Pooja Sharma
Article 370’s revocation has opened the roads for development in Jammu and Kashmir, which for years witnessed zero activity in the sector due to insurgency and lack of efforts by the previous governments to improve the situation.
The progress of projects being implemented in the UT of J&K under the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP) -2015 has been accelerated. 53 projects pertaining to 15 Ministries are being implemented at a cost of Rs 58,477 crores in various sectors such as Roads, Power, Health, Education, Tourism, Agriculture, Skill Development etc., out of which 25 projects have been completed.
Under the languishing projects programme, 1,193 projects worth Rs.1984 crores were completed, including 5 projects which were incomplete for more than 20 years, 15 projects for more than 15 years and 165 projects for more than 10 years.
2 New AIIMS, 7 New Medical Colleges, and 2 State Cancer Institutes and 15 Nursing Colleges have been taken up.
Intake Capacity of 854 seats was added which Includes 600 MBBS, 50 PG Courses, 26 BDS, 38 MDS, and 140 DNB. After the abrogation of Article 370, 890 central laws have become applicable to Jammu and Kashmir while 250 unjust state laws have been removed. Another 130 state laws have been modified. Removal of these impediments has led to prospects of investment and coming up of industry. A delegation of investors from the Gulf countries is on a visit to the state to explore avenues of investment.
80% of the budget for the UT has been allocated to the home department, saying it is only 10%. She also clarified that only 2.65% of the total assets are being monetised. Among the business groups which are investing in Jammu and Kashmir are the Lulu Group, Apollo, EMAAR and Jindal.
Abrogation of Article 370 has strengthened democracy at the grassroots in Jammu and Kashmir. It has paved the way for implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments dealing with Panchayati Raj. With the third layer of democracy opening up, the state now has around 30,000 grassroot-level elected members. 27 functions have been transferred to Panchayati Raj institutions and seven to urban local bodies.
On the security situation in the border state, law and order situation has improved and terrorism is on the decline, which has had a positive impact on the economy.
There has been a 33% drop in infiltration from across the border and 61% decline in terror activities. The abductions have also come down while there is a 31% fall in the number of security personnel martyred. Number of terrorists neutralized is up while there is a 16% decline in recruitment of locals by terror groups.
The abrogation of Article 370 has also restored rights denied to communities like Valmikis, safai workers, and the people displaced from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and Chamb. The minister said they were denied the right to vote, to have permanent residence, government jobs, reservation benefits, admission to professional colleges and land rights before 2019.
