By Firdos Ali
The abrogation of article 370 on day of August 5, 2019 is a turning point in the modern history of J&K. It is widely seen as the beginning of transformation of J&K ending years of discrimination.
Jammu Kashmir is emerging as a noticeable narrative on bringing civility to the land that was once scarred and wounded by terrorism. The biggest stakeholders of this new and aspiring Jammu Kashmir are the youth. People, especially youth, are fearlessly pursuing their dreams. Now, economic development, an important stimulus to aspirational society, and basic fundamental rights like education, healthcare, employment, and the pursuit of happiness are no longer hostage to violence. Youth power is the strength of Jammu Kashmir and they have dedicated themselves to rejuvenate the society and to drive inclusive development.
A series of targeted efforts to tide over governance bottlenecks, financial indiscipline and lack of monitoring has yielded results in the form of developmental projects so and so that Jammu and Kashmir has shed its laggard image and is leader in implementation of developmental projects and schemes of central Government.
The nullification of Article 370 integrated Jammu & Kashmir into the national mainstream. J&K has overcome decades of a chasm in development. People that were marginsalised — Dalits, refugees, Gurkhas, sanitation workers, and adivasis have been given the same rights as any other ordinary citizen. Before 2019, there were eight to nine thousand projects that had been completed. The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A has not only extended all the Constitutional rights to people of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh but also chartered a new era of development in both the Union Territories.
Structural and institutional changes like ending the 150-year-old Darbar Move brought in another layer of transparency and improvement in governance. It also saved about Rs 400 crore annual expenditure that used to be incurred in shifting logistics from Srinagar to Jammu and back. It has also prevented the loss of at least one working month every year.
Providing houses to people in rural areas, developing roads, putting in place primary health facilities and safe drinking water services, creating more avenues for education, employment, and agriculture, attracting private investment and bridging gaps between government delivery mechanisms and people’s expectations were some of the tasks were completed by building trust between the administration and the people.
A New Central Sector Scheme for the Industrial Development of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, with an outlay of Rs. 28,400 crores and has received 5,372 investment proposals worth Rs 70,000 crore, Proposals worth Rs 24,000 crore from more than 1,800 companies have been approved.
Since the introduction of new Industrial Policy 5327 applications and investment proposals have been received with an anticipated investment of about ₹66,000 crores to be made in various parts of the UT. “Under NIP investments worth about ₹2200 crore have been made in J&K till previous financial year 2022-23. These units have come into production recently creating employment opportunities for thousands of youth. The current financial year 2023-24 is turning out to be a successful year in terms of investments actually made on ground.
Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as a vibrant, fastest growing and most attractive investment destination and renowned companies from across the country and abroad are looking forward to investing in the Union Territory.
Since the launch of Udyam Registration portal in 2020, two lakh Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) units have been registered in J&K. As many as 38,000 MSME are run by women.In the last financial year, 18,000 women-owned enterprises were provided assistance of more than Rs 500 crore under the credit guarantee scheme.
Under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), an unprecedented 21,640 manufacturing and service units were established in 2021-22. As many as 42 industrial estates will be set up in Jammu Kashmir in the next few years and out of these 34 industrial estates will be focused on MSMEs.
In order to strengthen the ease of doing business ecosystem, 150 e-services of 18 departments have been made available on Single Window Portal which has been integrated with the National Single Window Portal operated by the Central Government. The results of the MoUs signed with reputed foreign investors like Emaar, Lulu and DP World shall soon be visible on the ground. 22 proposals worth Rs 4400 crores have been approved for establishing a Medicity which shall also increase the number of MBBS seats in the UT by a whopping 1000. The golden period of industrial development of Jammu and Kashmir has been ushered in through the new industrial development policy of the Prime Minister.
With the extension of 890 Central laws applicable to Jammu and Kashmir, repeal of 205 state laws and modification of 129 laws after the abrogation of Article 370, a system of equitable justice has been established in J&K for all sections of people.
The rights of weaker sections like Scheduled Tribes, other traditional forest dwellers, Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis are now ensured by the application of relevant Acts. Rights of children and senior citizens are now being ensured.
In order to create a just and equitable society, reservation rules have been amended to extend benefits of reservation to left out categories like Pahari speaking people and economically weaker sections.
For the first time the spouse of a J&K domicile shall also be deemed as a domicile. Earlier, spouses of Permanent Resident Card holders were considered at par but were not considered domiciles. Children of central government officials posted for over ten years in Jammu and Kashmir will also continue to be considered domiciles.
The implementation of several path breaking central legislations after the revocation of Article 370, like the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forests Rights) Act, 2007, the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1954, among others, is bringing a new era of progress and development in J&K.
The Forest Rights Act 2006 was implemented in J&K after 14 years of its existence in other states of India. On the special attention of the UT Government, Community claims’ and ‘individual claims’ are being settled by administration of respective districts.
Following rationalisation of the percentage of reservation of different categories in direct recruitment, the residents of backward areas will now have 10 per cent reservation, Pahari speaking people (4 per cent) and Economically weaker sections (10 per cent).
The Jammu and Kashmir government, in a big relief to the socially and educationally backward classes, has also enhanced the income ceiling from Rs 4.50 lakh to Rs 8 lakh for them to avail of benefits of reservation as per provisions of the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
As per provisions of the Act, reservation in employment and admissions in professional institutions, among others is provided to the persons belonging to Socially and Educationally Backward Classes categorised as Weak and Underprivileged Classes (Social Castes), Residents of Areas adjoining Actual Line of Control and Residents of Backward Areas. However, there is an income bar/ceiling for availing this reservation.
The objective of prescribing the income ceiling in the Act is to prevent such persons, as have crossed or shall cross the threshold level of backwardness commonly known as ‘Creamy Layer’ from availing benefits of reservation under the categories of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes.
Over the last four years, the pace of execution of developmental schemes has increased by five times on account of a resurgent institutional framework. Districts are the basis for the implementation of policies and programmes; the district CAPEX budget has been increased many fold for the completion of various developmental projects. Grass root democratic institutions like Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies have been empowered to actively participate in the decision-making process to cater to the needs of common citizens. There are around 20,000 such works/projects under execution presently which have been solely identified by the people.
In the last three years, the government has endeavoured to develop areas which had remained neglected till now. Dalits, tribals and socio-economically backward classes have benefited from an equitable governance system, and so have the women of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory has achieved new horizons of success in the field of business, economy, education, culture and sports.
Under Mission Youth, opportunities are being provided to young boys and girls to become entrepreneurs through schemes like Mumkin, Tejaswini, Rise Together and Parvaaz, J&K has made significant strides towards making urban and rural women financially independent through Hausla, Saath, Umeed and House Stay programmes. As many as 5 lakh rural women have been empowered through Self Help Groups, thereby neutralizing the sense of insecurity and despondency. The administration is sensitive to the problems faced by women in government jobs and has decided to establish crèche facilities in all the districts and offices in Jammu and Srinagar.
he online services of all departments have been brought under the Public Services Guarantee Act with fixed timelines so that the administration is accountable to the general public by cutting delays in the delivery of public services. We have decided to celebrate 5th August every year as the day of the Resolution for Freedom from Corruption.
Jammu and Kashmir has been ranked at the top among the UTs in e-governance service delivery. 209 public services are being provided online and Rapid Assessment System (RAS) has been established to obtain direct feedback from the public about these services. The feedback received so far reveals the approval ratings for most of the services are above 80%. Through Aapka Mobile, Hamara Daftar initiative, we have lived up to our commitment to make public service delivery faceless and cashless.
PMDP projects were stalled for a long time due to policy paralysis, but in the last two years alone, 30 out of 53 projects have been completed by eliminating all bottlenecks. Out of the remaining 23 projects, 12 projects shall be completed in this financial year. The construction of the world’s highest railway bridge on the Chenab River has been completed and the dream of connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari with railways will be realized now.
Some radical reforms and initiatives have been initiated in the Revenue Department. Under the Aapki Zameen Aapki Nigrani Project, revenue records like Jamabandi, Girdwari, Mutation and Mousavi have been made digitally available to common citizens who can access these records without visiting the office of Patwari or Tehsildars, besides filing applications for rectification. So far, 16 lakh citizens from all 20 districts have availed this facility.
Land passbooks are being issued to all land owners in three languages viz. Urdu, Hindi and English. De-mystification of land records is also being carried out so as to ensure that people can have access to their records in popular languages. This facility is being provided in the Jammu and Srinagar districts in the first phase of the project. With these land passbooks, land owners have been empowered to use their land as a financial asset for obtaining loans easily from banks and other financial institutions.
Under the Svamitva Scheme, Jammu and Kashmir has become the first UT in the country to issue ownership cards. Srinagar is the first district in the entire country to achieve 100% saturation under this Scheme
The Central and UT Government is fully committed to the rehabilitation and welfare of Kashmiri Pandits. Sincere efforts are being made at the administrative level and the people should also come forward for achieving this objective. The construction of 6000 transit accommodations for facilitating their return under PMDP which was very sluggish, has received a new impetus. All PM Package and minority employees have been deployed in safe places. Jobs and housing, although important, are not the only solutions for their rehabilitation and welfare, so other efforts are also being made. Kashmiri Pandits and other displaced communities facing the brunt of displacement have been given justice by implementing the Jammu and Kashmir Displaced Immovable Property Act, enacted in 1997, with effect from last year.
All major social welfare schemes- Mission Indradhanush, Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Disability Pension, Supplementary Nutrition, SC-Pre-Matric Scholarship, SC-Post-Matric Scholarship, Minority Pre-Matric Scholarship, Minority Post-Matric Scholarship, Merit cum Means Minority Scholarship Scheme, Sugar and Food Grain Subsidy, Poshan Abhiyaan, Nutrition Tracker, UJALA, Ujjwala, Saubhagya, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Kisan Credit Card have been saturated to 100% in the last three years. Under Saubhagya Yojana, 8.57 lakh beneficiaries have been covered by providing electricity connections. Under the Ujjwala scheme, 12.41 lakh rural women have been provided LPG connections and it is being ensured that all sections of the society benefit from the developmental efforts.
Realizing the vision of inclusive growth, the Aspirational Block scheme has been launched in 44 blocks. Jammu and Kashmir is the first UT or state in the country to do so and also the first state or UT in the country to launch District Good Governance Index.
A record 12 million tourists who visited Jammu and Kashmir last year, testify to the overall development and change that has taken place in the Union territory. This is the highest-ever visitor figure the Tourism Department has ever seen. The long-pending demand of night-flight operation of the residents of Jammu and Kashmir has been fulfilled. 75 offbeat tourist destinations are being developed in Jammu and Kashmir as a part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. Jammu and Kashmir had been a favoured shooting destination for Bollywood. A comprehensive Film Policy was launched last year to attract filmmakers after decades and within a year of the notification of the policy,
The Educational system of the UT has been overhauled and aligned as per the recommendations of the National Education Policy, 2020. Through the Aao School Chalein campaign, 1.7 lakh students from disadvantaged sections have been brought back to the classrooms. Jammu and Kashmir has secured the first position in the loyalty program of teachers training. In the National Achievement Survey, UT has been ranked No. 1 in primary education and third in middle school education in the country last year.
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G20 Tourism Group Meeting in Jammu and Kashmir
A Milestone for Tourism and Peace
Irfan Mushtaq
The successful conclusion of the G20 Tourism Group meeting in Srinagar marks a significant milestone for tourism in the region and signifies a step towards peace and development. This international event, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has not only showcased the natural beauty and warm hospitality of Kashmir but also demonstrated the growing confidence of the international community in the Union Territory (UT).
The G20 meeting witnessed the highest-ever participation compared to previous meetings, with representatives from all G20 countries attending alongside delegates from around a dozen other nations. The delegates were mesmerized by the picturesque landscape of Kashmir and praised the hospitality extended to them by the local people.
The decision to hold the G20 meeting in Kashmir has proved to be beneficial for the region. Local trade association heads believe that the event has conveyed a positive message about the region to foreign nations, inspiring confidence among potential foreign tourists. The UT administration, the Centre Government, and the people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve commendation for their efforts in making the event a resounding success.
The timing of this international gathering in Kashmir couldn’t be more opportune, as the region has been experiencing a positive shift in its tourism sector. In 2022, Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a record 18.8 million tourists, including a significant number of foreign visitors. This influx is a testament to the region’s potential as a thriving tourist destination.
The success of the G20 meeting has opened doors for the conduct of more such international events in the future, paving the way for Jammu and Kashmir to flourish as a hub for conferences and meetings. The UT’s administration is eager to tap into its tourism potential, including sustainable tourism, adventure tourism, film and eco-tourism, and aims to provide multiple opportunities for local youth.
Foreign investors are also eyeing the growing potential of the region. The High Commissioner of Singapore, Simon Wong, mentioned that Singapore continues to be the largest investor in India, with plans for further investments in various sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
As the situation in the valley continues to improve, the successful conclusion of the G20 meeting indicates a promising future for the region. More crucial national and international meetings and conferences are likely to be held in Jammu and Kashmir, further contributing to its progress and development.
The G20 event has not only highlighted the tourism potential of the region but also showcased its rich cultural heritage. This unique opportunity to connect with the global community will undoubtedly bolster the image of Jammu and Kashmir and attract more visitors from around the world.
Overall, the successful G20 Tourism Group meeting in Srinagar has set the stage for greater opportunities and partnerships for the region, bringing optimism and hope for a peaceful and prosperous future in Jammu and Kashmir.
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