Expectations run high ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jammu and Kashmir with people of the state as well as BJP's alliance partner PDP hoping that a financial package would be announced to boost growth.
However, people affected due to the last year's flood are sceptical of financial aides, alleging that after several announcements nothing has reached them.
The state government headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has expressed hope that the visit of Modi, scheduled on November 7, will give an impetus to the development agenda.
"We hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state will provide the much-needed impetus to the development agenda of the PDP-BJP coalition government," Sayeed said a public meeting here last week.
Sayeed said while he had offers of unconditional support from the Congress and the National Conference to form the government following a hung verdict in Assembly polls last year, he chose to go with the BJP as he saw an opportunity to change the destiny of the state as well as respect the mandate his now-coalition partner had won in Jammu region.
"Our alliance with BJP was not a knee-jerk reaction ... I have met the Prime Minister (Modi) on quite a few occasions. He has a mission to transform India and he is keen to usher in a new era of development in J&K," he said.
Sayeed's Finance Minister Haseeb A Drabu said people of the state were expecting the Prime Minister to take tangible confidence building measures aimed at addressing the political and economic challenges confronting Jammu and Kashmir.
"The priority of the state government right now is to address the alienation especially among the youth and kick-start a developmental process to not only rebuild the flood-hit public and private infrastructure, but also ensure long-term economic prosperity of the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the state," he said.
However, many flood victims, particularly from Srinagar city, do not have much expectations with the Prime Minister's visit as they feel the help, if any, coming now will be too late.
"We are not sure whether there will be anything for us in Modi's visit to Kashmir as he came here several times after the flood tragedy without announcing anything substantial for the sufferers," Abdul Majid, whose house in Jawahar Nagar collapsed in the floods, said.
Sajad Ahmad Bhat of Mehjoor Nagar said whatever has been announced for the state in the name of flood relief so far has been jugglary of statistics.
"Rs 1600 core special assistance was announced for the state some time back but more than Rs 500 crore were deducted from it at source for the rescue and relief operations carried out by the defence forces.
"let us see what happens next on November 7," Bhat said.
Opposition National Conference has raised the issue of alleged neglect of flood victims at every possible occasion since losing the elections last year. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked about the fate of the Rs 44,000 crore rehabilitation package submitted to the Centre by his government.
However, with the expectations high that Modi might finally announce something substantial for the state, Omar has also pointed out to the political problem facing the state.
"And those who think throwing Rs 100,000 crores (the size of package being expected in the state) at the (political) problem is the solution are in for a very rude shock!" Omar wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.Com.
He was commenting on a media report about thousands of people participating the funeral of lashkar-e-Toiba commander Abu Qasim who was killed in an encounter last week.
Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who is planning to hold a parallel rally to that of the Prime Minister in the city on November 7, has upped the ante offering Rs 10 lakh crore if the Centre agrees to grant right to self determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
"If India gives us the right to self determination, we will donate Rs 10 lakh crore for its poor and needy people," Geelani said in a statement on Friday.