Opinion | ‘Naya Kashmir’ – The Kashmir of New Hope and Progress

For decades, Kashmir grappled with conflict, terrorism and separatism that inflicted immense suffering and stagnated growth. However, in the last few years, the repeal of Article 370, neutralization of terrorists, and restoration of peace have paved the way for Kashmiris to shape their own ‘Naya Kashmir.’ Today, Kashmir stands tall – as a region brimming with hope and marching on the path of inclusive development.

Burgeoning Industries Powering Economic Growth, At the heart of Kashmir’s renewal is its fast-growing economy. With militancy subsiding, industries are thriving again and fueling job creation as well as prosperity.

Tourism is regaining its glory of the 1980s when two million tourists would flock every year to Kashmir’s enchanting valleys, lakes, hills and landmarks. After dipping to a few thousands at the peak of unrest, tourist inflow is touching record six lakh visitors now annually and swelling further. Lavish houseboats on Dal Lake and vibrant Tulip Garden nestled below snow-capped Pir Panjal mountains, prove why Kashmir is paradise regained for travelers from across India and overseas.

Apple farming – the mainstay of Kashmir’s economy – has also revived from violent disruptions of the past. With high density plantations, advanced storage infrastructure and farmers adopting progressive techniques, Kashmir’s apple industry has bounced back to produce 23 lakh metric tonnes in recent record harvests. Agricultural exports crossing 700 crore rupees exemplify the bountiful dividends reaped by Kashmiri apple growers today.

Similarly, saffron production has surged by 33 percent in Kashmir after central schemes nurtured skilled local cultivators. With growing global demand for the world’s costliest spice derived from purple saffron crocus flowers, Kashmir exported 15.40 metric tonnes of high quality saffron last year to lift farmer incomes.

Industry leaders see immense potential in great Kashmiri exports like apples and saffron through value addition. Food processing plants for fruit products like jams, juices and dried apples can make Kashmir Asia’s leading processed fruit exporter. Saffron too when further refined into premium varieties, extracts or supplements can realize much greater profits.

Such agro-industries forged with private investments and public incentives can generate large-scale manufacturing jobs, raising incomes and living standards across Kashmir. They can truly make Kashmir’s farming bounty the bedrock of a strong economy.

Handicrafts production is similarly getting revived with contemporary designs, e-commerce adoption by artisans and renewed official patronage; to preserve Kashmir’s cultural heritage while benefiting lakhs of local craftsmen. The Kashmir Pashmina shawl for instance, is seeing record turnover lately after innovations like machine-woven pashminas lowered costs and brought unique Kashmiri handicrafts within reach of wider customer segments.

Modernizing agriculture, growing horticulture exports and supporting artisans by integrating latest technology and business trends with Kashmir’s traditional economic strengths is proving a successful formula for employment generation even beyond agriculture. With such comprehensive expansion across grassroot sectors, Kashmir is scripting a powerful economic turnaround story.

Progressive Industrial Policy and Infra Building Investment Catalyzing Growth, Much of this economic resurgence has been catalyzed by Jammu and Kashmir government’s new Industrial Policy 2021-30 aimed at substantive private participation. With investor-friendly provisions like capital and interest subsidies, lease-free factory sites and ready land banks, it has already mobilized Rs 28,400 crore investment proposals to build a robust manufacturing ecosystem.

When mega projects like the ambitious 6,000 crore Rupee Raigarh-Pahalgam railway line materialize through this policy, it will expand Kashmir’s industry and tourism horizons multi-fold.

Similar infrastructure expansion is visible in 15,000 crore national highway projects underway in J&K currently, including linker roads facilitating access to remote areas. Kashmir will also join India’s railway network by 2022, cutting travel time across India-Pakistan border at Baramulla.

Power infrastructure has already been hugely augmented through dedicated schemes like ‘Power to All’. In just three years, Kashmir achieved 100 percent household electrification up from just 56 percent in 2018 – testament to the rapid pace J&K is charging towards energy security.

Health and education infrastructure from AIIMS, IIMC campuses to 7 new medical colleges, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Eklavya Model schools has likewise expanded vastly lately – reflecting substantial investment by the Centre into building Kashmir’s social capital.

Through such efforts J&K is clocking 9.4 percent GDP growth over the past two years – its highest in decades. With spurt in job-creating manufacturing, renewed tourism, farmers earning record incomes and rising per capita incomes at 16 percent above national average; Kashmir’s economy is booming today more than ever before.

When private investment follows through on the production-linked incentives declared, rapid industrialization, trade and commerce will reshape Kashmir’s economic landscape just as India witnesses massive FDI inflows in the post-COVID era. This augurs well for long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth in Naya Kashmir.

Grassroot Democracy Empowering People and Revitalizing Governance, As Kashmir charts impressive economic indicators, it is the grassroot participative democracy taking deeper roots which underscores the wider social transformation.

There was no elected government with assembly dissolved in 2018, To touch grassroot democracy elections for Block Development Councils at local level held in 2018 with over 98 percent of seats witnessing enthusiastic participation.

Panchayat elections / local election or Muncipal elections were last held in the erstwhile State of J&K in late 2018. A total of 27,281 panches (panchayat members) and sarpanches (village headmen) were elected, and took oath on January 10, 2019.

This strong voter momentum continued in DDC elections in 2020 which established District Development Councils as Kashmir’s third tier of decentralized governance. The conduct of fair and violence-free elections in which new youth leaders and women gained representation, displays the success of grassroot democracy in J&K.

Through these new platforms, budget utilization, implementation efficiency and last mile delivery of welfare schemes is improving markedly even as locals have greater say now in policy decisions impacting their community.

Be it achievements under Back to Village programme bringing governance to people’s doorstep through gazetted officers’ visits or online portals enabling real time public grievance redressal; J&K government’s functioning is becoming more responsive and people-centric. Schemes like TEJASWIN are educating college going youth in good governance practices so they can contribute meaningfully to policy-making later.

From 150 km per day road construction speed to projects completed under Capex budget rising 5 times over two years, execution efficiency has also risen remarkably. Corruption falling, bottlenecks easing, public trust growing – these positive outcomes exhibit participative grassroot governance model’s merits.

Through local body empowerment combined with digital transparency measures and decentralized planning, Kashmir is nurturing a governance ecosystem that is gaining vibrancy from people’s inputs while being agile, efficient and accountable in implementation.

When common Kashmiris recognize their developmental aspirations find reflection in policy because their locally elected representatives craft it, the feeling of resentment stemming from being left out of decisions impacting them gets replaced by one of collective responsibility over their region’s progress.

This shift towards bottom-up and inclusive state administrative mechanisms rather than remote disconnected bureaucracy is creating substantive and lasting change. It has revived people’s faith in grassroot electoral democracy – evident in Kashmir recording nearly 52 percent turnout panchayat elections despite militancy threats, highest in last three decades.

Truly now, power is with people in Kashmir as their chosen leaders decide policy priorities based on ground realities. Through this participative governance model being instituted from village to district levels, Naya Kashmir taking shape fulfills Mahatma Gandhi’s vision for India’s future – as a nation built from empowered ground-level communities through grassroot democracy.

Young and Capable Leadership Emerging from Within Kashmir, While strong new structures enable Kashmir’s renewal, equally remarkable is the fresh crop of promising local leaders and achievers rising from here. They reinforce through personal accomplishments that the youthful generations of Kashmiris today wish to deliver peace and prosperity – not unrest – to their region.

Sports icons like eight time kickboxing world champion Tajammul Shah or British Olympic Gold Medalist boxer Zareen Nikhat signal the boundless grit and talent brewing in Kashmiri youth. 12 year old Fatima Nabi became the youngest novelist from Kashmir wielding her pen to secure prizes, fame and vow to uplift women.

Besides the inspiration stars like Dr. Shah Faisal and Dr. Sehrish Asgar, There are more feathers added in the crown of in 2023, Waseem Ahmad Bhat from Dooru in Anantnag (7th rank), Naved Ashan Bhat from Sopore (84th), Manan Bhat of Soura in Srinagar (231st ).

Such exemplary achievers showcase all that Kashmiri youth are capable of when exposed to right opportunities. They sock from within Kashmiri community that youngsters here can reach pinnacles of success – whether in civil services, literature or sports.

Progressive local political leadership too is rising within grass.

ZAMAN NOOR

Author is a Kashmir Based Current Affairs Analyst, Columnist and Actively Engaged In Peace Activism.

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