Recently the Lt Governor has stated that the new projects, once completed will strengthen urban infrastructure, improve city services, public aesthetics, ease of living, and will provide a clean and sustainable environment for the citizens. He has also righty assured that effective steps are being taken to accelerate the mission for inclusive and sustainable growth in the cities and have issued explicit directions to the concerned officials to ensure completion of projects within the stipulated timelines.
Jammu and Kashmir is an Indian state that has its own distinct and peculiar cultural ethos. It is nice to hear that after the abrogation of Article 370 from J&K, many changes are visible in the field of development and implementation of different centrally sponsored schemes in J&K.Infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir got a big push after the abrogation of Article 370 due to the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
The execution of new roads, tunnels and other basic Infrastructure has gained momentum to ensure the overall development of J&K. Underscoring that robust road network and modern transportation are key to economic growth, prosperity of region and transformation in every sphere of life,
To bolster economic growth and development, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has so far signed more than 168 MoUs worth Rs 13,600 crores for investments. Additionally, 6,000 acres of government land has been acquired for setting up industries in the state. After the abrogation of Article 370 the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been marching on the path of development as a result of the government's initiatives, which included various developmental schemes executed under the Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP).
To ensure growth in the valley and enable the UT to come at par with the other states of the country, almost all the projects across various sectors that were ignored, have been infused with new life. It is to be appreciated that the J&K Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation has been set up to provide financial support to various projects that were commissioned years ago but were yet to be completed. Agriculture, the predominant sector of the economy of Jammu and Kashmir, supports about 80 per cent of its population. If we leave aside Ladakh which has little vegetation, the state of Jammu and Kashmir is richly endowed with forests as also with mineral resources like coal, lignite, copper, lead, zinc, cobalt, limestone, bauxite, borax and precious stones.
Women in Jammu and Kashmir are now able to buy real estate and transfer property to children, even if they get married to a non-resident.
A decade ago while analyzing the development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, the Planning Commission (Now NITI Aayog) lamented the slow growth in the region and attributed it to various factors. It said the climate of armed militancy in Kashmir and low productivity in agriculture and allied sectors has impeded employment and income generation. Poor industrial infrastructure along with the poor investment climate has left the industrial sector in its infant stage but the all-around developmental approach adopted by the J&K government has a special focus on developing a network of roads and highways only. During the past two years, the J&K government has achieved 100 per cent household electrification with 24×7 power for all. Household water connections have reached 43 per cent of rural households which is double the national average of 21 per cent, and a road map has been prepared to ensure 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply to all 10816 million rural households.
In 2015, a huge package of Rs.800 billion was allocated by the Modi government to the state government for initiating various development projects. PM Modi had expressed his “heartfelt desire” that the J&K government would utilize this grant for the welfare of the Kashmiris and convert J&K into a modern, prosperous and progressive place. While allocating the grant, Modi had stated that “Not only our treasury, but our heart also beats for the people of Kashmir”. No doubt, the national and international NGOs have started working towards peace and reconciliation, however, they need to give top priority to working towards relief and rehabilitation of the traumatized victims of the last 15 years of militancy and violence.
Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
B-15 Jyoti-Kalash Society,
Jodhpur Tekra
Satellite
Ahmedabad – 380 015
