A series of road and highway projects is on the cards to give impetus to growth in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. By Ashok Tandon
Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (predecessor of the present day Bharatiya Janata Party), sacrificed his life spearheading a nationwide Satyagrah (non-violent agitation) demanding complete integration of the state of Jammu & Kashmir into the Indian Union. Dr Mookerjee had defied the entry-permit order of the government on the J&K border on May 10, 1953 and courted arrest chanting: Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan aur do nishan nahin chalenge (There can’t be two constitutions, two prime ministers and two flags in one nation).
He was taken to Srinagar jail, where he died under mysterious circumstances on June 23, 1953. Little would have Dr Mookerjee then realised that his mission would be accomplished when a second generation party leader from Gujarat will lead the party.
The NDA government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2019, revoked the special status granted to the state of Jammu & Kashmir under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. It enabled people of the state to access all central government programmes and laws including right to reservation for disempowered, right to education and right to information, besides Minimum Wages Act and Minority Act.
The historic presidential order nullifying all the provisions of autonomy granted to the state was followed by another landmark and strategically significant State Reorganisation Act, 2019, dividing the state into two Union Territories — Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
Since then the NDA government, over the last one year, has been grappling with a series of challenges on various fronts, including border security, constructive engagement with international community on the J&K issue and domestic political resistance to converting the state into two union territories. And then there was stupendous challenge of fast-tracking all round development ensuring peace, prosperity and welfare of the people and providing corruption free governance in all the three regions.
The central government converted these challenges into an opportunity to undo the betrayal inflicted upon the people of J&K as well as Ladakh in the name of Article 370 by the family-run political parties who ruled the state for most of the last seven decades.
PM’s personal appeal to the youth in the region, particularly the misguided elements in the Kashmir valley, “to be a part of this historic journey and walk together for a greater cause” has shown tangible results on the ground.
With both J&K and Ladakh as union territories (Jammu & Kashmir not permanently) directly under the centre, the Modi government unfolded an ambitious roadmap of peace and progress ushering in a new era of inclusive development and transparent governance in the entire region.
The Team-Modi adopted an integrated approach to build a state-of-the-art infrastructure and unleashed fast-track social welfare and employment generation schemes, especially among the Small, Medium & Micro Enterprises,(MSME), including cottage, handicraft, handloom and horticulture enterprises.
Good quality all-weather roads and national highways enhancing the hitherto lacking inter-region and intra-region connectivity has gone a long way in promoting and creating fresh employment opportunities in the post-bifurcation period.
A region-wise performance audit of the promises made, over the last one year, gives a fairly good account. Although a complete transformation in the landscape of this beautiful region will be on canvas once all the ongoing projects, especially several strategically important national highways, including tunnels in the tough terrains, become operational capable of coping with extreme weather conditions.
KASHMIR
The Road Transport and Highways Ministry, with its arms like the NHAI and NHIDCL, in concert with the BRO and the state PWD, are currently engaged in completing a series of projects which will give impetus to growth and help the start-ups in establishing producer companies with focus on further development of sericulture, cold water fisheries, woodwork, cricket bats, saffron, handicrafts and horticulture produce.
The ongoing projects include Srinagar-Jammu-Lakhanpur highway, the Qazigund-Banihal tunnel and Srinagar ring road.
JAMMU
Jammu, with rapidly growing rail and road connectivity, including the Jammu ring road, is getting a huge boost to its economy with flourishing religious tourism and start-ups in businesses like wood grain work, mills, basmati rice trade, rice mills, carpets, electronic items and electric goods.
LADAKH
Ladakh is witnessing an unprecedented boost to the infrastructure development with all-weather roads and highway network coming up in a big way in difficult terrains and strategic locations. Domestic and international tourism promotion has been given a big push.
Sky seems to be the limit of central financial packages to Ladakh resulting in a phenomenal growth in its farm-based economy through enhanced agriculture and livestock activities. An augmented irrigation facility for horticulture and cash crops has improved productivity putting additional money in farmers’ pocket.
Last but not the least, the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two union territories has given the local communities in all three regions greater sense of participation in public discourse. It is discernible with the youth in the valley joining security forces and civil services and excelling in the field of education and sports.
Today there is greater awareness about women rights and girls education in Kashmir as well as in Ladakh. People are coming forward to join hands with local administration in isolating anti-social elements and exposing Pakistan-sponsored attempts at radicalisation of youth.
(The author is a senior journalist and a member of Prasar Bharati Board.)
