Jammu and Kashmir is looking forward to holding Assembly polls following the greenlight by Election Commission of India during its visit to the union territory last week – albeit, there is still some skepticism about the exercise being held in the near future. Nevertheless, the expected restoration of democracy is a welcome prospect for people in the UT. An elected government by its very nature gives people a sense of stake in the governance. But it doesn’t necessarily lead to an efficient administration. So, whenever an elected government takes charge, it will need to emulate some of the achievements on the development front by the current administration. The past five years have witnessed fast-tracking of development projects and their completion in record time. For example, Srinagar’s infrastructure has witnessed a drastic makeover over the past five years. Smart city project has gone a long way in modernizing Srinagar, even while we acknowledge some flaws in the implementation of the project.
The healthcare in Jammu and Kashmir has experienced a major transformation over the past five years. New medical colleges have been established, expanding the medical seat capacity from 500 to an impressive 2,000. The introduction of two All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has positioned the union territory as a hub for medical education. And the establishment of colleges across various districts has brought advanced healthcare within closer reach of people. Simultaneously, the development of two Medicities is currently in progress, one in Jammu and the other in Kashmir.
Tourism has been one of the biggest stories of the UT in recent years. Millions of tourists have visited the region from far and wide. To sustain this growth, the administration has identified 300 new destinations for promotion, emphasizing green tourism, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and the active participation of local communities. Last year alone, over two crore tourists visited the union territory. Such initiatives have not only enhanced the experience of tourism but also contributed to the region’s overall development. Similarly, the rise in the number of movies filmed in J&K builds upon the growth in tourism.
The LG’s administration is also working on 84 development projects worth over Rs 1,500 crore focusing on improving road connectivity, water supply schemes, and higher education. The Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP), valued at Rs 1,800 crore, has worked towards enhancing the agricultural sector’s productivity and sustainability.
It goes without saying that in many aspects, Kashmir Valley bears little resemblance to what it was before August 2019, more prominently so on the development and security front. And the biggest challenge of the elected government will be to not just maintain the progress but to build on it.
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