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| Bright picture of state economy | | EDITORIAL | |
A report issued by National Sample Survey Organisation presents a very
bright picture of J&K's economy. According to the report an average
household in the state owns assets worth Rs 10.67 lakhs, which is the
highest in the country. According to the same survey report the state
has the poverty rate of 3.4% against the national average of 26%. It
also says that the state has the lowest indebtedness of 4%. This good
showing looks paradoxical, in view of the tourism industry, which is
generally believed to be the main stay of states economy, having
received a great set back due to the prolonged militancy. While all
this is pleasant to learn about the good showing of states economy
despite it being under the grip of terrorism for last 18 years, which
has hit hard the economy. This falsifies the general belief that the
militancy in the state is due to extreme poverty, with Kashmiris
denied the opportunities of economic development and employment. Hence
the cause of prolonged terrorism in J&K shall have to be searched
somewhere else than the economics backwardness. Similarly the popular
belief that J&K's economy is mainly dependant on tourism also stands
refuted, since tourism has been totally derailed during these last
about two decades. In this context Dr. Nissar Ali, Head of the
Economics Department of Kashmir University findings are true.
According to him tourism has never been the main stay of J&K's
economy. Hardly 4% of the population depends on tourism. In fact the
economy of J&K depends more on horticulture, agriculture and
handicraft. Around 85% of the people are directly involved in these
sectors, in which the state has done very well all these years,
despite terrorism looming large over it. Still an other reason for the
economic boom in the state is the liberal grants and assistance from
the Central government. The state has been receiving liberal funding
from the center. According to official figures since the beginning of
militancy in 1990, the state has received Rs 35571.3 crore in grants
and assistance from the Central government. Even the losses suffered
in the tourism sector by the traders involved in tourism related
trades, they have been liberally compensated in Kashmir, through
various packages of incentives. Taking this report for the guidance,
the state government will be well advised to lay special emphasis on
the development of horticulture, handicrafts and agriculture. Further
while this bright picture takes into account the average assets of
households, there is need for identifying the backward areas and
sections of the people in the state, who still live in extreme poverty
and are denied even the bare necessities of life. Special attention
should be paid towards their economic well being and uplift. Further,
it should bring home to the Central government that by pumping more
money alone in J&K the prevailing militancy cannot be tackled. The
genesis of militancy shall have to be searched in other factors |
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