Change for Peace, Prosperity and Progress

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By : Dr Nirmal Kamal

After 15 constituencies (6 in Jammu, 5 in Kashmir and 4 in Ladakh divisions), sealed the fate of prospective candidates for J&K Legislative Assembly on 25th Nov, electorates will concentrate on the 18 constituencies, 9 in Jammu and 9 in Kashmir divisions on 2nd December in the 2nd phase. Electorate of Reasi ,Gool Arnas, Udhampur, Chenani, Ramnagar, Surankot, Mendhar & Poonch –Haveli in Jammu and Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Noorabad, Kulgam, Shali bugh and Devsar in Kashmir, will act as sovereign again to choose their representatives who are supposed to serve them in return, a legal deal  between the electorate and the prospective candidate. When chosen, a legislator under a democratic set up,  is bound to solve grievances of the public.

The problems faced by the people in the   constituencies to go on polls or elsewhere particularly in far remote areas are not different.  Common people are faced   with common essential breathing problems  of life, supply of which rests with the Government. Planning department earmark separate budgetary allocations for “Bijali, Paani and Sarak”, yet the power supply either remains deficient or   erratic, some areas remain flooded with  water supply and most of the supply lines in other areas go dry in summer. Though I  am impressed with an advertisement slot on ‘save water campaign’ every day when a sweet voice advises people to save water even while brushing your teeth. I wish that campaigner to see gallons of water being lost through leaking water supply pipes every day but the concerned department  rarely show concern. Beside these essentials, particularly Jammu is crying for exploration of Tourism potential. Road connectivity is among the common issues in most of these constituencies. All the 9 constituencies in Jammu region   going on polls on 2nd December, have distinct potential for pilgrimage destinations  and heritage  tourism. Chenani-Sudh Mahadev- Maantalai, Maansar and Suruinsar could be developed. Successive Governments remained callous towards this adventurism.  Reasi  Dudu and Patnitop could provide the solace to the Tourism sector if developed intensively by opening Sports Center. The corruption ridden Government had no time for finding employment  oriented avenues in these areas as these areas fall in the Jammu region. Notably every successive Government  in any form of permutation, always placed tourism potential  of Jammu either a last priority  on mute mode or on slow mode.

Udhampur town, as I have seen during my childhood days, used to be a very simple small town and a well close knit society, now is marked by insanitation and unplanned congested expansion without development. One cannot differentiate Lanes and roads as they appear same. Traffic management within the town and on the famous  ‘Dhaar Road” seem left on the commuters. But people are more aware of the bigger issues. They are concerned with issues of delimitation, discrimination, rehabilitation of migrants, migration of Youth to the rest of the country due to lack of employment avenues, encroachment of Government land at Patntop and also in Bhatindi, Human Rights violation of Refugees of West Pakistan, addresser of 1,30,000 refugees from Chhamb area and several other issues related to policy matters. Locals are aware that 70% of youth in Jammu is unemployed. They are also aware that as per the latest figures there is voting population of 84,000 per 710 sq. kms in Jammu and 62,000 per 346 sq. kms in Kashmir indicating that some of the constituencies in Jammu has larger voting population. Udhampur alone has 1,01,744 voters while Ramnagar 1,03,617 and Gool Gulabgarh – a difficult mountainous area has 6,2113 number of voters . Udhampur accommodates some 2000 Kashmiri migrated families. The Kashmiri Pandits demand for Temples and Shrines Bill to protect temples and shrines in the State.  People in this constituency are concerned about the rampant corruption and so want to elect credible representatives.

Poonch has 95,117 voters according to the latest reported figures. Poonch has remained powerful political center representing several strong politicians in the State Assembly as part of State Government. Yet this part of the State remained popular for wrong reasons as comfortable zone for terrorism as well under development. Development never remained priority for the Government. Besides common general grievances of essential services, large scale unemployment is the big issue. Many Government schemes approved by either the State or the Central Government are not made applicable and implemented. There is demand for monitoring body to monitor the use of funds used by the State Government in the District Poonch. In fact this is true to all the parts of the State not only in Poonch. The million dollar question  arises who will check the Monitoring agency  appointed by the existing political outfits ruling the State who are responsible for the present turmoil? Cooperatives in Poonch could develop on modern lines using local material and expertise. Most importantly, Poonch presents unique culture of brotherhood often not presented in correct way. People are conscious of significance of development , problems compounded by terrorism  and a congenial atmosphere of brotherhood and connectivity among people which  can only be generated by inter-cultural articulations.

Reasi  has similar demands for  regular supply of electricity, unemployment, tourism and concerning education. Significantly, people of Reasi, too, are aware of abrogation of Article 370 for total integration of the State with the rest of the country. They believe that for equitable development, Delimitation of Assembly seats is imperative. Farmers in the area are facing the problem of marketing of the produce. The area is craving for viable projects of Fishery. Malhori migrants have their peculiar woes of rehabilitation and employment. Constituencies in Kashmir region presently are faced with problems related to rehabilitation and relief to the flood victims. Therefore other essential issues too, require attention of blue eyed government agencies.

Redresser of Pandora of issues faced by the people of these constituencies depends on the aptitude of the contesting candidates as well the respective Manifestoes issued by these political parties. Congress is harping on the Development agenda, PDP is unable to hide its Self Rule dichotomy, NC is back on Autonomy and removal of AFSPA, BJP is out with Vision Document for planned development of the State and other parties are also claiming to give best to the people. Suffice to say that voter has turned very wise in the last 67 years and so  is eager for change aiming Peace, Prosperity and Progress

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