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| Govt's policy of neglect towards hilly, remote areas of Jammu | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 4: Notwithstanding the district status having been given by the previous coalition regime, three newly carved out districts in Jammu region continue to live in abject poverty, deprivation and state of backwardness. Reasi tops the list in the entire state to rank as number one what has been admiited by the government itself as visible and pronounced degrees of poverty, followed by Ramban and Kishtwar at second and third number registering over 30 percent incidence exhibiting worst condition of the districts. District Jammu (urban)too has the 'distinction' of being topping the rank in the poverty list withhighest number of estimated BPL population .
Reflecting a policy of neglect and lack of interest of the perpetual governments towards the remote, hilly and backward districts of Jammu in particular and few districts of Kashmir as well, the Economic Survey Report of the government has presented a grim and gloomy picture on the basis of survey conducted in these areas with at least four districts in Jammu division categorized in 'poorest' category on the basis of head count ratio as well. These include Reasi, Ramban, Kishtwar, Poonch followed by Kupwara, Bandipora and Kargil in Kashmir division. The highest 4th and 5th rank in terms of BPL population percentage is being held by the two districts of Poonch and Kupwara. District Srinagar stands at bottom level in terms of registering BPL percentage in comparison to other districts of the state which establishes the fact that successive governments have been focusing on the plains of the state, that too with a selective approach.
The report findings further suggest a grim picture in the statistics with 505 villages having recorded more than 50 percent of Below Poverty Line population. Even though there is no mention of these villages in the report, this category further shows shocking figures as 212 villages have above 70 % incidence of poverty. However, this is clearly reflected in the survey findings that it is the remote and far flung areas of the state which are worst sufferers and lack access to even basic amenities of life including proper shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation , health and education facilities. Lack of road connectivity is one of the major reasons for poverty as on account of their remoteness these hilly areas remain cut off and therefore trapped in the vicious circle of poverty, illiteracy and backwardness.
The survey also reveals that all these remote districts lack access to employment avenues on account of which they continue to live in abject poverty and neglect. Despite having been given the district status, this continues to be a political slogan as on the ground level development is still a far off dream for the inhabitants of these areas.
According to figures in the Survey report, the total BPL population of the J&K state has arrived at 24.21 lakhs of the total population. Interestingly, even as the data analysis of the survey has revealed the incidence of poverty more significant in rural areas than urban areas of the state, the ground reality is stated to be totally contrary to the Planning Commission poverty figures which have shown urban poverty ratio(7.90 %) of the state higher than the rural poverty ratio (4.60 %) for the year 2004-05. |
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