Going to be 100 days of Omar Govt: Time to look at NC’s Election Manifesto

Going to be 100 days of Omar Govt: Time to look at NC’s Election Manifesto

DAYA SAGAR

Omar Abdullah took oath of office as 1st Chief Minister of UT of J&K in October 2024 ( 16) and in the Election Manifesto placed before the voter citizen during the 1st Elections to the Legislative Assembly of UT of J&K Omar Abdullah as vice President of NC had said < “This manifesto is not just a list of promises; it is a pledge with the people. It reflects the blood, sweat, and tears of those who came before us, who dreamed of a prosperous and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir. It is your voice, your aspirations, your resilience, and your resolve. I stand before you as your son, your brother, your friend committed to seeing every promise in this manifesto fulfilled”>. No doubt the Chief Minister has expressed intimate faith in the intentions of Prime Minister particularly as regards grant of the status of a State to UT of J&K without delay ( but at appropriate time) and has given the impressions that his government would avoid any unnecessary confrontation with center on the issue of ‘statehood’ status. Some people may be opining otherwise over the way Omar Abdullah is taking to the Statehood issue but going by the constitutional and administrative realities Omar Abdullah is surely taking on such like issues in a very affirmative way particularly in terms of his being a Chief Minister of a UT and not a state.

Such like approach surely would make available more time & better working environment for devoting to the common man needs and issues. But at the same time the common of J&K wants Omar Abdullah to take on the affairs related to promises made by his party / his alliance during election campaigns and the delays in any form in executing processes / proposals for delivering commitments made in election manifesto cannot be disposed off under the excuses that as Chief Minister of UT he has limited powers/ delegations since before contesting elections he was well aware of the fact that he was going to be the legislature of a UT/ if gains majority then also CM of a UT only where the LG too has a direct / even exclusive jurisdiction on some important matters.
Any financial / administrative requirements for executing the promises should have been well examined by his party before making promises and initiating any new process of examining the implications or appointing committees after forming government is surely no any delivery of promises.
The promises that attracted attention of the voter citizen expecting immediate delivery after the government get installed in reference to Election Manifestos -2024 that of National Conference / Alliance could be briefed like (i) The J&K assembly, in its first list of business after elections, will pass a resolution against the centre’s decision to strip the region of its statehood and special status. (ii) Formulate a policy to provide land to the landless and those who have been in uninterrupted possession of state lands for an extended period, granting ownership rights under a considered policy (III) To- fill up all vacancies in government departments within180 days (IV) The Job Application will be made free for all the examinations (V) Provide 200 units of electricity free (VI) Provide Rs. 5000 per month to female heads of households to EWS (VII) Provide 12 cylinders free of cost per year to EWS (VIII) Will enhance the old age and widow pension to 3000 (IX) Women shall be entitled to travel free in all public transport (X) Increase FREE rice allocation to 10 kg per person per month (XI) Entitle the general public also to 10 kg rice/Atta per head/month.(XII))Free education for all upto University level(XIII)will formulate a policy for regularisation in a time bound manner for Casual labours, Daily wagers, Contractual Employees, Home Guard, Rehbar-e-Khel, Paramedical staff in Associated Hospitals, GMC and other category of temporary employees (XIV) one-time settlement for pending electricity bill arrears in both rural and urban areas (XV)will resolve land lease policy and ensure all genuine leases are renewed (XVI) In view of the experiences of states who have opted for old pension schem. We will find ways to reinstate the old pension scheme (XVII) (The JKNC is strongly committed to the dignified return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits (XVII) Ensure that passport verification procedures are simplified, removing hurdles and making it easier for people to obtain passports(XVIII) shall make all efforts for all engineering and medical examinations to be conducted locally including NEET and other exams. (XIX) will work towards the establishing of Miniorty Commision (XX) will explore new tourist destination in J&K, including regions in Pir Panjal, Chenab, and other areas.
A brief look in to the LG’s address to the 1st Session of UT Legislative Assembly on 4 Nov 2024 would give an idea of the policy programme of the government with regard to the election manifesto of National Conference which is leading the government, some particular parts are referred here<“Hon’ble Speaker, Hon’ble Members, It gives me great pleasure to welcome all the newly elected members of the Legislative Assembly to the inaugural session of the Assembly. These elections, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August2019 and the reorganization ofJammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, are a critical milestone in restoring democratic governance after a period of political uncertainty. It is a privilege to witness the restoration of this august house, which once again reflects the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.(ii) 2. One of the most encouraging aspects of the 2024 elections was the high voter turnout, reflecting the enduring faith of the people in democratic processes (iii) 5. Our people now look up to the Government with many hopes and expectations. My Government is fully geared up to realize these hopes and fulfill these expectations. The aspiration for a return to the Statehood remains strong! Hon’ble Prime Minister, on several occasions, has already expressed his commitment to restoring statehood, which has been a source of rekindled hope and reassurance for the people. The Council of Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir has recently passed a unanimous resolution calling for the immediate restoration of statehood. This resolution reflects the collective will of the elected representatives, echoing the aspirations of the people for the reinstatement of full democratic governance. My Government will make all efforts for restoration of full Statehood and Constitutional Guarantees available to the State (iv) 6. My government is fully committed to implementing the promises made to the people for further political empowerment and for creating an enabling environment for employment, sustainable development, social inclusiveness and expansion of the economy for enhancing the overall quality of life (v) 13. My Government is committed to provide 200 units of free electricity to deserving households for which modalities are being worked out.(vi) 16. My Government is committed to providing Free, Clean and Safe Drinking Water to All. For quality assurance of drinking water, and Kashmir. Healthcare facilitiesand services in rural areas…. >”‘
As regards the restoration of statehood the Assembly had taken to the reference in election manifesto. As regards other points mentioned in the forging paras no doubt the large participation of voter citizens in a very peaceful conduct of elections and the expectations of the common man did find particular note in the address but though references were also made to the items related to election promises the same were not that elaborate and even as regards providing 200 units of electricity free the reference said for deserving cases only . Any how it was expected that soon other reference out of the 20 mentioned above would soon be in public domain in the form of orders with in the powers of cabinet and proposals that require sanctions of the LG/ Central government. But not very encouraging actions of the Omar Government have yet taken the shape of orders , particularly as regards promises listed at Sr.2 to 15 above for which it was expected that there would be immediate deliveries regarding those.
It was hoped that some of the promises may be specifically addressed in the 20th Jan 2025 cabinet meeting but not much has been reported as for taking care of manifesto promises.
As regards Sr.16 to 20 the subjects no doubt need participation of other authorities but still some initiations were expected and in case that has not been placed adequately in public domain yet, that may be placed in case not have been taken note of here. No doubt programmes that involve finances would require matching inputs but people expect that any such limitations must have been assessed by the vote seekers before making electoral promises.
(The writer is a Sr Journalist & a known analyst of J&K affairs)

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