The year 2023 will be a year of multiple pivots: Economic, environmental, political, social, and personal. Many surprises await Let’s get prepared for the exhilarating ride!
2022 is coming to an end leaving behind the challenges, accomplishments and what lies ahead. After the abrogation of article 370 , the J&K administration has focused on overcoming governance bottlenecks, ensuring fiscal discipline and taking the developmental process forward with determination, and all this is visible. For example, while only 9,229 projects had been completed in fiscal 2018-19, during 2021-22, this figure went up almost six times to a staggering 50,627.
The speed with which the projects are being executed merits appreciation. In 2022, out of the 53 sanctioned projects worth Rs 58,477 crore, 29 have either been completed or are near completion. As per official data, 12 more projects are expected to be completed by March 2023, and another six are likely to be completed by the end of 2023. With only 18 of these projects being centrally supervised while the balance 35 are under the jurisdiction of the J&K government, the Centre has ensured that the UT has the major say in executing developmental works.
The Centre is working overtime to bring J&K at par with other Indian states and UTs and substantial sums have been allocated for infrastructural development such as improved road connectivity, building tunnels, and increasing social and economic sector spending (by 43.83 and 45.60 percent in 2022) respectively. In the last three years, J&K has also witnessed a considerable increase in Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP) projects.
Transformations in key sectors have set the stage for economic stability- something that was largely absent during the pre-August 2019 period. J&K’s reconstruction plan rests on five pillars – humanitarian relief, crisis management, social infrastructure development, and economic infrastructure expansion. These five pillars have ensured a turnaround for employment, income generation, and the rehabilitation of livelihood.
Infrastructural development has seen the establishment of two AIIMS-like institutions for healthcare, more district, sub-district hospitals, and public health centres. The establishment of an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) and an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Jammu, encouraging skill-based training of 1,00,000 youth for self-employment under the HIMAYAT scheme, constructing stadiums to promote sports and encourage sportspersons — all this has helped in raising economic activity levels in the region.
Major power sector projects such as the PakalDul HEP, Srinagar-Leh 220 KV transmission line; two pilot solar power projects in Leh and Kargil, funds for power sector reforms, financially augmenting the transmission and distribution system, etc. have also taken this regional development journey forward.
Most importantly, in the latest National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment Report, J&K is ranked first amongst UTs.
DRUG MENACE
It’s a reality that drug abuse in J&K has reached epidemic proportions. It is estimated that Kashmir today has around 70,000 substance users, of which 52,000 are consuming Grade IV heroin. J&K administration is dealing with this problem head-on and in February 2022, the UT government released its drug de-addiction policy which focuses on prevention, rehabilitation and integration, training and sensitisation, community participation, generating awareness, upgradation/establishment of drug de-addiction centres.
The UT has also formed an Anti-Narcotics Tasks Force (ANTF) that effectively coordinates with the Departments of Excise and Agriculture to map expected cultivation areas and take proactive actions in terms of destroying illegal crops on both private and government land.
ENGAGEMENT OF YOUTH
Thanks to the rapidly improving security situation in Kashmir and the administration’s praiseworthy efforts in encouraging and facilitating the youth to engage in healthy activities, the UT is making new highs in various fields — be it sports, Bollywood or music. While Umar NazirMallik has made his mark in Indian cricket, ‘Golden Girl’ Sadia Tariq has made India proud by winning the gold medal in the International Wushu Championship held in Moscow. Para athlete Insha Mir has excelled in wheelchair basketball and AdilTeli’s stupendous performance in cycling has made him a household name in the country. These are just a few achievers and the list of Kashmiri youth who have excelled in the field of sports is too long to mention.
TOURISM
A record 23 lakh tourists visited Kashmir Valley till October this year. The last time the valley saw tourists in such large numbers was in 2012 when about 13 lakh tourists visited. It is expected that the number of tourists could cross 25 lakh by the end of 2022. This year has been the best for the tourism industry in terms of footfalls- 2017 had 11 lakh and 2018 saw 8.5 lakh visitors.
The government is also providing new options, moving from traditional destinations to promoting homestays and visiting spots near the Line of Control (LoC). Places like Gurez, Teetwal, Machil, Keran, forward areas of Gulmarg are emerging as popular spots for tourists who wish to explore and experience Kashmir’s untapped virgin and natural scenic beauty.
Last year, over 80 new destinations and trekking routes were opened in J&K. Some of these areas pass through kail, pine, deodar forests and gushing streams and waterfalls, but the need of the hour is to ensure a sustainable tourism and revenue plan.
Jammu and Kashmir is trying to scale up infrastructure. Projects worth Rs 58,477 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package have picked up pace and direction after impediments and bottlenecks that hindered growth — land acquisition, forest clearances, utility shifting and court cases — were removed. Fifty new degree colleges have been established increasing the number of seats by 25,000. Big ticket infrastructure projects have come in the healthcare sector.
Visions can become virtues if they are accompanied by a determination to create an equitable society
