Nothing ever concentrates the minds of authorities in Kashmir. We have not yet recovered from the trauma and depredations visited upon us by the devastating 2014 floods and lo and presto, we get hit by an intense earth quake. While theres really nothing that can be done to pre-empt natural disasters but there is a lot that be done by way of disaster preparedness. But, nay, the government does not appear to care. This is not a political or a politicized critique of the government but of the government as an institution in Kashmir. The government as an institution in Kashmir is a decayed and a decaying entity defined by inertia and plagued by unresponsive lethargy. This cuts through and across various and different political colorations and hues. Be it the NC or the PDP, both stand implicated in mis-governance and apathy. While the excuse or the facile reasons that are trotted out by both regarding politics of the state may or may not hold water, and the benefit of doubt can be given about this, but the negligence and the apathy that defines government and governance, is really something that cannot be whitewashed.
Consider the 2014 floods
Kashmir and Kashmiris were caught unawares by what almost amounted to a Tsunami. To repeat, while the floods could not have been stopped, but the intensity and devastation they wreaked could have been ameliorated to a large extent. First, expert advice that warned of floods hitting Kashmir could have been heeded and disaster preparedness mechanisms initiated and set in place. These could have been complemented by preparing the public for a contingency that could happen- without being alarmist and without setting the panic button. Third, pre-emptive measures like dredging and filling vulnerable points and being vigilant could have helped. These are commonsensical mechanisms and ideas that the government could have taken recourse to and instituted. But, alas, no one cared. The result was obvious: Srinagar got deluged and Kashmir swamped.
Kashmir and Kashmiris still reeling under the impact-psychological, political, economic and financial- has now hit by an earthquake- almost eerily reminiscent of the 2005 earth quake. Mercifully but fortuitously, the cost in human lives is almost negligible. However, this does not detract from the enormity of the issue and the problem. It may be recalled here that a few months before the 2005 earthquake, our newspaper carried observations and reports by expert seismologists, which portended and warned of an earth quake hitting Kashmir. Our reportage regarding this was dismissed by authorities as alarmist and we were discouraged to stretch it further. No sooner we discontinued the warning reports that an enormous and intense earth quake hit Kashmir and adjoining areas.
This reminisce is important not because we want to state that we were right but the point is that as a stakeholder in Kashmiri society, we would like to remind the government (of any hue or complexion) of its duties towards the people. Two major events of a nature that affected lives and had the potential for immense destruction were cavalierly ignored by the Government. These, instead of focusing the mind and efforts of government , lapsed and nothing happened by way of preventative measures and disaster preparedness. Are we Kashmiris , in the final analysis chattel, inchoate mass of people who can just exist but not live a life of security and prosperity? The Government can , in the least and should focus on and deliver on making Human Security the centre piece of its efforts. Human security entails making the lives of people secure, prosperous and safe and has over time become rather mainstream in international politics and relations. It is neither controversial nor pertains to state interests but is premised upon the welfare of the people. It is to the ends of human security that governments in Kashmir can and should devote themselves to. In the least, the lives of people in Kashmir will be improved and it will be welfare enhancing. Surely, no government will quarrel with this. But what is required to bring this welfare enhancing human security paradigm into fruition is will and genuine concern for the people of Kashmir. The political class of Kashmir must align itself with the welfare of the people and make or render government as the instrument to do this. The rest-enhanced efficiency and effectiveness- of the government will fall in place. But, to repeat, the question is of will? Will the political class muster this and work for the larger welfare and security of the people? The answer is obvious if the past is used as a guide but maybe, just perhaps, the future may be brighter. We conclude with the hope that the three disasters that have struck us in the past decade suffice to bring about a paradigm shift in government and governance. We really cant cope up and deal with more!
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