The maiden Budget of the PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu & Kashmir has rekindled hopes of rehabilitation in flood-hit Kashmir. Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu retained previous Omar Abdullah-led Government’s Memorandum to the Central Government seeking financial assistance of Rs43,960 crore, though sarcastically questioned the method to assess the package.
“I am neither convinced by the method in which it has been estimated nor the manner in which it has been designed. It is far too ad hoc and arbitrary for comfort,” Drabu, former editor of a leading financial daily and Chairman of J&K Bank said. “We assume after the Budget, the rehabilitation process of the flood-devastated people will pick up pace. The survivors have been waiting for seven months in despair,” Fayaz Ahmad, a shopkeeper said.
The shopkeepers in Kashmir staged a protest dharna and observed complete shutdown on March 4 demanding adequate relief for restarting their shattered businesses. “Drabu seems to have understood the flood devastation to the gross roots level. He has categorised the fallout and suggested remedies,” said Ishaq Ahmad, a professor in higher education department.
Drabu sought to refocus the flood impact along three lines — First, include not only areas that are “flood affected” but also those that are “flood impacted; Second, is to move away from being asset-centric towards the restoration of livelihood and third, is to give some tangible relief to commercial enterprises and household on their liabilities – repayment and interest on the bank loans and taxation to Government”, he said.