and make healthcare affordable and accessible to all.

Under the Saksham Scheme, financial relief is being granted to families who have lost their breadwinner due to coronavirus. Additionally, the scheme also provides special annual scholarships, at the rate of Rs 20,000 and Rs 40,000 to school and college-going children who lost their guardians. With the coming of 2 new AIIMS, 7 new Medical Colleges, 10 new Nursing Colleges, and 2 new State Cancer Institutes, a paradigm shift is being witnessed in the health sector of the UT.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has called for a massive infrastructure boost for the sports ecosystem. The work for the indoor sports complex in every district, playfield in every panchayat, floodlighting, synthetic turfing in stadiums, and international level facilities has begun. Projects for the synthetic hockey turf in KK Hakku Stadium (Jammu) worth Rs 5.5 crore, Synthetic Hockey Turf Playground (Srinagar), and Artificial Rugby Turf (Rs 5 crore) have been approved. 1.26 lakh youth are to receive professional sports coaching in the coming year. Acknowledging the sports potential of the UT, the Prime Minister has sanctioned Rs. 200 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package for modernization of sports infrastructure and recognizing potential talent in children.

Under the “Back to Village” outreach programme, the government is on a mission towards “equitable development”, ensuring that developmental initiatives are built on feedback and cooperation, with a result-oriented approach in rural areas through community participation. Three banks have sanctioned Rs. 270 crore loans to 16,299 cases for self-employment. Tejaswini scheme has been launched to empower women through the financial assistance of Rs 5 lakhs for setting up gainful self-employment ventures.

To ensure transparency and accountability in budgets and expenditures, and planning and execution, information is uploaded to online portals open to public scrutiny. In the two years since the bottlenecks of Article 370 were removed J&K is witnessing a new dawn. JKUT is defining itself as a hungry untapped economy, finally entering the playing field with the rest of the nation.

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Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in J&K

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said it was highly reassuring to see that the women entrepreneurs in J&K had broken into the traditional male-dominated domains, a report by Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

In her first visit to Kashmir as the Union Finance Minister after taking over in May 2019, Nirmala Sitharaman earlier this week conducted a series of meetings with women entrepreneurs in Srinagar. Amid inaugurating developmental works to the tune of Rs 165 crore, she had a detailed interaction with a group of women entrepreneurs, including four Kashmiri journalists, who have been running their own publications and printing presses.

Immediately after arriving in Srinagar by a special aircraft with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from New Delhi, Sitharaman, according to sources present in the meeting, was thrilled to learn that the valley’s female journalists were operating their own businesses in the moribund media industry, facing unprecedented stress since the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.

J&K

The Minister appreciated that the valley’s women journalists were operating as independent editors of sports and off-beat magazines. She asked Sinha to provide them with maximum possible support from his government including allotment of land for their printing units in a special category in different industrial estates.

The interaction included 60 women entrepreneurs working in a variety of sectors, including beekeeping, dairy, handicraft, journalism, copper works, and furniture manufacturing. It featured success stories of the women entrepreneurs who have been benefited under different schemes initiated by the J&K government.

Sitharaman praised the UT government’s efforts for creating a successful women entrepreneurship culture. She said it was highly reassuring to see that the women entrepreneurs in J&K had broken into the traditional male-dominated domains. She listened to inspiring stories of women entrepreneurs and how they rose above the challenges to benefit their society at the grassroots level.

“The land of Kashmir is the land of Maa Sharada and that absolute power-packed knowledge-driven energy is what has come out here. I appeal to you to move around the country and share your stories”, she proposed to her audience.

Later Sitharaman interacted with the operators and beneficiaries of the flagship UMEED programme in the rural development and cooperative sector. Sinha elaborated on the objectives of UMEED and asserted that a financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore had been extended to 54,325 Self Help Groups (SHGs) which had enrolled over 4.5 lakh women in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sinha emphasised that his government was empowering women entrepreneurs through a slew of focused programmes such as ‘UMEED’, ‘SAATH’ and ‘HAUSLA’. “Through these programs a new confidence, a new spirit is being created by making them more capable so that half of the population could play a participatory and constructive role in the journey of J&K’s progress”, he said.

Sinha said that encouraged by the success of UMEED, the UT government had set a target of connecting one lakh additional rural women to the programme in the current year. Along with this, J&K Livelihood Mission has launched the ‘SAATH’ initiative, under which a training programme has also been started to select 500 women entrepreneurs from rural areas to expand their business.

“Since 70 percent of the population of Jammu and Kashmir is dependent on agriculture, we have started another innovative program on women empowerment in rural areas. A cadre of ‘Krishi Sakhi’ and ‘Pashu Sakhi’ with 938 women has been created in different districts of the UT, which will train 75,000 women farmers associated with agriculture and horticulture for sustainable and integrated farming. The initiative will also give impetus to the reforms in the agriculture sector, the backbone of the economy”, Sinha said.

‘UMEED Women Haat’ has been started with the aim of providing a market to the self-help group of women, through which they can not only sell their manufactured goods at one place, besides facilitating market linkages for the future. The 40 Model Clusters for women, e-Marketing platforms and ‘Digipay Sakhi’ are going to channelize the inner strength and potential of women and allow them to scale new heights.

Sitharaman, with LG Sinha, inaugurated works worth Rs 130.49 crore pertaining to Health, Education, Urban Infrastructure and Disaster Management. She also laid the foundation stone for the Union Territory Level Emergency Operation Centre and SCADA control building at Budgam, involving estimated expenditure of Rs 34.88 crore under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP).

The sub-projects are part of the JTFRP which is assisted by a credit of $250 million from the World Bank. The project was started in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the devastating floods of September 2014, which severely affected low-lying areas of Anantnag, Srinagar, and adjoining districts causing immense damage to housing, livelihoods and roads and bridges.

JTFRP has been under implementation by the Government of J&K as part of the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) for J&K since April 2016. The project aims at both restoring essential services disrupted by the floods and improving the design standard and practices to increase resilience.

The high social impact of JTFRP was felt in the coronavirus pandemic response by the UT Government wherein an amount of $50 million was allocated and utilized for the COVID-19 response, by activating the Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC) under the project. Medical equipment worth Rs. 290 crore and 30 oxygen generating plants at a total cost of Rs 75 crore were procured thereby giving a boost to the health infrastructure to cope with the challenges posed by the pandemic.

On the occasion, Sitharaman launched two youth-oriented employment generation schemes of Mission Youth viz. Rise Together (Community Entrepreneurship Development program) and Nav Parivartan (Youth Innovation Promotion Program). She also handed over cheques of Rs 1 lakh each to students of LG Super 75 scholarship. The dream of the Prime Minister to develop each part of the country equally is fulfilled vigorously and J&K is participating in this journey in letter and spirit, she said.

(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Kashmir Ready to Join Indian Railways Canvas

Modern Indian engineering made news a few days back when the arch of the world’s highest railway bridge running 1,315 meters and standing at a height of 359m above the Chenab River bed was completed, reports Asian Lite News

The first proposal of bringing railways to Kashmir was made in 1898 by the Britishers, but their idea remained on paper.

Fast forward some 120 years, and India’s dream of fully integrating with the Valley is finally tangible with the Kashmir Railway Project ready to join the Indian Railways canvas by 2023.

The project is the highest altitude railway network in India — defying gravity on the impossible terrain of the Pir Panjal mountain range.

Making the fantasy a reality, it is the only railway line constructed in broad gauge on Indian mountains, daring to run the distance of 345 km over major earthquake-prone zones, while being exposed to extreme temperatures.

Chenab Bridge

The arrangement of Kashmir railways is one of the greatest engineering challenges ever faced, only next to the China-Tibet railroad which crosses perpetually frozen ground and rises to more than 5,000m above sea level. In the case of Kashmir, the rail route owes its complexity to the dangerous rugged geography of the Himalayas.

While the Valley has an average height of 1,850m, the surrounding Pir Panjal range has an average elevation of 3,000m. The trains are fixed with a snow cutter system for clearing the snow on the track while the temperature in coaches is maintained at 20-degree Celsius during winter months.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw launched the ‘Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ on September 17 and said that the engineers and technicians are working in difficult conditions to achieve the nation’s dream.

The connectivity to this region is important for national security, prosperity, and socio-economic development. Many other major roadways projects are also underway in the Valley along with the railways — all operating in mission mode to link the mountainous terrains, ravines, gorges, and river basins.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw briefs the press on Cabinet decisions at National Media Centre in New Delhi. (Photo: Qamar Sibtain/IANS)

Modern Indian engineering made news a few days back when the arch of the world’s highest railway bridge running 1,315 meters and standing at a height of 359m above the Chenab River bed was completed.

It will allow the railways to cover maximum ground in the area. One more monumental project is the 272 km long Udhampur-Baramulla railway line project that would connect the two places through Jammu, passing through panoramic views of quaint mountainous towns, pristine river basins, and silent deodars.

Yet another spectacular engineering marvel is the Bridge No. 39 situated between Katra and Reasi, which was completed on October 20.

The Reasi yard station is built on high, rectangular, tapered hollow piers 105m in height, with the bridge spanning about 490m — a structure made with 7,000 reinforcement steel and 6,700 million tonnes of structural steel. This is a milestone achievement on the USBRL project in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Union Minister has kept a foresighted approach in this mega-project, ensuring no obstacles concerning funding, land acquisition etc.

Chenab Bridge

The Indian Railways has prepared a National Rail Plan to create a ‘Future Ready’ railway system by 2030. From the perspective of tourism, trade and commerce, and the economy in general, the people of J&K will be able to explore novel opportunities for business and employment.

The Udhampur-Baramulla-Srinagar rail line stands erected at a cost of Rs 28,000 crore. For now, the focus is on the strategic, intervening line of about 111 km between Katra and Banihal, which consists of many tunnels and escape tunnels.

Meanwhile, the target date for completion of electrification works in the Banihal-Baramulla railway section is March 2022, according to the Railways.

The world’s most advanced technologies are being used for the planning and construction of the Kashmir Railway Project. What makes it more exciting are the peculiar challenges specific to this region, for which many times new technologies had to be developed by experts in India and abroad to tackle the concerns.

The story of Kashmir Railways is sure to go down as the new chapter of the region’s glory, development and prosperity.