While granting official tags and certification to some important agricultural and handicrafts products and the like , the approach of the Government undertaking such an exercise, should not do it on a purely selective basis especially when the particular products were grown and made with equal quality and standard in other areas. The move assumes significance when the UT comprises of two regions of equal importance and fame. Such a move which could be termed as selective though made after reckoning certain parameters and variables on comparative analysis, were bound to generate feelings in the other region of neglect, indifference, laxity and even disdain. Not mincing words, such a feeling has been got cultivated due to Kashmir centric policies by the then successive state Governments and even endorsed willynilly by the Central Government as well. With the annulment of Article 370 and making of Jammu and Kashmir as a UT, such a behaviour and approach towards Jammu needs to undergo spectacular changes. Be it in matters of cultural and historic traditions and legacies, agricultural products, handlooms and handicrafts, arts and paintings, monuments and forts , places of tourism and water bodies, lakes and rivers and the like. When Kashmiri saffron was granted GI tag, Kishtwari brand too deserves such recognition as it can be seen that the stuff grown there was similar to the one in the valley. Kishtwar is economically and commercially backward as compared to Kashmir valley and deserved such tagging too. Then, there are other items which are Jammu specific like famous fragrant Basmati rice, Basholi pashmina, Pahari paintings, Basholi Rumals and many other products which needed such Government tags . Hope, the UT Government takes a note of such glaring acts of preferring one region to the neglect of the other.
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