Opinion | Union Territory of J&K Under LG Manoj Sinha: Seven Years of Change

An ordinary Kashmiri would prefer his child studying in a UT rather than sitting at home for months waiting for schools to reopen in a state. For him, peace, progress, development and certainty matter more than whether J&K is a UT or a state.

Although there are several arguments in favour of Jammu and Kashmir being a Union Territory, this historic decision came on 5 August 2019, when the Central Government abrogated Article 370 and rendered Article 35A inoperative, while bifurcating the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Since then, the decision has remained a subject of intense political debate, with most of its vocal opponents coming from the political circles of Kashmir, particularly the Gupkar elites. The beauty of democracy lies in the fact that one can question, debate and oppose any decision taken by the government. However, what matters equally is the outcome of such a decision. Political arguments must eventually be examined against facts and figures. Let us, therefore, move beyond the political rhetoric and look at the facts and figures to understand what Jammu and Kashmir has undergone since becoming a Union Territory.

Jammu and Kashmir formally came into existence as a Union Territory on 31 October 2019, and tomorrow marks seven years of this new administrative arrangement. Soon after the transition, the world, including India, was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing almost every sphere of life and governance to a standstill. On 7 August 2020, while the administration was still grappling with the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, Shri Manoj Sinha assumed office as the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. I still remember that it was only a few days after he took charge that I saw his first public engagements, including his visit to JVC Hospital, where he took stock of the arrangements and treatment being provided to COVID-19 patients. The pandemic continued to disrupt normal life and administrative functioning for a considerable period. Therefore, while assessing the performance of the UT administration, I believe it is important to take this extraordinary period into account. For a more meaningful assessment of the administration’s developmental pace and its achievements, we will primarily examine the work undertaken after the worst phase of the pandemic, particularly from mid-2022 onwards.

These years have increasingly come to be associated with development, peace and progress. Beyond official records and government statistics, every ordinary Kashmiri who has witnessed the difficult years of the past knows what life used to look like. Frequent hartals, school shutdowns, business closures, young people on the streets with stones in their hands and recurring terror attacks had become an unfortunate part of our everyday lives. For a common Kashmiri, life had become increasingly uncertain, disrupted and difficult. This is a reality, irrespective of whether someone chooses to acknowledge it or not. I say this from my own interactions and experiences: most ordinary, apolitical Kashmiris I have spoken to have acknowledged the difference in the atmosphere today compared to those turbulent years. We must, therefore, ask ourselves an important question: have we not witnessed a considerable improvement in the overall law and order situation since 2019, particularly during the tenure of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha? The change is also reflected in official figures. According to data provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Government to the Ministry of Home Affairs, organised stone-pelting incidents declined from 1,328 in 2018 to zero in 2023, while organised hartals fell from 52 to zero during the same period. The subsequent developmental progress must also be viewed in this context. A relatively peaceful environment, continuity in administration and improved law and order have provided the necessary conditions for infrastructure projects, tourism, investment and other developmental initiatives to move forward.

When it comes to development, there are already plenty of figures available in official records, but I would rather begin with what I have personally witnessed as a Kashmiri. The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway (NH-44) has always been a major headache for people travelling between the two regions, particularly during the harsh winter months. I still remember travelling from Srinagar to Jammu and taking almost 13 hours to complete the journey. Today, we have all-weather rail connectivity between the Valley and Jammu, while road connectivity has also improved considerably with the inauguration of several tunnels along the highway. The Srinagar-Baramulla highway project is another example. What had remained on the development agenda for years is now nearing completion, and once the Pattan bypass is completed, the journey between Srinagar and Baramulla is expected to become considerably shorter, potentially taking around 45 minutes under favourable traffic conditions. The Srinagar Ring Road is yet another significant milestone, having eased traffic congestion on several stretches of the city. I remember that, for years, the two prominent flyovers that people would refer to in Srinagar were those at Jehangir Chowk and Rambagh. However, over the last few years, we have witnessed the construction of flyovers at Sanat Nagar, Bemina, Nowgam and Sangrama, while another is under construction at Parimpora. These are not figures I have picked up from government files or official reports. These are changes I have personally witnessed as an ordinary Kashmiri who has travelled on these roads and seen the city evolve around him.

Tourism is another sector where the change has been visible, particularly in the Valley. From the revival of traditional tourist destinations to the promotion of offbeat locations and border tourism, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a considerable expansion in tourist activity. According to the Ministry of Tourism, J&K recorded approximately 2.35 crore domestic and foreign tourist visits in 2024, compared to around 25.24 lakh in 2020. The year 2024 also recorded 65,452 foreign tourist visits. Gulmarg Gondola alone received more than 7.68 lakh visitors in 2024, generating revenue of approximately ₹103 crore. The revival of tourism has also opened avenues for thousands of people associated with hotels, houseboats, transport, handicrafts, restaurants and other allied businesses. The promotion of destinations beyond the traditional tourist circuit, including border areas, has further expanded the possibilities for local communities.

Entrepreneurship and self-employment have also received considerable attention during this period. Through initiatives such as Mission Youth, Mumkin, Tejaswini and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), the administration has attempted to encourage young people to become job creators rather than remain dependent solely on government employment. According to government figures, more than 9.58 lakh self-employment and livelihood opportunities were generated or strengthened between 2021-22 and January 2025 through various schemes. During 2023-24 alone, 15,037 enterprises were established under PMEGP, generating employment for 1,20,296 people. The handloom and handicraft sector has also registered progress, with exports increasing from ₹563 crore in 2021-22 to ₹1,162.29 crore in 2023-24. These figures reflect the scale of interventions undertaken to expand economic opportunities, particularly for young people, women and traditional artisans. The challenge ahead, however, is to ensure that these opportunities translate into sustainable businesses, stable incomes and long-term employment.

Jammu and Kashmir, as a Union Territory under the administration of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has witnessed considerable changes over the last few years. We have seen projects reaching completion that people once only dreamt of. But perhaps the most significant change, beyond roads, tunnels, flyovers and tourist footfall, is the growing sense of certainty in the everyday life of an ordinary Kashmiri. A person leaving home in the morning wants the assurance that he can return safely in the evening. A parent wants to send their children to school without worrying about hartals, shutdowns or disruptions. A shopkeeper wants to open his shop every morning knowing that his livelihood will not be brought to a standstill by an unexpected call for a shutdown. These ordinary expectations, which should never have been extraordinary in the first place, matter immensely to the people of this region.

The debate over the restoration of statehood may be mubarak to those who consider it their foremost political priority. It is a legitimate constitutional and political question, and people are entitled to debate it. But the common Kashmiri has spent decades caught between competing political narratives and promises. Today, what deserves equal attention is a more fundamental set of questions: Are we progressing? Are our children attending schools regularly? Are businesses functioning? Can people travel without the uncertainty that once accompanied everyday journeys? Does an ordinary family feel more secure about its future? These are the questions that directly affect people’s lives, irrespective of whether the administrative arrangement is that of a Union Territory or a state. For many ordinary Kashmiris, peace, security, continuity and opportunities are not abstract political concepts; they are everyday necessities. The administration under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha must be assessed in this context, through the changes people have experienced as well as the challenges that remain.

The writer is a student-activist based in Srinagar. He can be reached at soulofkashmir1@gmail.com