The formation of the two new Union Territories of J&K and Leh and the abrogation of Article 370 five years ago has been the most momentous achievement since Independence. This has been possible only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has rejuvenated and resurged Indian unity, development and pride of a great India with aplomb.
With the government priority on development for the people, the two newly created Union Territories and the people have witnessed a spate of unhindered development as never before. This is evident by the initiatives of the government accelerating development, building infrastructure, reinforcing governance, generating employment, broadening social inclusion and promoting growth.
Long years of unrest had adversely affected the State’s democratic institutions, particularly those at the grass roots level. The absence of elected local bodies not only deprived the people of the power to take their own decisions regarding development and other issues impacting their day to day lives, but also adversely impacted the flow of resources from the Central and the State Government to rural and urban local self-governing institutions. This changed immediately after the formation of the UT of J&K. Panchayati Raj institutions were established and made functional and Rs. 366 corers was released directly to 4483 panchayats, which money was always diverted earlier to vested pockets. Work on the 2206 languishing projects was started with speed.
Similarly, after the new UT of J&K came into being, there was a creation of 43,000 employment opportunities, vigorous road construction works, flood management and water supply projects, initiation and acceleration of several power generation and transmission projects, enabling achievement of 100 percent household electrification, process of setting up of over 330 schools and colleges and a university, improved medical infrastructure, beginning of a light rail and public transport system, welfare measures for all including housing, disposal of outcome based grievances, implementation of women and child welfare schemes, scholarships for the deserving, support to farmers, orchardists and unorganized workers, expansion of tourism facilities, sports infrastructure border area development. Highway and tunnel projects worth to 1.5 lakh crores are under implementation.
The Katra Delhi green field expressway will be operational this year. Srinagar now has 140 flights a day. The Kashmir – Kanyakumari rail link will be operational this year. In order to transform agriculture, a plan of 29 projects to boost productivity will double the share of the sector in the states of GDP in five years. Today, projects of about Rs. 7000 crores have been commissioned while others projects of the Rs. 20,000 crore are under implementation.
Some of the major projects completed are IIT Jammu and the Srinagar Leh transmission line while works in mega projects including the Z Morh, Zoji La and New Banihal tunnels and some major roads are being executed on a war footing, Rs. 881 crores was earmarked for rebuilding health institutions and 60 out of the 144 projects have been completed. There has been a major progress in hydro-power generation and flood management of the river Jhelum. Work has been speeded up in the Jhelum-Tawi Recovery Project, Chenab Bridge (the highest railway bridge in the world), connectivity of Kashmir by rail, mega-multi projects line Ujh and Shahpur Kandi as also the 330 MW Kishenganga project. To promote transparency, Government of India got instituted a portal namely the J & K Infrastructure Monitoring System (JKIMS) by which the progress of work on ground is physically monitored on real-time basis. The system enables real time monitoring and has features like geo-tagging, project completion certificate, image uploading facility of finished projects as well as dashboard for monitoring of progress. A dash board has been created on the portal for public so that the status of project implementation in each district can accessed by any individual in order to encourage community participation for strengthening grass root democracy and encourage social audit of the projects by the beneficiaries.
In terms of financial assurance, eight lakh youngsters have received financial help for enterprises and nine lakh women are now affiliated to self help groups.
Hence, today J & K is firmly on the path of peace and prosperity. It is now a “model of urban transformation”. The pace of development is now ten times compared to the pre 2019. Citizens can now avail of over 1100 time bound services online as compared to two dozen five years ago.
All provisions of the Central RTI Act 2005 have been enforced in J&K. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has been brought in to control corruption. For the speedy resolution of service matters, a Central Administrative Tribunal has been set-up. Finally, terrorism and peoples’ miseries will certainly come to an end, despite Pakistan’s frustrated efforts to activate its “deep state” again to heat up the environment, even in this state of the COVID pandemic. Abrogation of Article 370 has led to exasperation in the ranks of the terrorist; local recruitment of terrorists has dwindled. Pakistan is now encountering triple frustration – first, at the abrogation of Article 370, second, at the snub it has faced in all international fora where it has raised the Kashmir issue and, third, at the fact that all its efforts to initiate terrorist acts have only resulted in their constant decimation in every encounter.
Truly, PM Modi has transformed the “Tasveer” of J&K and “Taqdeer” of the people by more than fulfilling their aspirations.
The formation of the Union Territory of J&K has not only witnessed development but also evoked patriotism and restored confidence of the people in the constitution of India and our robust democratic system of a united sovereign India with Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity assuring the dignity of the Indian and unity and integrity of the Nation.
The pro-active measures being taken by a determined government, under PM Modi, have ushered in a new era of peace, tranquility and development and finally delivered the long awaited smile on the face of the people.
R. K. Pachnanda is former Chairman, Haryana Public Service Commission. Views are personal.
