By Farooq Wani
For Jammu and Kashmir, 2024 has been a period of significance in more ways than one, the most important being the holding of the first assembly elections in the region after more than a decade to elect a government by and for the people in the months of September and October.
When the Election Commission of India (ECI) finally and officially announced September 18, 25 and October 1 as the dates for the three-phased assembly polls in line with the Supreme Court’s directive, there was a palpable sigh of relief as well as excitement among the people, the political class and political pundits. What followed was widespread speculation and animated debates on who would finally emerge as the winner and end the more than six years long centralised bureaucratic rule.
Proving exit polls and psephologists wrong, the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) swept the polls winning a clear majority and formed the government with support of Congress Party and Independents. The new government in its first cabinet meeting on October 18 passed a resolution for the restoration of statehood, but refrained from seeking restoration of Articles 370 & 35-A.
For the Omar Abdullah-led state government, politics and administration has been a tightrope walk since coming to power more than two months ago. Meetings have been held with J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, besides others, but Abdullah is acutely aware that the path ahead for the time being will yield less than more, given the laws that have been astutely put in place the Centre.
Given its limited authority, the state government has not been able to announce any popular decision. The centre has given sweeping powers to the Lt Governor through the amended Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act 2019 to ensure that its authority prevails over the elected government for some more time.
The Transaction of Business of the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (Second Amendment) Rules, 2024 allows the Lt Governor to take decisions about the functioning of the police and the bureaucracy and all legal affairs. Recruitment rules under the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Decentralization and Recruitment) Act, 2010 have also been amended to stop the elected NC-Congress government from filling in jobs with people of their choice. It is another matter that J&K is still grappling with the challenge of unemployment.
The LG continues to control the workings of the Administrative Council, assisted by his Principal Secretary Mandeep Kumar Bhandari and state Chief Secretary Atal Dullo.
Development
In the last decade (2014-2024), the Narendra Modi-led Central government has followed a citizen-centric, tourism-friendly and pro-development approach across J&K. The budget proposals for 2024-25 have reflected this in full measure and an allocation of Rs.42, 277.74 crores was proposed for Jammu and Kashmir, which is 1.2 percent more than what was allocated in Fiscal 2023-24.
This central government assistance is aimed at plugging existing gaps in resources. The proposals include a grant of Rs.279 crores towards the UT Disaster Response Fund to meet costs arising out of natural calamities; Rs.130 crores as equity contribution for the 624 MW Kiru Hydro Electric Project; Rs.476.44 crores as equity for the 800 MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project; Rs.500 crores to meet expenditures of the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project (JTFRP); Rs.171.23 crores as equity contribution for the 540 MW KWR Hydro Electric Project, Rs.101.77 crores as capital expenditure allocation to meet resource-gap funding for infrastructure projects and Rs.9,789.42 crores allocated for various activities of the J&K Police.
For Delhi, the development of J&K is one of its top priorities and is aimed at sending out a twin message to the world – one, of India’s resolute intent and commitment to improve the lives of Kashmiris and its determination to neutralise the dark shadow of terrorism with a firm hand; two, expose and rubbish Pakistan’s largely negative narrative on Kashmir.
For example, in June this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid foundation stones and inaugurated 84 developmental projects worth over Rs.3300 crores in Srinagar. The transformation of J&K was further reflected when over Rs.1500 crores worth of investment was announced for development projects in the road, water and higher education sectors.
The Jammu-Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) worth Rs.1800 crores was also inaugurated and 2000 government recruits were given jobs. Under the JKCIP, agricultural development is expected to take place in 90 blocks spread across 20 districts, positively impacting at least three lakh households and benefitting around 15 lakh people.
During his Jammu visit in February, the Prime Minister had announced development initiatives worth over Rs.32000 crores that spanned the education, railways and aviation, and road sectors. The campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Jammu was also inaugurated. Foundation stones of projects worth Rs.13, 375 crores, were also laid in the higher education sector. This included permanent campuses for three Indian Institutes of Technology, 20 Kendriya Vidyalaya and 13 Navodaya schools.
The inauguration of railway and road projects, laying the foundation stones for them and a 40,000 square meter state-of-the-art airport terminal proves the intent to dynamically, developmentally and economically transform J&K. The inauguration of a new railway line from Banihal to Sangaldan via Khari and Sumber and the electrification of the nearly 186 km long Baramulla-Srinagar-Banihal-Sangaldan railway track has to be seen as progress beyond measure.
Road connectivity has also taken a giant leap forward with the construction of the 44.22-kilometre-long Jammu to Katra stretch that now forms a part of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway. The conversion of the Srinagar Ring Road into a four-lane project and activating plans to improve the Srinagar-Baramulla-Uri stretch of National Highway-01, the Kulgam and Pulwama bypasses on National Highway-444 are aimed at strengthening the region’s road infrastructure and connectivity to other parts of the country further.
This commitment to key socio-economic infrastructure and intent to strengthen outreach with local citizens is both missionary and visionary.
Terrorism Resurfaces
A worry for the Centre, the J&K administration and the Unified Security Grid is the re-emergence of militancy in remote pockets of the Jammu region in 2024. Eight out of 10 districts, including Jammu district, faced terror incidents which claimed several lives of security personnel and civilians.Terror incidents took place in Reasi, Doda, Kathua, Poonch, Udhampur and Kishtwar districts between the end of April and the first week of November.
In the face of these challenges, counter-terrorism measures have made substantial progress. Intelligence inputs confirm that security forces have neutralised at least 61 terrorists in 2024, with 45 killed within Jammu and Kashmir’s hinterland and 16 near the Line of Control (LoC).The region has seen 25 terror-related incidents in 2024, the latest being in Bandipore. These incidents have resulted in the deaths of 26 security force personnel which is almost the same as the 2023 security personnel toll of 27.
Better hinterland counter-terrorism efforts have resulted in decreased terrorist activity along the LoC. Intelligence sources believe that diminishing local support for terrorist activities, heightened vigilance and upgrading of security strategies have ensured operational successes. Bolstered by real-time intelligence monitoring, the security forces have largely been successful in maintaining peace and stability across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Kashmir Valley, once the hotbed of militancy, has remained calm, but the security forces are now aware of the changing tactics of the terrorists who are attacking soft targets like migrant workers and local body officials. Overall, around 119 people have lost their lives in J&K, including 31 civilians, 26 security force personnel, 61 militants and one unidentified person.
Since the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, J&K has enjoyed relative peace, security and development. The region is undergoing a comprehensive transformation. These advancements have been made possible by sustained efforts in governance and the local population acquiring a better understanding of its fundamental rights through education and development.
The administration has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards individuals attempting to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. The preservation of law and order, and stability in the region, with and through applicable laws has become the norm rather than the exception.
Health
AIIMS Jammu has started its operations in August this year and is expected to become fully operational in 2025. The AIIMS Awantipora in South Kashmir is projected to be completed by June 2025. The state administration has added 2,000 medical seats across Jammu and Kashmir to address the shortage of doctors and has upgraded health facilities. Primary Health Centers (PHCs) have been elevated to Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) to meet Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
Providing quality and affordable healthcare to the people by optimising facilities and creating new ones is a key priority of the administration.
Dialysis centers at the district and sub-district hospitals and separate geriatric wards have also been introduced and J&K is expected to be declared TB-free by 2025. Jammu today has a Cancer Institute, providing critical services to patients. A 300-bedded, high-tech Bone and Joint (B&J) Hospital was made functional in Jammu, while the new building at Srinagar’s B&J Hospital is expected to be completed by March 2025.
Chemotherapy units have also been established in all district hospitals. Digital payment facilities are available in all J&K hospitals and establishing a medical university at the SKIMS is expected to be a major milestone in the region’s health sector.
Notwithstanding the positive developments in the J&K health sector, there are challenges such as grappling with the burden of communicable diseases like Ebola, bird flu, swine flu, the Zika Virus and dengue pose persistent threats. Tackling Dengue, in particular, is emerging as a major challenge, especially in Jammu.
Non-communicable diseases such as anaemia, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, obesity and mental health disorders are also on the rise due to lifestyle and dietary changes.
Drug abuse continues to plague the region, with an estimated 13.5 lakh people consuming drugs, including over five lakh opioid addicts, according to a report by Parliament.
Use of intravenous drugs has increased, exposing the local population to severe health and addiction risks. Mental health issues are also on the rise since 2022.
The region requires more health infrastructure and urgent upgrades for existing infrastructure. There are recruitment challenges as well, with nearly 60 percent SKIMS positions still vacant. Thousands of posts in the Health and Medical Education Department and the Directorate of Health Services in both Kashmir and Jammu require to be filled if healthcare delivery in J&K is to improve.
Tourism and Culture
The year 2024 has seen new initiatives being taken for the development of tourism and cultural infrastructure and basic amenities. This year alone, the UT administration has identified 12 off-beat tourist destinations, six each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions, with the objective of enhancing tourism appeal, expanding local business and job opportunities.
Among the many tourism-related initiatives has been the development of Keran as a border tourist village and the development of the Tosamaidan and Sitharan circuits. This apart, plans are afoot to create a traditional Kashmiri village environment in Duggar Dani village in Samba district.
The construction and installation of 130-meter-long (425 feet) high national flag mast at Patnitop; the revival and restoration of 75 identified heritage and cultural sites is another objective.
The establishment and operationalisation of eight cultural centers and the modernisation of the Shri Pratap Singh (SPS) Museum in Srinagar is also in the pipeline. The promotion Sufism through structured programmes like the establishment of the Sufiana School at Srinagar and the digitisation of all libraries is another objective to be achieved
The Year Ahead
Another positive development that 2024 saw was the perceptible decline in separatist ideology. While noted criminal lawyer Javid Ahmad who is the son of former Hurriyat executive member Dr G M Hubbi and the brother of a jailed separatist leader entered the poll fray, Jamaat-e-Islami, which had shunned elections for nearly four decades, also participated in the recently held elections
Jammu and Kashmir is on the road to progress at a fast pace and with the people realising the immense benefits of peace and normalcy, there are good reasons to believe that in 2025 Jammu and Kashmir will continue to see further all around progress.
While Pakistan’s proxy war will continue as hitherto fore, with the people of Kashmir having experienced the dividends that peace and normalcy that has come about thanks to effective anti-terrorist operations carried out by the security forces and a slew of broad-based development projects and people centric initiatives, any significant spike in terrorist activities is unlikely.
The people of Kashmir have been the main sufferers in Pakistan’s ongoing proxy war and they definitely deserve respite.
The author is Editor Brighter Kashmir, Author, TV commentator, political analyst and columnist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author.
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