Dr Aman Puri
Gar Firdaus Bar-rue Zamin Ast, hami asto, hamin asto, hami ast (If there is paradise on earth, it is here, it is here in Kashmir).
These words of Amir Khusrau, famous Sufi poet and scholar of 13th Century, epitomise the sheer beauty of Jammu and Kashmir, not only its mountains, round the year pleasant weather, valleys, flowers, rivers and lakes but also intrinsic beauty of unity in diversity in the valley where people of all faiths and belief coexisted for centuries with harmony and peace.
5 August, 2020 marked the first anniversary of the decision of the Government of India to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, namely Jammu & Kashmir and Laddakh with a purpose to deliver socioeconomic justice and put the state on fast track of development so that the benefits could reach up to the grass root level.
The Government has ensured that a number of laws which were in vogue in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir are modified/amended in a way to adapt modern time challenges.
Government (is aiming for) full fledged development of
the region, fruits of which are already evident in terms in
declining incidents of terrorism related incidents in the
last one year
These laws also ensured equal rights to women, and laws to ensure social, economic and political rights of women, children and disadvantaged category. Now the residents of Jammu and Kashmir enjoy Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence, Protection of Human Rights Act, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and so on.
One Nation, One Card: In direction to the integration, phase one of the programme “One Nation, One Ration Card” has already been implemented in the state.
To ensure democracy at grass root level, elections to Block Development Councils were held for the first time in Oct 2019 with a massive voter turnout. Over 1500 crore amount has been transferred to Panchayats to strengthen local development and address needs.
Government officials spent two days in “Back to Village Programme” a unique initiative in itself, to understand the requirements at grass root level. Now, a drop box has been put in each Panchayat for complaints and grievances of the citizens and they are regularly monitored.
In the land reforms, Govt has taken an important initiative to transfer the process of registration from Judiciary to a separate department and appointed 77 sub registrars.
Like in other parts of India, stamp duty administration is being computerised and e-stamping rules have been framed. In the last one year, 24676 registrations carried out and people have been relieved with transparency and simplification of the procedures.
Government is committed to connecting Kashmir with rest of India and Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project will be completed by year 2022.
World’s tallest bridge: World’s tallest bridge on Chenab river, “Chenab Bridge” at 359 mt high, is one of finest engineering marvel in the contemporary world and expected to be completed by next year and will pave the way for direct rail link to Srinagar from rest of the country.
Apart from this 8.45 kms long Qazigund-Banihal twin tube tunnel is in its completion phase and will be operational by next year. These steps will pave the way for faster economic development and integration with the rest of the country. Not to mention, that tourism is going to get big boost with this step.
Government has already approved mega plans to convert Srinagar and Jammu as Smart Cities and projects for upgrading infrastructure, and provide efficient public transport system in both cities including flyovers, rapid transit system (metro) are in pipeline.
Over 500 languishing projects have been completed in the last one year. J&K Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation has been set up, which raised fund of Rs 8000 crore in which more than 4000 small and medium projects have been sanctioned to create or upgrade infrastructure.
Government is also ensuring electricity in every home and clean energy to every kitchen though its flagship schemes Ujala, Saubhagya and Ujjawala in the region. 100% coverage of electricity even at tough, mountainous and snowbound areas is being ensured.
Development of J&K: More than 3.57 lakh household have been electrified before target date and 1.26 million gas cylinders distributed under Ujjawala scheme to support women in the J&K.
Kashmir is known for its world famous apples and its saffron. In the last one year, Kashmiri saffron has been given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag and an International Kashmiri Saffron Trading Centre is being established in Pampore to facilitate collection, processing and e-auction of saffron.
Government is also facilitating selling and marketing of Kashmiri apples in different places through NAFED in which thousands of farmers are getting benefited.
First Pre-Summit level meet of Global Investors Summit was held in New Delhi last year inviting investments from across the world. Roadshows were also organised by the state government in metro cities, wherein, 168 MoUS worth INR 13600 crore were inked.
Government is also committed to generating more employment and reservation has been introduced in government jobs for local youths. In the last one year alone, 10000 posts have been advertised and 25000 more Govt posts are in pipeline, including setting up of 50 new educational institutions.
Apart from this, two news AIIMS in Vijaipur in Jammu and Avantipora in Srinagar have been announced to strengthen the health care infrastructure.
We can go on to describe the steps taken by the Government for the full-fledged development of the region, fruits of which are already evident in terms in declining incidents of terrorism related incidents in the last one year.
Government is also determined to bringing peace and prosperity in the region so that we all can say again...Hami Asto, Hamin Asto, Hami Ast.
Dr Aman Puri is Consul General of India to Dubai and Northern Emirates.
Source: Gulf News
