LETTERS: On August 5, 2019, the 'temporary provisions' in respect of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) contained in the erstwhile Article 370 of the Constitution of India ceased to operate by the Act of Indian Parliament following which Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu & Kashmir.
In last three years, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, a new era of development has started in J&K which was left behind in the race of development ago.
At the core of the renewed impetus by the government is the people-centric development agenda focused on good governance.
Prior to the abrogation of the Article 370, a number of pathbreaking Central (federal) laws including legislation meant for protecting and promoting social, economic and political rights of women, children, under-privileged sections as well as those for ensuring transparent and accountable governance were not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir.
After August 2019, nearly 890 Central (federal) laws have been extended to J&K. For example, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, which guarantees free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to 14 years, was not implemented in J&K, has been implemented.
Another example is the extension of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Act related to Panchayati Raj System (three-tier grassroot democratic system) in J&K. To this effect, elections were held to at the Block level for the first time in the history of J&K in October 2019 with 98.3 percent voter turnout.
One of the significant impacts of this implementation has been reservation for women in Panchayats (Village Councils) bringing them into mainstream politics empowering democracy at the grassroots level in our UT.
J&K has seen one of the highest budgetary allocations so far in the last three years. Budget allocation has consistently increased from US$10 billion in 2019-20 to US$13.5 billion in 2021-22 and US$14 billion in 2022-23 for ensuring all round development of the UT of J&K.
In last three years, J&K has taken a big leap in the field of Infrastructure Development. Under Prime Minister's Development Package 53 projects have been identified with the investment of US$7.5 billion in various sectors such as roads, power, health, education and tourism.
Construction work of 17,000km of road has been completed. Over 276 projects have been approved by the Centre in the last three years under the "Smart City Mission" in J&K. The world's highest railway bridge is being built over the Chenab-river for this link.
In last two years, power projects of about 3000 MW capacity have been revived. In next five years, 21 hydro power projects are being developed with an aggregate capacity of 5,186 MW. 4,000 Schools have been equipped with solar energy.
With a careful review of the overall security scenario in the region and to maintain peace and order, internet services were restricted initially after August 2019. Broadband services were restored in January 2020.
Subsequently, 2G internet services were restored in the same month.
To further ease out restriction, the high-speed mobile data services were restored in certain districts in August 2020. Since February 2021, high speed internet data services (4G) were fully restored. There has been continuous focus on improving the digital infrastructure in J&K in the last three years.
Forty-four Digital village centers have been established at Gram Panchayats (Village Councils) to provide internet access to rural areas as well as access to e-delivery of Government services. One thousand Gram Panchayats have been connected with BharatNet.
Industrial Development has been amongst the key focus area of the Government in J&K. New Central Sector Scheme for industrial development of J&K with an outlay of US$3.7 billion has now been notified.
The above scheme is supplemented by the J&K Industrial Development Policy 2021-30. The new industrial development policy is likely to generate over 450,000 jobs. As the result of the proactive policies to promote industrial development in J&K, it has received investment proposals of over US$6.5 billion out of which projects worth more than US$4.65 billion have been allotted industrial land.
J&K government has also entered into six agreements with global investors at the Dubai Expo 2020 to bring in investments in real estate, infrastructure, tourism, healthcare and manpower development.
Free and universal healthcare insurance scheme in J&K has been extended to all residents of the UT. J&K has one of the highest budget allocations for healthcare sector (five per cent) in India.
At a cost of US$963 million, two All India Institute of Medical Sciences (premier medical institute in India), seven new medical colleges including two cancer institutes, bone institutes and child hospitals, seven nursing colleges, etc are being established/undertaken in J&K.
J&K has been rated a front runner in Niti Aayog's Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and well-being) after improving its score by eight points between 2019-20 to 2020-21.
J&K is one of the leading states/UTs in India in Covid-19 vaccination coverage, having almost fully vaccinated its adult population. The number of oxygen plants in the UT which was 24 in 2020 has been increased to 173 with capacity increased from 14916 LPM to 1,34,916 LPM.
To build a new generation of enterprising youth with scientific mindset, government has laid tremendous emphasis on building education capacities. Indian Institute of Technology, Jammu and Indian Institute of Management, two leading technology and business management institutes respectively in India have been made functional in J&K.
The number of government degree colleges/engineering colleges has increased from 96 to 147. Fifty new colleges are being established with additional opportunities to over 20,000 students.
Number of seats in medical courses have been increased by 854 seats (600 in MBBS, 50 in PG courses, 26 in BDS, 38 in MDS and 140 on DNB. 1,000 Atal Tinkering Labs (Innovation promotion labs) for school students are being established in J&K of which 187 have already been established.
Prior to 1990s, J&K was a favoured tourist destination in India, however, the tourism industry collapsed in wake of the of cross border terrorism. With restoration of people centric development and considerable improvement in the security situation in J&K, tourism is again picking up.
J&K has now recorded a tourist footfall of 11.62 million for the first time in the history of 75 years of independent India. The far-sighted decision taken three years ago has started a new era of development in J&K.
The wider impacts of the people centric steps being taken in J&K will be seen even better in days to come.
This is an article issued by the First Secretary (Press and Information), High Commission of India, Kuala Lumpur in response to the media article "Living in the stone age in Kashmir" published in the NST on October 2nd, 2022