Kashmir-based rap duo, Humaira and MC Raa, recently came out with a new rap song ‘Badalta Kashmir’ which celebrates the positive changes in the Kashmir Valley since the abrogation of Article 370
Kashmir-based rap duo, Humaira and MC Raa, recently came out with a new rap song ‘Badalta Kashmir’ which celebrates the positive changes in the Kashmir Valley since the abrogation of Article 370.
Talking about the song, Rapper MC Raa said: “This song has tried to explain whatever developments are taking place in Kashmir. The situation in Srinagar and the developments that are taking place here, G20 was successful or Smart city was made, those were my inspiration. Hip Hop artists create songs by observing their surroundings, I used to travel from Srinagar to Shopian and in between, whatever development I saw, I thought of making a rap on Kashmir.”
Taking to Instagram, the Government of India also shared the song on their official page which they captioned, “The youth of Kashmir have spoken, that too through a energetic rap song! Listen to the song that encapsulates the emergence of #NayaKashmir.”
The song also mentions key events such as the G20 meetings in Kashmir, the Amarnath Yatra, and the development of Digital India.New
Talking about his collaboration with Humaira for the song, MC Raa said, “When I was writing this song, it came to my mind that there should be a female artist in this song because now the biggest difference I have seen is that earlier girls were judged by their clothes, or how they carry themseleves, but now that thing is no longer there. So I thought of keeping a female rapper with me.”
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina also showered praises on the song and wrote on his X account, “This Kashmiri artist showcased pro-level rapping– well done #JammuAndKashmir.”
Union Minister of State for Electronics and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar also shared the song and wrote, “Naye Bharat Ka Naya Kashmir. Young Indians are changing the landscape of #Kashmir!.”
Folk artist from Jammu and Kashmir at the press preview for the Republic Day Tableaux, in New Delhi. (Photo_IANS)
When India is implementing several new projects to take Jammu andKashmir to meet the demands of the post-Covid economy, the occupied part of Kashmir on the other side suffers with new influx of Chinese workers and corrupt politicians. The PoK is vastly an underdeveloped territory due to Islamabad treating it as a centre of terrorism, while New Delhi’s policy of development, peace and prosperity has turned Jammu and Kashmir into one of the most developed regions in the world …. Writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
There can be no comparison between Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Jammu and Kashmir. The PoK is vastly an underdeveloped territory due to Islamabad treating it as a centre of terrorism, while New Delhi’s policy of development, peace and prosperity has turned Jammu and Kashmir into one of the most developed regions in the world. There is no comparison between PoK’s capital city Muzzafarabad with Srinagar or Jammu, twin capitals of J&K. It’s like comparing metropolitan cities of Mumbai and Kolkatta to a provincial town in India. As per the Aadhar statistics the J&K population in 2021/2022 stood at 13,635,010 (13.64 Millions), while PoK’s population is approximately 52 lakhs.
The J&K has an area of 42241 square kilometers, while PoK is spread over 13, 297 square kilometers. J&K has 22 districts, while PoK has only 10. J&K has four airports, PoK has only 2. There are 35 universities in J & K and in PoK there are only 6. There exist about 2812 hospitals in J&K to provide free health care to people compared to 23 hospitals in PoK. In J&K people can choose any medium for education i.e. Hindi, Dogri, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Urdu and English while in PoK only Urdu is in vogue one of the major reasons for people remaining uneducated and unskilled. Average literacy rate in Jammu and Kashmir for urban regions is 77.12 percent in which males are 83.92% literate while female literacy stands at 56.65%. While in PoK literacy rate is around 70%. Most literates in PoK can only write and read Urdu, foreign languages are alien to them. The condition of roads in PoK is pathetic. Everyday people plunge to their deaths in ravines in road accidents due to lack of safety walls. Many patients die each month due to lack of basic medical facilities and anti-venom vaccines. In February this year Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a Rs 1.12 lakh crore (13.33 billion US dollars apex) Budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2022-23. The Budget aims at building the economy and creating jobs in the Himalayan region. The J&K Budget focuses on education, home, public health engineering, with power development getting highest allocations for the financial year 2022-23. The J&K’s economy is expected to grow by 7.5 per cent on current prices during 2021-22. In J&K four National Highway projects are expected to be completed in 2022. Ten new road/tunnel projects have been agreed by MORTH under Bharatmala. The world’s highest 1315-meter long railway bridge over River Chenab is targeted for completion by September 2022. Projects under the Prime Minister’s Development Package have seen expenditure of Rs 36,112 crore. A total of 25 projects have been completed/substantially and another four projects are likely to be completed by the end of the current financial year. For Industries and Commerce, capital expenditure in J&K is estimated to be Rs 555.80 crore. For the rural sector, an allocation of about Rs 4,627.85 crore has been made under Capital Expenditure for the year 2022-23. The capital expenditure for the power sector is estimated to be Rs 2,457.58 crore, while that for the school and higher education sector is estimated to be Rs 1,806.66 crore. On the other hand the annual budget of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in 2021-22 was 141 billion Pakistan rupees which is just over 78.55 million US dollars. Recently PoK’s Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan stated that the federal government slashed PoK’s development budget by Rs 5.2 billion, which Khan said, could lead to severe financial system disbalance. Another PoK minister, Khawaja Farooq Ahmed accused the federal government of harbouring “deep animosity” towards the people of PoK and Gilgit Baltistan by imposing budget cuts in the territory. The federal government in Pakistan was supposed to provide Rs 49.9 billion to PoK as its 3.64 per cent share in the federal taxes pool (variable grant) but that too has been slashed by Rs 4.4 billion. The 3.64 per cent share from the federal taxes pool which was agreed under a financial arrangement between Islamabad and Muzaffarabad in 2018 is equalled to Rs 74.32 billion in Financial Year 2022-23, but the federal government had recently informed that it would provide only Rs 60 billion. This has created a shortfall of Rs 14 billion in PoK’s income which cannot be bridged from any other source. The PoK ministers are of the opinion that the federal government’s decision to slash the budget allocations could affect PoK’s financial system beyond control and make the region poorer.
Suffer silently Denizens of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) are suffering silently as they are not allowed to raise their voice. The media is controlled by the government to ensure that human rights violations by the armed forces and the terrorists aren’t reported. China has made inroads into PoK and is using the land to fulfill its ambitions. The federal government in Pakistan has gone out of way to appease China and is allowing its golden plan of forming a sea route through PoK. Thousands of Chinese engineers and workers are deployed in PoK.
The works being carried out by them have ruined the natural resources and beauty of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The irony is that natives of PoK have to go and work as waiters, drivers and labourers in other cities of Pakistan, while the people of Chinese origin are earning their livelihood in PoK.
The debt ridden Pakistan Government cannot dare to ask China to employ the locals in its projects. The unemployment graph in PoK is on rise as the jobs which the locals could have got are being snatched by the outsiders.
Path of progress
Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 is fast turning into a hub of business and tourism activities. It has become the most preferred tourist destination as lakhs of tourists have thronged J&K during the past two years. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is on its way to become an express highway. The train to Kashmir is not that far-away and by 2024, the Valley will be connected with the rest of the country through a railway network.
People of J&K, especially Kashmir are no longer living in illusions created by the Pakistan stooges. After August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate so-called J&K’s special status and divided it into two Union Territories—Kashmir hasn’t witnessed any street protests and shutdowns. The government during the past 2-years has advertised more than 20,000 vacancies.
The Union territory has received new investment proposals worth thousands of crores. Youth are being provided all possible help, including financial support, to set up business ventures and become successful entrepreneurs. The youth in J&K are shining in every field from sports to education. For people of J&K sky is the limit while for the citizens of PoK even managing two square meals in a day is becoming a difficult task.
Till 2014, there were only seven National Highways in the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir, including Ladakh but in 2021 J&K alone has eleven National Highways…reports Asian Lite News
The process to build ‘Naya Jammu and Kashmir’ commenced much before August 5, 2019 — when New Delhi announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and divided it into two union territories. After the change of guard in the Centre in 2014, the dispensation led by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, focused on reaching to the root causes of the problems in J&K.
The government identified lack of proper road connectivity as one of the major issues that needed to be addressed. Just within a year, i.e., in 2015 the Prime Minister announced road infra projects worth Rs 40,900 crore for J&K, out of which work on projects of about Rs 38,000 crore is already underway. Till 2014, there were only seven National Highways in the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir, including Ladakh but in 2021 J&K alone has eleven National Highways.
To give impetus to the ongoing development works Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, and J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha laid the foundation stones for four National Highway projects worth Rs 3,612 crore in the J&K UT on September 28, 2021.
PIc credits Twitter .@OfficeOfLGJandK
Gadkari, who was on a 2-day visit to J&K in connection with the Centre’s outreach programme, stated that there was no dearth of funds. He assured that every possible logistic support would be provided to the J&K Government to overcome the challenges in building new highways and roads.
“The new projects will further strengthen the road connectivity in J&K. It will open up new livelihood avenues for the local population, enhance tourism and business activities and improve the quality of life of the people,” he said.
The Minister stated that the government is working on a comprehensive plan to lessen the travel time between the cities. “Be it Delhi-Jammu, or Jammu to Srinagar, the time to travel would be reduced to half by providing expressways and better road connectivity to the people. Mega highway road and tunnel projects will reduce the travel time from Delhi to Kashmir to 8 hrs in coming years,” he announced. (1)
Road connectivity has remained a major issue for Kashmir since 1947. The 300 kilometre Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, only all-weather road connecting the Valley with the rest of the country, has been the most unreliable highway. Its frequent closure, especially during the harsh winter season leads to shortage of everything, including the essential commodities, but during the past seven years work on this highway has been expedited and it’s likely to become a four lane express highway within two years.
At present the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is working on the ‘treacherous’ terrains on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The 36 kilometre long Ramban-Banihal stretch is full of ‘trouble points’. This stretch was realigned and the work on it is likely to get completed by December 2024. The danger points, including Marog, Panthial, Khuni Nullah, Digdol, and Battery Chashma, have been bypassed after realignment. To avoid landslide-prone and sinking areas, tunnels and bridges are being constructed as per realigned project (2).
Work on the widening of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway had started in 2011. Two major tunnels, Nashri tunnel and Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, have been thrown open for the general public and this has reduced the travel time and distance between Jammu and Srinagar. Four laning work from Srinagar to Qazigund and from Jammu to Udhampur was completed long ago. The NHAI is hopeful about completing the remaining work within the stipulated time.
PIc credits Twitter .@OfficeOfLGJandK
New highways in Jammu region
Earlier this month, the Union Ministry for Road, Transport and National Highways had approved two projects worth Rs 2,556.36 crore on the Samba-Jammu and Akhnoor-Poonch National Highways.
The ministry had also approved development work of the Jakh (Vijaypur)-Kunjwani section of National Highway-44 to six-lane Expressway. Jakh-Kunjwanifalls on Samba-Jammu road and is part of the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway. which is presently four-lane.
The ministry had also approved Rs 734.64 crore for work of rehabilitation and upgradation to two-lane with paved shoulders from existing chainage, including the construction of Bhimber Gali Tunnel under 31 TF on Akhnoor-Poonch road (National Highway 144A).
Prior to this the Central Government had already approved widening of Jammu-Akhnoor road followed by Akhnoor-Poonch road via Nowshera and Rajouri.
Zojila and Z-Morh tunnels
Srinagar-Leh National Highway remains closed nearly four months during winter due to heavy snowfall at Zojila, but the under construction 13.2 kilometre Zojila tunnel would provide all weather connectivity to the union territory of Ladakh. It will be India’s longest road tunnel and Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel.
Several bridges are being constructed along this route. The Z-Morh tunnel is being constructed in the Zojila Ghats between Sonamarg and Kargil. The entire work is divided into two divisions in the 33 km span.
The project site of Zojila tunnel is located at existing highway (NH-1) starting from Sonamarg (UT of J&K) and ends at Minamarg (UT of Ladakh) at an elevation ranging from 2700m to 3300m, thus making the Zojila Tunnel the longest tunnel at this elevation in Asia. The present site location falls into seismic zone IV and all precautionary measures have been provisioned to safeguard the structures in the project.
According to Brigadier Gurjeet Singh Kamo, executive director, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), work at Z-Morhtunnel is expected to be over by next year against the target of December 2023 while the Zojila project would be over by 2026.
During his recent visit to the tunnel, Gadkari described Zojila tunnel as a landmark project (3).
Earlier Gadkari had stated that a hill station, more enchanting than the world-famous Davos in Switzerland, is being planned in the picturesque landscape between the 18-km stretch of Zojila tunnel in Ladakh and Z-Morh tunnel. Once the project is completed it will change the dynamics of both Ladakh and J&K and create huge employment.
Mughal Road
This 84-kilometre long road which connects Kashmir with Poonch district in Jammu was opened in 2009 for light motor vehicles. However, it remains open only in summer months.
When it was thrown open for public, politicians in Kashmir had termed it as their “dream project” and had promised the people that it would serve as an alternative all-weather road for the Valley. However, not much headway was made in this regard even 10-years after it was thrown open for the public. In December 2019, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited engaged a Spanish Consultancy firm and an Indian private consultant to prepare a report for the construction of a tunnel near Peer-Ki-Gali which receives massive snowfall during winter.
It is a historical route and is known for its beautiful sights and scenes, which can persuade the tourists across the country to visit this area. It is surrounded by snow laden mountains which glitter like silver throughout the year. The work on this road is all set to be expedited in coming months.
In 2020-21, 3300 km rural roads were constructed
In 2020-21, a record 3,300 km of roads were constructed in remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose of these roads was to provide safe and secure all-weather connectivity to far-flung areas across the Union Territory.
Former J&K Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam in May this year had stated that most of the work was undertaken under the flagship programme ‘PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana’ (4).
Addressing the issue of road connectivity to Kashmir is a leap towards bringing the Valley closer to New Delhi and the government is working on it. The projects that have been undertaken during the past seven years have helped in changing the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir. People too have responded positively and have boarded the bandwagon of peace, prosperity and development.
It is reasonable to expect that two years are not enough for the results of development to become palpable on the ground, argue the supporters of J&K’s total integration with the rest of the country…reports Sheikh Qayoom
Two years after abrogation of Article 370, hope for a prosperous “Naya Kashmir” is alive despite doomsday proponents calling it a “pipe dream”.
Rome was not built in a day, argue the supporters of “Naya Kashmir”.
The Lt Governor Manoj Sinha-led administration is confident that the developmental push and its anti-corruption effort are visible on the ground.
“Envisaging projects is a matter of paper work and implementing these on the ground with the huge funding needed to do so, is a different ball game.
“Huge funds are being spent on every developmental project in J&K. Despite the constraints imposed by the pandemic, the administration has not allowed a single developmental project to be put on hold,” said a senior government official.
It is reasonable to expect that two years are not enough for the results of development to become palpable on the ground, argue the supporters of J&K’s total integration with the rest of the country.
Ironically, the disempowerment of traditional politicians was seen in J&K as the empowerment of the common man.
“Those who played the king are now worried about losing their personal assets. This is a positive sign, but people need ground level translation of the intention to empower us,” said Sajad Ahmad, a shopkeeper in old city Srinagar.
Detractors, however, say they don’t see the brick and mortar needed to realise the promised dream of making J&K the jewel in the country’s crown.
“Not a single developmental milestone has been laid during the last two years. Be it the laying of the new roads, building of power projects or the construction of the rail link and tunnel making, all these were started during the tenure of Dr Manmohan Singh.
“Just give me one example of any developmental achievement we have seen during the last two years,” former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah noted.
But BJP state unit chief Ravinder Raina retorted: “Those who lost their kingdom cannot be expected to see anything good happening after their ouster.”
While politicians on the either side of the divide cannot be expected to agree on post August 5, 2019 developments, the common man in J&K says the last two years have been very hard and trying for him.
“One year after abrogation of Article 370 and downgrading of J&K into a Union Territory, there was a literal washout of the tour and travel industry.
“Hardly any tourism happened in post August 5 period of 2019.
“We waited for the same to pick up in 2020, but that did not happen. During the two months, however, tourism has started showing up.
“The pandemic is largely responsible for slowing down of our economy, but at the same time, there has been little administrative effort to support those whose bread and butter depended on the hospitality industry,” said a hotelier on the famous Boulevard Road by the banks of the Dal Lake.
People dependent on hospitality industry, or cottage industries like shawl, wood carving, papier-mache etc need market.
“We have been promised free market for our handicrafts and once the middleman is eliminated, we would get the full benefit of our labour,” said Muhammad Raza, a papier-mache artisan in Srinagar.
The government says it has created avenues for better markets for local horticulture, handicrafts and other local industry.
“The biggest impediment in setting up industries in J&K has been the shortage of electricity. The government has built new projects, made arrangements for import of electric power from outside and within the next 4 years, J&K should be self-sufficient in electric power,” said another senior government officer.
One major grievance during the last two years has been that people are not able to reach the administration for redressal of their grievances.
“That is where you need a political government with elected representatives. Unless those running a democracy are elected by the people, you cannot expect the common man to be heard with patience,” J&K Apni Party President Syed Altaf Bukhari said.
Kashmiri farmers carrying baskets of Strawberries inside their farm during corona curfew , on the outskirts in Srinagar, Kashmir India (Pic from Umar Ganie)
Jammu & Kashmir’s transition from a corruption ridden law-less state into a thriving Union Territory makes the government employees accountable, responsive to serve the people… A special report by Qasim Ahmed Khan. Since the abrogation of the Article 370, corruption in the government offices is on decline and the employees have become more accountable in the Himalayan region
Jammu and Kashmir’s transition from a state into a Union Territory has proven the critics wrong. Corruption in the government offices is on the decline and the employees have become more accountable in the Himalayan region.
Kashmir-Kids enjoys at mustard filed on the outskirts of Srinagar-Umar Ganie
The government employees who used to enjoy impunity and had no fear of losing their jobs are on tenterhooks as the regime led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has taken numerous people-friendly decisions to make the administration transparent and responsive. The employees, who used to believe that they are invincible, and can do anything, are trying their best to ensure that they don’t come under the scanner as they don’t want to end up in a trouble. After August 5, 2019—when the Centre announced its decision to scrap J&K’s special status and divided into two union territories—laws governing the conduct of employees were made more stringent. The present regime has sent a clear message “perform or perish” and the anti-national elements within the administration won’t be tolerated. Earlier this month, J&K Government issued a circular asking the administrative secretaries to identify officers who are ineffective in work and are not fit to continue in the post held and have no utility for the purpose for which they were employed. A fresh circular issued by J&K Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta invited the attention of all administrative secretaries to an order dated October 22, 2020, issued by the Finance Department in which it had asked for a review of the performance of the government servants for the first time after his/her completion of 22 years of service or attaining 48 years of age. The circular said: “It has been observed that the departments have not initiated any exercise for reviewing the performance of the government servants. It is impressed upon all the Administrative Secretaries to initiate the process of reviewing the performance of each government servant who has completed 48 years of age/22 years of service to identify such employees who are ineffective in work and are not fit to continue in the post held and have no utility for the purpose for which they are employed.” Last year the J&K Government amended Article 226(2) of Jammu and Kashmir Civil Service Regulations to empower the government to retire any employee who has qualifying service of 22 years or attained 48 years of age. Till August 5, 2019, political regimes made many attempts to disengage the deadwood but the lacunas in the service rules helped these employees to get back their jobs. But now the things have changed any employee, who shrieks work or tries to support the secessionist activities can show the exit door. Anti-graft Campaign The process to make the J&K administration transparent commenced soon after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulled out from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led coalition government in J&K in the year 2018. In October 2018, the then government led by then J&K Governor of the erstwhile princely state, Satya Pal Malik gave its formal sanction to establish Jammu and Kashmir’s maiden “Anti-Corruption Bureau,” with an aim to tackle and eradicate corruption in J&K in a more effective and meaningful manner. “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 10 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Samvat, 2006, (Act No. X111 of 2006), the Government hereby establishes a Bureau under the title of Anti Corruption Bureau, for investigation of offences, under the said Act,” read an official notification from General Administration Department, issued vide SRO 486. Amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act Samvat, 2006 and Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission Act, 2011 were approved to give the Anti-Corruption Bureau more teeth to deal with complaints of corruption and take these to their logical end. After J&K’s transition into a Union Territory, the ACB became more active and vibrant. In 2020 the ACB registered 17 cases against politicians and bureaucrats.
Indian-Army-soldiers-in-Jammu-and-Kashmir
The ACB also registered a case against officers of Jammu and Kashmir Bank into illegal appointments scam in the premiere financial institution of the Union Territory. A case was also registered against Chairman J&K Co-operative Bank and others for sanctioning loans in favour of non-existent co-operative society. The anti-graft has also registered a case against the former chairman of the bank for allegedly misusing his position. Cases were registered against former Director Archives and Archaeology Department, former Directors of Rural Development Department Jammu for allegedly misusing their official positions and causing loss to the state exchequer. The anti-graft body has also nailed a former Managing Director of JAKFED. Similarly, a case was registered against an official of Srinagar Municipal Corporation for allowing illegal residential commercial constructions in Rajbagh and Gogji Bagh. CBI’s Role in J&K
After the applicability of the Jammu and Kashmir Re-organisation Act 2019, the Central Bureau of Investigation was empowered to register cases against government employees without any prior permission from the UT administration.
Mir Junaid, president of Jammu Kashmir Workers Party, addressing a public meeting in South Kashmir
“The CBI could register cases in erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir but with a rider that the investigating agency had to take consent from the State Government for doing so but that rider has now has been removed,” Union Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Jitendra Singh had informed the Parliament in December 2019. Central Prevention of Corruption Act became applicable in J&K from November 1, 2019. With this, all government employees in the two Union Territories came within the jurisdiction of CBI. The law emphasizes on completion of trials in graft cases within two years. Provisions of the Central Act relating to attachment and forfeiture of property are also stringent. Prior to August 5, 2019, Central laws were not directly applicable to J&K State. In December 2019, the CBI raided 17 locations across J&K in connection with the alleged involvement of two serving IAS officers and six retired Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) officers in arms licence scam unearthed by the J&K police CID in 2017.
It was the first CBI operation in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories. The agency acted after acquiring original jurisdiction to act against corruption after the reorganisation of the state. The CBI sleuths raided the offices and residences of the then district collectors and district magistrates of Kupwara, Baramulla, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Shopian, Rajouri, Doda and Pulwama. On January 22, 2020, the CBI booked an official of Jammu and Kashmir Grameen Bank on charges of misappropriation of bank funds to the tune of Rs 1.33 crore by “tampering” with the computer system and documents during January 2016 and January 2020. The CBI had registered an FIR following a written complaint. The official was booked under charges of cheating, forgery, criminal misappropriation or misconduct and abusing official position. No room for corruption During the past two years, anti-graft agencies have acted swiftly against the government officials, who were found involved in any sort of misappropriation. The ACB received numerous complaints against the officials who were involved in corrupt practices. Wherever the complaints have been found genuine, the Bureau has acted. The CBI too is playing an active role in J&K and the complaints received by it are being taken serious note of. J&K dispensation led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has given a free hand to anti-graft agencies to act against anyone, who is involved in any sort of corruption. The ACB has registered many new corruption cases and old cases which were dumped under the carpet stand reopened. In absence of political interference, many big fishes were nailed in J&K. Big shots who used to think that they are above the law were questioned and grilled in the cases which were pushed on the backburner by the erstwhile regimes. The work culture in the government offices has improved. The complaints about files remaining stuck for months together at one place have declined. The officials have realized that they are being watched and their functioning is being monitored. Officials haven’t changed, they are the same people who used to work in the political regimes but their style of functioning has witnessed a turnaround as they want to ensure that their jobs remain safe.
The aim of the present dispensation in J&K seems to ensure responsive, accountable, transparent governance. The promises that were made on August 5, 2019, are being fulfilled. The change in ground situation is ample proof of the fact that the Indian Government is out to transform J&K into a ‘super state’ to end the uncertainty that has prevailed in J&K since 1947 … A special report
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to chair the All Party Meeting of J&K leaders in New Delhi on Thursday. The event is taking place just two years after the revocation of J&K’s special status. The transition of an under-developed “separate state” into a progressive “super state” is a remarkable achievement. It has proven the sincerity and commitment of Indian leadership towards the people of J&K.
Kashmiri farmers carrying baskets of Strawberries inside their farm during corona curfew , on the outskirts in Srinagar, Kashmir India (Pic from Umar Ganie)
Work is on to fulfill the promises that were made by Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament when the Article 370 was scrapped. Prime Minister Modi had assured J&K people that the “new dawn has broken and there will be no looking back.” He has remained true to his word.
Empowering a common man has been the mantra. The UT administration has focused on building “Naya Jammu and Kashmir” and is working hard to achieve the goals that were set by the Indian Government on August 5, 2019.
Nearly a year after J&K’s special status was revoked, Union Minister of State (Home) G. Kishan Reddy in September 2020 had informed Parliament that the decision to scrap Article 370 has “fully integrated J&K into the mainstream of the nation”.
He had stated that as a result all the rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and benefits of all the central laws that were being enjoyed by other citizens of the country were now available to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The change, he had said, brought about socio-economic development in Jammu and Kashmir. “Empowerment of people, removal of unjust laws, bringing in equity and fairness to those discriminated against since ages who are now getting their due along with comprehensive development are some of the important changes that are ushering both the new UTs towards the path of peace and progress,” Reddy had said.
The Mos Home had stated that besides the regular flow of funds under various schemes by different central ministries, an amount of Rs 30,757 crore was allocated to J&K in the Financial Year (FY) 2020-21. “Under the Prime Minister’s development package announced in 2015 for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Rs 80,068 crore continue to be spent for 54 projects in J&K and across sectors such as road, power, health, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, skill development, etc.”
The funds from the PM’s package are being utilised for setting up Indian Institutes of Technology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Indian Institutes of Management that would meet the aspirations of the local youth.
The AIIMS at Samba and Awantipora that were stalled due to land and forest issues have now been cleared for completion. Five new medical colleges at Baramulla, Anantnag, Rajouri, Kathua and Doda were approved.
The work on stalled projects — such as the ShahpurKandi Dam project that has been in limbo for 40 years– has been fast tracked.
Similarly, work has begun on several other such projects to ensure constant power supply, a crucial factor in the region’s growth and development.
In December last year, the first local elections since the abrogation of Article 370 were held in Jammu and Kashmir. Huge participation of people in the polls shattered the myth that J&K people don’t believe in democracy. Nearly six million voters across the 20 districts were eligible to elect 280 members of District Development Councils (DDC).
About 1,000 candidates from various political parties, including National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference, Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress and other political formations participated in the polls.
Aneesa Gul, 32, who fought on the BJP’s ticket in central Kashmir’s Chadoora village had told Al Jazeera that her party’s “motive is only development and (to) erase unemployment and funding for women”. “BJP will develop Kashmir better than Gujarat,” Gul had claimed.
A youth Zahoor Ahmad, who contested polls as an independent candidate, from Theed village in Srinagar outskirts had stated that he wanted to gain power and work for the betterment of youth in his locality.
Lt Governor Manoj Sinha
Before August 5, 2019, politics and power were always held by the leaders of traditional political parties in J&K. But during the past 2-years many new faces have emerged in the political arena of Kashmir.
The DDC elections posed a larger political question for J&K in the backdrop of the August 5 changes as these set the tone and tenor for the forthcoming events and restarted the stalled political process in the Union Territory.
The industrial scenario has changed drastically in the region during the past two years. The “New Industrial Policy 2021-30” unveiled early this month by the J&K government provided further impetus to the sector, opening up the region to the world.
Lal Chowk at Srinagar
The new industrial policy, which came into effect on April 1, 2021, has a spending outlay of Rs 28,400 crore (Rs 284 billion), the largest incentive to date, on the industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir for the next 15 years. It is expected to generate an investment of Rs 20,000 crore (Rs 200 billion) and employment of 4.5 lakh (0.45 million) over the plan period.
This is the first block-level development project that intends to undertake the process of industrialization at the very grassroots level using the local resources, skill, and talent available domestically. The policy specifically promises an era of socio-economic development in the region, catering to the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. There is no bar for outsiders to come and invest in the union territory.
According to the official figures, post August 5, 2019, more than 40 companies came forward with the investment proposals and the J&K Government accepted more than 30 proposals up to the tune of Rs1,500 crore (Rs15 billion). The companies that came forward were from various fields like renewable energy, hospitality, defence, tourism, skill, education, IT and technology and infrastructure.
After the New Industrial Policy came into vogue, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said that the new industrial development scheme would further attract a huge investment of Rs 20,000-25,000 crore, besides providing employment avenues and opportunities to around 5 lakh youth. The unemployment rate in the union territory dipped from 16.1 per cent in September 2020 to 9 per cent in March 2021 and LG Sinha had credited youth for this positive change (5).
According to the report prepared by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, J&K has less unemployment rate than Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. The J&K Government has put in place robust and efficient digital network infrastructure in the hinterland to provide transparent financial services to the people.
Paving way for a strong Women Entrepreneur Ecosystem in J&K, the UT government announced a scheme — Tejaswini under Mission Youth, through which financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the girls between the age group of 18-35 years is provided to start their business.
During the Back to Village programme, the J&K Government had set a target of around 9,000 youth to be identified for financial support for starting their enterprise. The expected target exceeded and 18,500 youth were extended financial support to set up their business units.
The J&K Government under Mission Youth aims to engage 80 per cent youth in livelihood generation by 2025.
Last year the Jammu and Kashmir government had announced that 25,000 posts will be filled in the public sector and the government departments. During the past six months 18,000 posts have been advertised and the process is on to fill up the vacancies.
The aim of the present dispensation in J&K seems to ensure responsive, accountable, transparent governance. The promises that were made on August 5, 2019, are being fulfilled. The change in ground situation is ample proof of the fact that the Indian Government is out to transform J&K into a ‘super state’ to end the uncertainty that has prevailed in J&K since 1947.
Kashmir based politicians, who remained in power for many years and had opposed the Centre’s decision to change J&K’s status-quo, need to acknowledge the fact that the newly carved out J&K Union Territory has witnessed massive development on almost all the fronts after August 5, 2019 — when J&K was bifurcated into two union territories and Article 370, temporary provision of the Indian Constitution, was done away with once for all.
