Dr Ravia Gupta
Book Title: Transforming Jammu & Kashmir:
Governance, Development & Media
Author: Vinit Utpal
Publisher: Yash Publications, Delhi
Page: 226
Price: 695/-
Year of Publication: 2023
The book titled ‘Transforming Jammu & Kashmir: Governance, Development & Media’, authored by Vinit Utpal is a research-oriented documentation and a worth reading book on the current scenario of Jammu-Kashmir. The author is working as Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Jammu and have over two decades of experience in media industry and academia in reputed institutions.
This book is spread across ten chapters along with opening chapter introduction and closing chapter index, which shows his talent as a good scholar as well as media critic. The introduction stated that Jammu and Kashmir became the Union Territory of India on 5th August, 2019 after the abrogation of Article 370, there are several drastic changes in every aspect of the life of the people in last four years. As Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India specified about Jammu & Kashmir as “It is our endeavour that the benefits of Government schemes reach every section of society without any discrimination. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir were coming forward in large numbers for the development of their UT and their people. It is our youth who will write a new story of development in Jammu and Kashmir” on the occasion of Jammu & Kashmir Rozgar Mela on 30th October, 2022.
The author has emphasized on the changing scenario of UT of Jammu & Kashmir through the lens of governance, development, and media. This book also studies the patterns of reporting of national and local media and found that national media have no interest in reporting the development of the state and they are involved in reporting only negative aspects of Jammu and Kashmir. Media reported Jammu and Kashmir in a prejudiced manner. This book explains about the scenario of the state during August, 2019 and speculation of the new states as Kashmir and Ladakh as Union Territories and Jammu as a separate status as UT. This books also talked about the confusion and chaotic situation raised by state political leaders as well as newspapers. This book also talked about the advertisements published by state government to aware the people about the benefits of a single constitution or what the citizens of the state will get after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A.
Chapter one titled ‘Beginning of the new History’ described the situation of Jammu and Kashmir in August, 2019 and deals with the news reports, editorial articles and advertisements related to the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A published in several newspapers. The second chapter titled ‘Vision and Execution’ presents the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and their initiatives. In this chapter, the abolishment of Darbar Move system and the government saves approximately two hundred crore rupees annually.
In the third chapter, titled ‘Bounce in Agriculture Sector’, the author explains about the governance practices and media coverage of Agriculture sector such as Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP),Aroma Mission, Kisan Sampark Abhiyan, Daksh Kisan, Kisan Sathi, situation of Horticulture, Poultry sector, White revolution, National Saffron Mission, Purple Revolution, Apple Cultivation, Millets etc.
The changing status of Gujjar, Bakerwal, Paharis and Tribals have been studied in the fourth chapter titled ‘Changes in Gujjar, Bakerwals, Paharis and Tribes’. In this chapter, the rules related to Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023, The Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill,2023, The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, Intervention of Central Government, status of Tribal communities in Jammu and Kashmir are studied.
In fifth chapter titled ‘Governance and implementation’ analysed about governance planning and the media coverage and ‘Awaam Ki Awaaz’ programme, ‘Aap Ki Zameen Aap Ki Nigrani’, ‘Medical college and seat’, ‘Hydroelectric Projects’, ‘National Schemes’, ‘Drinking Water’, ‘Industrial Development’, ‘Official Language status’, ‘Three level Panchayat’, ‘Tourism’, ‘Health Sector’, ‘Education’, ‘Mission Youth’, ‘Mumkin’, ‘Spurring Entrepreneurship initiatives’, ‘Tejaswani’, etc.
Sixth chapter talked about Panchayati Raj Institution and rural transformation in Jammu and Kashmir.Seventh chapter titled ‘Startup and Jammu Kashmir’ mapped about the startup initiatives in union territory such as startup India Action Plan, Fund of Funds for startups (FFS) Scheme, Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS), Regulatory Reforms, Ease of Procurement, Startup Policy 2018-2028 etc.
Eighth chapter titled ‘Tourism Destination’ will provide the reader with the details about the scenic beauty, folded mountains, gushing fountains, cool pollution free breeze, deep gorges, rich wildlife, natural waterfalls, alpine pastures, lush green forests, snow clad fields, carpet green turfs, lofty skying grounds, charming gardens, shimmering lakes, apple orchards, benevolent people etc. of Jammu and Kashmir. In this chapter, the current scenario of domestic tourist, foreign tourist, New Tourism Policy, Home stay Policy, Village Tourism, Border Tourism, Religious Tourism, Shrine Tourism, Medical Tourism, Heritage Tourism, Film Tourism, Agro-eco Tourism etc, and governance culture and media coverage have been studied. As Amit Shah said on three days Vitasta Festival in Kashmir on 24th June, 2023, “Those who put stones and weapons in your hands are not your well-wishers. The government is trying to improve your future by providing laptops, electricity, building roads, and promoting tourism.”
Ninth chapter ‘Digital Jammu and Kashmir’ highlighted the digital initiatives taken by the state and central government. For accountability and transparency in government, digital projects such as Mobile Dost, e-Office, BEAMS-Empowerment, Aapki Zameen-AapkiNigrani,Aap ka Mobile Hamara Daftar, e-Unnat, Digi Locker, and Meri Pehchaan etc. along with news coverage and related advertisement are analysed. In the tenth chapter titled ‘Emerging Film Destination’ is based on the film policy, film destination and media coverage are studied.
The author ends each chapter with references. Interestingly, this book is dedicated to the marginalised people of Jammu & Kashmir, Indian Army, government officials, media professionals, visionary and contemporary leaders. Overall, this book presents facts based on newspapers articles, research papers and books. This book is very useful for those scholars, who want to studythe changing scenarioin Jammu and Kashmir.
(The reviewer is a Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Jammu)
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