Sharda Lal
Amidst a spate of infrastructure development and welfare activities under way in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, it was astonishing to see several important cities and towns of Jammu region observing a near total bandh on 22 September, 2021. The strike (bandh) happened, despite of the prominently visible interventions of the Government in road construction, power distribution, tourism, business, agriculture, horticulture, environment, sports and health promotion. The basic premise of the bandh wasn’t in sync with the latest observation by Dr. Karan Singh, the veteran Congress leader and former Sadar-e-Riyasat of J&K either that “the importance of Jammu was being increasingly recognized after the reorganization of J&K State into a Union Territory”. What a surprise it was that the bandh call given by Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) was triggered by reports that Reliance group was shortly going to open one hundred retail stores in Jammu with Government facilitation!
The reaction from the Reliance group was prompt as they averred that the talk of 100 stores being opened in Jammu was “completely untrue”. An agile young consumer from Jammu was heard saying that even as big a city as Mumbai had only around 41 specialized Hypermarkets of Reliance group. So, hundred appears to be too big a number for Jammu to be true.”
This Jammu Bandh was supported by nearly all opposition parties of Jammu region besides Jammu Bar Association, and some social-religious groups. The objective of their support must have been to extract the maximum possible share from whatever political and other benefits that would accrue in the wake of the JCCI sponsored bandh call becoming successful. No wonder that each participating party had its own axe to grind.
Whereas, the JCCI was within its rights to protest over the decisions and omissions of the Union Territory Government, which it felt would adversely affect the business in Jammu, but it looks that pressure from lobbies owning and dealing in brick kilns, crushers, geology and mining, passenger tax and commercial vehicles, banquet halls, bars, wine shops, weighed too heavily upon the Chamber to be resisted. Issues such as scrapping of (a) the annual ‘Durbar Move’ and (b) the denial of rights of sale and purchase of agricultural land to Sikhs, Khatris, Mahajans and Jains (a demand having sprung up ‘out of the blue’ to a commoner) seem to have been included specially, to garner support of specific communities and make the bandh broad based.
On the Governments’ side, they have a critical obligation of looking after the interests of not only one segment of the population, say the farmers or urbanites or retailers or the corporate, but also of the consumers and others collectively. So, faster establishment of adequate and quality infrastructure at all levels is highly imperative to catch up with existing and upcoming world powers to sustain growth. No wonder, a fair interplay of local and national level entrepreneurs, service providers and investors is necessary to facilitate exposure of locals to national and international standards of capacity building programmes, commodities, services, skills and enterprises, besides inculcating competitive spirit amongst them. Unfortunately, the modern cut-throat politics has induced habit amongst one and all to denounce every model of development proposed by political rivals. The capitalist, socialist and mixed economy models, all are condemned, without providing any other legitimate alternative framework. The tendency is seriously obstructing growth of the society.
Consumers these days desire cheaper and quality products near the doorstep. Demand is growing for expansion of employment generating ventures. Children of farming families, educated under curriculum in-vogue, are no more interested in labour at the farms. They demand irrigation and mechanization at the farms and white collar jobs in shopping malls, offices, supply chains, businesses, marketing, industries, etc. The landless farm labourers prefer to work in nonfarm sector. Policy planners also are supportive of quick shift and diversification to reduce population pressure on land. Industries, retail stores, construction activities, etc. are therefore being pushed to provide more of such opportunities. Therefore, a rational view will justify opening of such ventures. Retail stores established by resourceful corporate and the cooperatives have the potential to generate fair competition and remain in business; provide quality products and open up employment opportunities for local educated youth. Then, why shouldn’t one think and act bigger rather than pull the legs that carry everyone forward?
During Jammu Bandh on 22 September, JCCI did well to take some wind out of the sails of a few fringe parties and fronts that were consistently trying to project the bandh as an expression of peoples’ sentiment in favour of Articles 370 and 35-A. It was immediately commented upon by JCCI that Jammu bandh was “neither against the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A nor against the Government. It was only against the policies of the Government which were causing sufferings to the local traders and other people”. The statement was a strong rebuttal to those parties and fronts.
In spite of the above, it can’t be ignored that overwhelming response to the bandh call points towards something important going amiss during transit of fruits of development to ultimate targeted beneficiaries from the source. The bandh is in fact a wakeup call to the UT administration, even as the government complements itself for undertaking far reaching and mass based democratic reforms, including transfer of powers to the grassroots level through elected Panchayati Raj Institutions (Block Development Committees, District Development Councils) and Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations, etc.). A growing perception amongst the masses is that in the eighth year of Modi Government at the Centre and now in J&K too, the expectations raised at election time are not being met substantially, is definitely a matter of concern. Youth are beginning to feel the pinch of unemployment. Pace of filling up of vacancies in government/public sector continues to be slow. Regularization of daily wagers, adhoc employees, etc. in different departments, continues to hang fire, though committed by previous governments. Physical and mental stress amongst a significant section of population in the wake of ‘Covid – 19 pandemic’ – fatalities apart – survives.
On the one hand, all Union Ministers have been hard pressed into service to launch, carry on and supervise the development programmes, but on the other hand, the local public representatives, unexpectedly from Jammu region, are somehow lagging behind in comprehending the changed working culture and political atmosphere. For one reason or the other, most of the politicians, particularly from the ruling party, are seldom found effectively communicating with the people (their voters). The development and welfare schemes of Government of India and the benefits that have already accrued to the people and may accrue further, though, ‘slowly and silently (as expressed by Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale)’ need to be explained and monitored more pro-actively. Local leaders, barring a few, appear veining in commitment whereas the spread of negativity on social media is more visible.
Whereas, it may be too early to give credit to the parties, some religious fronts and Jammu Bar Association, etc. for success of the recent Jammu Bandh, but many of the issues seem to be concerned with attitude of local leadership. Banking too much on the personal charisma, honesty and integrity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to perform miracles and avoid hard decisions, can cost the local leadership, his party and national interests dearly while depriving the fruits of development to the last man down the line.
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