Top bureaucrats in various Union Ministries often come to the State on official visits. These are generally individual visits. Their precise purpose is limited to affairs of the concerned ministry and its departments. In a rather unprecedented note, 22 top most bureaucrats drawn from premier union ministries, including the Cabinet Secretary and Adviser to the Prime Minister, were on one-day visit to Jammu, the winter capital of the State. It was a full-day engagement between the Union and the State official delegations. The task of reviewing the gamut of ground situation in the State in its entirety was distributed into three segments viz. security review, development review and skill development review. It must have facilitated better understanding of issues, their dimensions and solution mechanisms.
In the area of security, the entire top brass of security establishment drawn from national as well as state chapters, participated in discussions. Besides listening to the observations of commanders, the Defence Secretary flew to forward posts in Mendhar and Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch, the part of LoC frequently used by jihadis for infiltration. The Union team was apprised of the preparations of security and paramilitary forces made to ensure that the summer went on peacefully in the valley. It is reported that some of the members of the Union team were not convinced of the wisdom of encouraging the return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri militants from PoK. They could be the moles of ISI wearing the mask of surrendered militants. Moreover, many among the union delegation objected to “surrendered militants” adopting Nepal route to return to Kashmir instead of normal Atari crossing on Indo-Pak border in Amritsar. There was no reaction from the security review arrangement on withdrawing of AFSPA. The Army is known for its reservations on withdrawing of the powers. The security review noted that the Army and paramilitary forces were in full control of situation in J&K State and especially along LoC responding as it should in cases of sporadic firing or shelling.
Developmental review brought serious matters under consideration. The Union team minced no words in expressing dissatisfaction on delay in the completion of various Centrally sponsored and funded projects particularly the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction plan and other mega projects. It will be noted that in these columns we had more than once alerted the Government that delay in PMRP would be a big loss to the State. Withholding portion of grant to the State was only temporary and would be reconsidered once the Urban Municipal elections and the third tier elections of Panchayats were completed. Thus the ball is in the court of the State authorities. One can say that there is neither the paucity of funds nor is there unwillingness on the part of the Central Government to release funds. The problem is of fulfilling the conditions.
In the arena of skill review, Prime Minister’s Adviser had separate meetings with the Governor and the Chief Minister in which discussions veered round examining potential for youth employment. Already about a hundred Kashmiri youth have completed the courses in various skills and have also received employment letters. Some Corporate Houses had responded to the Rangarajan Committee report and opened doors for Kashmiri youth to take training courses in various skills at their institutes. That process of providing skill before employment has had good impact.
Presence of almost all top bureaucrats of Central ministries in the day-long deliberations with their counterparts in the State was well utilized by the State functionaries in projecting some of the mega developmental schemes under their contemplation. State delegation rightly seized the opportunity of placing its list of requirements on the table in the course of crucial deliberations. It has almost touched on all important developmental issues and requirements and if and when these are met and implemented, the state will come up with a different face.
The State delegation projected the demand for Rs. 40,000 crore worth City Mobility Plan for twin capital cities of the State. It includes start of mono rail services in the two cities which have already crossed population of 15 lakh each. State has sought liberal funding under PMRP, Kashmiri Pandit Rehabilitation Package and other mega projects like widening of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Katra-Banihal railway projects, survey on railway lines in various other areas including Poonch-Rajouri districts, air services to far off areas, upgrading and expression of existing Airports, funding for newly constructed colleges, opening of more Polytechnic Colleges and IITs in the State, especially funding for hospitals and power sector. Incidentally the State delegation has sought return to the State two power stations of Baglihar and Dul Hasti. State Government believes that by returning these two power houses, the position of supply of power will increase because larger share of power can be made available to the consumers in the State.
It is but natural for a backward state like ours to seek central funding for almost all developmental work in the state as we are unable to generate adequate funding for these projects. The demand list of the State, genuine in its part, also reveals to what extent the State is dependent on Central financial support. We hope that power issue in the state will have received due attention of all concerned. We would have appreciated if the matter had been placed before the central team and its advice sought on how pilferage of power and transmission losses of much consequence was discussed and solutions found. We would have also appreciated if the issue of just and equitable distribution of developmental funds, projects and plans in all the three regions of the State were brought under close focus. We have also noted with dismay that comprehensive discussion on return and composite inclusive rehabilitation of the internally displaced persons from the valley, their political empowerment in terms of their minority status and related issues are not been reflected in media reports. Likewise, the human problems of the refugees of 1947, lingering on in refugee camps in Jammu, too, have not found reflection anywhere. After all these issues are closely connected to financial capabilities and political will of the state. Asking hefty sum of 40,000 crore rupees for City Mobility plan is justifiable. But more justifiable is the demand for twin-capital city plan for Srinagar, the important terminus of international tourism. A new Srinagar city laid out along most modern lines contiguous to the old city will be a great booster to tourism in Kashmir. This has to be repeated for the burgeoning city of Jammu as well.
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