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| Let PDP-BJP Govt. focus on reviving J&K's economy | | | If a Government report,Economic Survey,2014-2015,indicates that the economic prospects for Jammu and Kashmir continue to be grim one need not question the validity of the report.In fact major slide in the state's econmy has begun right from 1989-1990 when the valley witnessed the rise of Pakistan sponsored insurgency.All that has flowed from this insurgency has been the root cause for the dwindling economic strength of Jammu and Kashmir.Four sectors,that could have rescued the state's economy, were badly affected owing to militancy related violence.These sectors were agriculture, industry, forests and tourism.Prior to the rise of insurgency the valley of Kashmir used to witness a tourist arrival figure ranging between five lakhs and seven lakhs per year. Out of this more than 70,000 foreigners would rest and recreate in the valley and in Ladakh.Bumper tourist traffic would ensure lucrative income for traders,especially those engaged in the sale of handicrafts,wood carving papier mache,carpets.Even ponywallas,porters,houseboat owners, hoteliers and transporters in the valley used to be benefitted by the heavy tourist traffic.And the first sector that experienced devastation and degradation was that of the forests.Illegal felling of trees by militants,by security personnel and by the vested interests resulted in the depletion of forest wealth. Political and security instability resulted in marked drop in investment in the industry sector by the state and the central Governments and by the big business houses from outside the state. Population explosion coupled with disintegration of joint family system led to shrinking of agricultural fields as they were used fobuilding residential colonies.This increased the gap between demand and availability of foodgrian. This led to total dependence of foodgrain from outside the state.
All these issues have been confirmed in the Economic survey.What does the report say ? ,The report has painted a grim picture of J&K's economic prospects while blaming insurgency, poverty and lack of adequate infrastructure for the state's poor financial health.The report-Economic Survey, 2014-15-says private investment in J&K is less due to instability and geographical disadvantages. "Problems like insurgency, unemployment, poverty and lack of adequate infrastructure are prominent among other threats to the State's economy," it reads.The report states that declining share of agriculture sector is a major cause of concern.
"The gap between demand and production of food grains in the State is on rise. Agricultural land is shrinking at a fast rate. The Agri land has shrunk from 0.14 hectare per person in 1981 to 0.08 hectare in 2001 and further to 0.06 hectare in 2012," the report reads."Apart from population growth, urbanization process leads to shrinkage in per capita agricultural land.As a result of drop in the Government and private investment in the sector of industry the job avenues in Jammu and Kashmir have shrunk thereby creating a problem for the Government because of its inability to provide jobs to the educated youth.
Now that a new political arrangement has been finalised under which the PDP and the BJP have formed a Government,first of its type,in Jammu and Kashmir it is prime duty of the coalition Government to study the report and initiate measures that could tone up the state's economy.Well all states have to bank on financial support from the centre but as far as Jammu and Kashmir state is concerned it banks on 80 to 90 per cent financial support from the government of India.This attitude of the state Government should have to be discarded and measures need to be initiated for reviving the sectors of industry, agriculture, horticulture,tourism. And for reviving these sectors the Government has to initiate measures for resolving the menace of militancy.
Once terrorists are accounted for it may enthuse the state and the central Governments, besides the big business houses in rest of the country, to invest in the sector of industry. Though Chief Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, has initiated measures for reviving tourism, the Government needs to focus on some innovative measures for wooing tourists to Jammu and Kashmir. This can be done when militancy is totally contained and for achieving it hard measures need to be followed. Let the PDP stop raking the issue of withdrawal of AFSPA.Once peace was restored to the state,AFSPA will have to go.Let the BJP and the PDP stop raising extraneous issues and concentrate on reviving the state's economy. |
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