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| Tarnished Kashmiri psyche: Collateral damage of prolonged violence | | | early times report
Srinagar, Feb 3: Are people of Kashmir work shirkers? Well yes, experts think so saying the Kashmiris are more focused on self-interests than collectively thinking.
This they plead with a simple example that even as the world is moving at fast pace on the developmental front, most of the Kashmiris still prefer class four jobs in the government sector only because they don't fear losing it even if they don't work.
Experts observe that over the years, work culture has been spoilt due to which Kashmiris have become work shirkers.
Kashmir's noted physiatrist, Dr Mushtaq A Margoob while commenting on the issue said, "This process has evolved over a period of time. We don't think collective and focus on self-interests. If a Kashmiri goes out, he excels as he has potential. But here he is dormant."
"The system has collapsed here. This isn't something, which has blossomed just now, but it has deep roots. We want immediate gratifications and inner sensors of society are becoming weaker and weaker. You don't have role models, as system doesn't support if somebody wants to become a role mode," he said.
Asked why most of the people in Kashmir enjoy strikes and curfews, he said, "Actually people don't have to bear the brunt individually. It is society, which suffers as individuals opt for some other system where they take all the benefits by hook or crook."
"Not only government employees enjoy strikes, but shopkeepers, students and people from other walks of life also do. We don't think collectively that we suffer losses because of strikes and abstaining from work," he added.
Dr Margoob advised that if reforms have to be done, whole system has to be transformed. "If someone wants to do something selflessly here, he doesn't find healthy environment for that," he commented.
A senior professor of Kashmir University blamed lack of accountability for the mess. "We lack accountability at every level and we have been fed on concessions. People are not accountable to anybody and as such they don't do the work that they are supposed to do in their offices."
He added that only those employees work here who get extra monetary benefits. "22-years of conflict has also ruined the work culture. We lost direction and consistency. Everyone is taking the benefit of lack of system here."
He advised that priorities have to be fixed to improve the work culture. "Everybody has to be made accountable and for that drastic majors have to be taken. For example government should create only contractual jobs and pay according to performance. If someone performs well, government shouldn't have any problem in paying him a salary of Rs 1 lakh a month. Accordingly poor performers have to be paid accordingly."
Asima Hassan, a scholar at Kashmir University's Sociology Department while commenting on the issues said, "We can't only blame government employees for the poor work culture. No doubt a large number of government employees keep on gossiping in the offices, but blame has to be shared by the all. We have become lethargic and don't perform our duties with sincerity and dedication."
Asima who has done research on "Impact of Violence on Kashmiri Youth", said, "Societies are affected significantly and crucially due to conflicts which causes social disorder, chaos and confusion. Conflicts are the major source of social suffering and effect on directly or indirectly the lives of almost all members of social group. But, as a society we have to start taking responsibilities now."
Irfan Naqib, a businessman said, "The work culture in Kashmir has deteriorated over the years causing grave hardships for the people. Whenever I visit any government office, feel ashamed of the work culture prevalent there. The corruption is rampant in the government offices and this hampers the work in offices and ultimately people suffer."
When Ghulam Nabi Azad took over as chief minister in 2005, he claimed of improvement in work culture in government offices. The incumbent chief minister, Omar Abdullah has also been making such claims. But the claims proved a hoax. In government offices, poor people are still being crushed by the officials and forced to pay through their nose.
"We are born corrupts and love to pay and receive bribes. The officials and clerks in offices have no sense of responsibility and are accountable neither to their conscience nor to their bosses. They have only one concern and that is money," said Iqbal Lone, a social worker.
"We don't have the culture of voluntary work. Volunteer job leads to real employment at times, but we lack that sense," he added.
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