Opinion | South Kashmir After 370: Progress Beyond Politics

Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, much of the national conversation around Jammu & Kashmir has been political. But beyond the headlines, in the southern districts of Kashmir, a quieter and more tangible change has been taking root. Roads are being built, hospitals upgraded, schools revived, and lives bit by bit are finding stability. In towns like Pulwama and villages like Mattan, it’s not the politics that echo anymore, but the rumble of bulldozers, the chatter in classrooms, and the hum of hope.

Traveling through Pulwama today is not the same as it was a few years ago. Roads that were once riddled with potholes or turned to slush during rains are now broader, smoother, and capable of withstanding the harsh winters. Key roads connecting Pulwama to Srinagar and Shopian to Anantnag have undergone significant improvements. The Lassipora-Bijbehara stretch, once avoided for its poor condition, is now a vital artery for fruit-laden trucks and daily commuters alike. Similarly, the Shopian-Batpora highway has received heavy investment, cutting down travel time and facilitating the movement of agricultural produce to major markets.

Roads may seem like a basic amenity, but in South Kashmir, they are lifelines. Better roads have led to better access to healthcare, education, and markets. They’ve also played a vital role in improving security and facilitating emergency services. Villages that were once inaccessible during snow or rain are now connected year-round, encouraging investment and tourism even in remote pockets like Aharbal and Kokernag.

Healthcare has also seen meaningful progress. Government hospitals in Anantnag and Kulgam have been upgraded, not just in terms of infrastructure, but in services and staffing. The recently completed 100-bed maternity and child healthcare hospital in Anantnag has been especially welcomed by women across the region. It reduces the burden on far-off hospitals in Srinagar and provides advanced neonatal care closer to home. Additionally, more primary health centres (PHCs) are being staffed with full-time doctors, and telemedicine services have been introduced in certain blocks to bridge gaps in specialized care.

Mobile health vans—once rare—have become a common sight in villages like Devsar and Yaripora, offering immunization, prenatal checkups, and basic diagnostics. These vans have played a critical role during seasonal flu outbreaks and even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The deployment of ASHAs and health workers has become more organized, particularly in maternal health tracking and awareness drives related to hygiene, nutrition, and early disease detection.

Education, long hindered by both infrastructure and political instability, is also witnessing a quiet resurgence. Over 60 new school buildings have been constructed or renovated in the past four years under centrally sponsored schemes. Many of these schools are now equipped with digital classrooms, science laboratories, and libraries. Teachers are being given regular training, and school management committees have been empowered to monitor performance and attendance. Importantly, dropout rates among girls in rural areas have declined, thanks in part to the construction of separate toilets and awareness campaigns on menstrual hygiene.

In places like Tral and Qazigund, vocational education centers are providing courses in tailoring, computer literacy, electrical repair, and food processing. These initiatives are part of broader skilling programs aimed at channeling the energies of youth into productive avenues. As part of the Skill India Mission, several young men and women from South Kashmir have secured placements in Srinagar, Delhi, and even in Gulf countries—something unthinkable a decade ago.

In terms of economic and rural development, agriculture and horticulture remain the backbones of South Kashmir’s economy. But there’s a noticeable shift toward modernization. Farmers are being encouraged to adopt high-density apple plantations that yield more fruit and are resistant to climatic changes. The government has also introduced cold storage units and grading systems, reducing post-harvest losses and helping growers get better prices. The Horticulture Department’s subsidy schemes have enabled farmers to buy better equipment and invest in protective measures like anti-hail nets.

Women’s self-help groups (SHGs), supported by the Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission, have emerged as engines of change. In villages like Achabal and Mattan, women are running successful ventures in dairy, mushroom farming, and handicrafts. These groups are not just creating income but also building confidence among women, many of whom are working outside the home for the first time.

Tourism, too, is slowly finding its feet again. Post-abrogation and post-pandemic, destinations like Pahalgam and Verinag are seeing infrastructure revamps. New parking areas, upgraded guesthouses, and better sanitation facilities have been developed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme. Efforts are also being made to promote unexplored destinations through eco-tourism and adventure sports, providing job opportunities to local youth trained as guides, hoteliers, and transporters.

One of the most critical but often overlooked areas of development has been electrification and drinking water. Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, a majority of villages in South Kashmir now have access to piped water supply. Earlier, residents—especially women—had to walk long distances to fetch water from springs or wells. Today, households in even far-flung hamlets report a significant improvement in daily life due to this basic but vital amenity.

The Power Development Department has replaced old wooden poles and wires in several areas, reducing power cuts during snowfall and storms. While 24/7 electricity remains a distant dream, load-shedding has become more predictable and less frequent, especially in towns like Anantnag and Pulwama. This is particularly beneficial for students preparing for competitive exams and for small-scale industrial units in areas like Lassipora, where uninterrupted power is essential for manufacturing and cold storage.

Despite these improvements, challenges remain. Internet shutdowns, especially after any sensitive incident, continue to disrupt education and trade. Bureaucratic delays in project execution, corruption in tendering processes, and lack of community involvement in decision-making are issues that demand urgent attention. Furthermore, in certain areas, development projects are still slow or unevenly distributed, creating gaps between districts or even within a single district.

However, public sentiment has gradually begun to shift. While political aspirations and emotions tied to Article 370 remain strong among many, there’s also a growing realization that peace and prosperity go hand-in-hand. For many families, a stable job, access to quality healthcare, and good education for their children matter more than rhetoric. There is cautious optimism—rooted not in promises, but in progress that people can see and touch.

As bulldozers clear paths for new roads and children carry books into newly painted classrooms, a new story is being written in South Kashmir—one of resilience, rebuilding, and reinvention. It may not be unfolding in headlines or hashtags, but in the everyday lives of people who, after years of turbulence, are beginning to imagine a future built not just on survival, but on hope.

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