Rustam
Jammu, Mar 22: The strategic Jammu province is sitting on a volcano of discontent. The people of the region cutting across party lines are chaffing. They are seething with anger, which can explode anytime. And if it happens, the results would be disastrous. They constitute almost half of the State's population and inhabit land area two times that of Kashmir. They inhabit over 26,000 sq km of the State's land area, bulk of which is highly treacherous, difficult and inaccessible, as against less than 16,000 sq km area the people of Kashmir occupy.
The anger of the people of Jammu province is not only directed towards the discriminatory, arrogant, selfish and insensitive Kashmiri leadership; it is also directed towards New Delhi and all political parties, without any exception. They say that New Delhi and Indian political class have harmed them more than the Kashmiri leadership. In fact, they accused New Delhi and Indian political class of making common cause with the separatist and communal Kashmiri leadership in order to pamper it and benefit the already highly "prosperous and developed Kashmir valley". They have put forth demands ranging from reorganisation of the State to trifurcation of Jammu saying the segregation of Jammu province from Kashmir is a must, as they do not expect any justice and fair play from the Kashmiri leadership, which is backed to the hilt by New Delhi and Indian political class. The complaint of the people of Jammu province has been that since Independence they are being ill treated by the New Delhi-supported Kashmiri leadership, which cannot be dismissed as a manifestation of their ill-will towards Kashmir. Their complaint is genuine and well-founded.
One can catalogue here umpteen instances to prove that the complaint of the people of Jammu province is very genuine. Take, for example, disparities in funds allocation. The development of Jammu province has been prevented by inadequate funds allotted to it. For example, in the 8th Five Year Plan (1992-1997), 9th Five Year Plan (1997-2002), 10th Five Year Plan (2002-2007) and 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), Jammu's share in agriculture sector was Rs 57.61 crore, Rs 147.31 crore, Rs 270.49 crore and Rs 337.56 crore, respectively; likewise irrigation sector was allocated Rs 91.14 crore, Rs 112.79 crore, Rs 267.76 crore and Rs 282.04 crore, respectively; roads and buildings sector was allocated Rs 144.2 crore, Rs 29.38 crore, Rs 730.93 crore and Rs 1229.24 crore, respectively; healthcare sector was given Rs 123.92 crore, Rs 226.07 crore, Rs 330.32 crore and Rs 510.81 crore, respectively; the tourism industry was allocated Rs 15.21 crore, Rs 34.99 crore, Rs 47.17 crore and Rs 36.29 crore, respectively; sewerage sector was allocated Rs 2.92 crore, Rs 6.26 crore, Rs 30.61 crore and Rs 11.54 crore, respectively; likewise drainage sector was given Rs 20.37 crore, Rs 27.84 crore, Rs 32.31 crore and Rs 67.75 crore, respectively; housing and urban development sector was granted amount of Rs 19.38 crore, Rs 39.87 crore, Rs 69.65 crore and Rs 279.4 crore, respectively; and power sector was granted a sum of Rs 516.75 crore, Rs 56.94 crore, Rs 1154.3 crore and Rs 3278.78 crore, respectively.
However, the share of Kashmir in such vital sectors as agriculture was Rs 104.5 crore, Rs 253.17 crore, Rs 380.29 crore and Rs 519.41 crore, respectively; irrigation sector was allocated Rs 136.64 crore, Rs 210.05 crore, Rs 466.72 crore and Rs 365.35 crore, respectively; roads and buildings sector was allocated Rs 247.22 crore, Rs 403.67 crore, Rs 751.03 crore and Rs 1229.24 crore, respectively; healthcare sector was granted Rs 135.34 crore, Rs 274.45 crore, Rs 390.25 crore and Rs 819.22 crore, respectively; tourism sector was given Rs 34.39 crore, Rs 58.01 crore, Rs 109.85 crore and Rs 83.09 crore, respectively; sewerage sector was allocated Rs 6.81 crore, Rs 14.61 crore, Rs 71.42 crore and Rs 35.67 crore, respectively; drainage sector was provided Rs 47.53 crore, Rs 64.96 crore, Rs 75.41 crore and Rs 1091.61 crore, respectively; housing and urban sector was allocated Rs 45.23 crore, Rs 93.02 crore, Rs 162.52 crore and Rs 518.88 crore, respectively; and power sector was granted Rs 775.12 crore, Rs 85.41 crore, Rs 1731.43 crore and Rs 4918.17 crore, respectively. (To be concluded) |
