Sachin Padha
Since 2014, the development of J&K has been the focus of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he is regularly taking the follow-ups and overseeing the implementation of all initiatives and programs introduced in J&K by his Govt.
After 2014, the then Finance Minister Late Arun Jaitley announced the establishment of IIT and IIM in Jammu city in the Union Budget 2014-15. And after few Years, the Modi govt announced the establishment of AIIMS in Jammu and Awantipora. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are satisfied that their state has made its mark on the global map not because of terrorism but rather because of these highly regarded top class institutes, which are fully operating since last few years. Political leaders of Congress/NC/PDP were questioned by the people of J&K about why these institutions hadn’t been established in the region before 2104? Why did it take more than forty years to get these institutions in the state? No opposition parties, including the PDP, NC, and Congress, were unable to respond to these questions. With these institutes, J&K is considered highly esteemed among states possessing IITs, AIIMs, and IIMs.
Before 2014, J&K residents took power outages for granted, forgetting they even had a fridge or lightbulb in their houses. People started to believe that “power cuts” were a part of their democratic rights and that the Indian constitution specifically mentioned about the long “Power cuts” in the J&K state. After few years of 2014, the power cuts got minimal and the use of stabilizer in the Jammu city became obsolete. The people had seen a “Single Phase” light where only a ceiling fan was working with big sound and even the 100watt lightbulb was not providing the power to its potential. In 40 degree temperature people used to live with 10-12 hrs of minimum power cuts and when power came after such long hours, it was a “Single Phase” light. One can imagine the apathy of people that they have been facing from the last 50 years. The quality of electricity was so pathetic that the sale of candles and inverters were at the peak in the entire state. Now, these days people are enjoying two Acs in a home without stabilizer. The quality of light improved drastically and we are able to sleep well during the peak summer. Again, people of J&K has asked questions to Congress/NC/PDP why the quality of electricity didn’t improve before 2014? Why there were long power cuts of 10-12 hrs before 2014? How the power infrastructure improved after 2014? Again Congress, NC and PDP has no answer to these pertinent questions.
The Digital India has made a very good impact on our lives. Earlier, people used to stand in long queues outside RTO office for the NEW/Renewal of their Driving license. Now you can get your driving license at your door step by submitting the online form by using your mobile. You can apply for NEW Ration card by sitting in the comfort of your home and no need to visit the Food and Supply office. You can modify your Ration card as well. You can renew the license of your shop by visiting the website and no need to request the Naga inspector for it. Likewise, there are 100+ services that are available online. For Birth certificate, you can get online and again no need to visit JMC.
Now just compare this era with pre 2014 era. This is not drastic change but it has completely changed the shape of J&K. From the last few years, you have been listening to the song “Gaadi wala aaya ,dekho Kude wala” to take your garbage and people are using this opportunity to keep their Mohallas clean and moving towards practical and real “Swachch Bharat”. Before 2014, People used to throw garbage here and there, sometimes even outside their neighbour’s house.
The Article 370 and 35A were like a blot in heaven called Jammu and Kashmir but thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who eradicated this blot from our heaven. After the abrogation of article 370, J&K has been transforming from a ‘separate state’ to a ‘super state’. Article 370 was an impediment to J&K’s economic and social integration not only with the rest of India but the entire world. There has been a miscarriage of Article 370 by the politicians of J&K, especially in the real estate field. The provision of wealth tax, urban land ceiling act, gift tax, etc, and other beneficial laws of the Centre Government had not been allowed to operate in the state under cover of Article 370. Article 370 had bolstered the confidence of Terrorists and they were executing their plan and attacks in the J&K without any fear. The Pro-Pak group, so-called separatists, were given security cover and under the disguise of Article 370, they were spreading Pakistani agenda of ‘Freedom Struggle’. Because of PM Modi’s bold and courageous decision, Article 370 has been completely abrogated and eradicated from J&K.
The re-development of Gole-Market in the Gandhi Nagar area of Jammu city has made a good impact on the local people and they were amazed to see the kind of development that have in their area and all that happened without any fuss. Now, people have started to believe the word “Smart City” and it’s impact on the ground. The same kind of work is going in Raghunath Bazar. Now people are eagerly waiting for Tawi River front project. I hope this project will also make good impression on the people of J&K.
Ayushman Scheme for free medical treatment up to 5 lakh and the people of J&K are eligible for it without any condition. The Jan Aushadhi Kendra shops where you will get the cheapest medicines has given another lifeline to the people of J&K.
The Jammu-Srinagar highway is another big milestone and the train from Kashmir to Kanyakumari that got sanctioned in 1998 is going to complete in 2025. Earlier, the Tata Sumo driver used to travel only one side in a single day. Now -a-days, the driver would start at 5 in morning from Srinagar and would reach Jammu around 10 am. Again he would start the return journey around 3pm and reach Srinagar 9 pm on the same day. If there is no landslide, the earning of these drivers would double and during the peak Tourism season they are the most busiest men on the earth.
The opposition’s biggest disservice is to induce a kind of fatality about J&K. What about the Terrorism? What about Stone-pelting? What about security? What about infiltration? What about Hartals and curfews? Before 2014, the entire Kashmir valley used to get shutdown after 6pm. And a few months ago, for the assembly election 2024, politicians used to do election campaign till late night. Even Rahul Gandhi tweeted the pic of enjoying Ice-Cream at Dal Lake at 10pm without any tension.
When people voted in this assembly election, they asked these questions to other political parties why these developments were missing before 2014? Earlier govts had same bureaucracy, same set of people, same Army and same police, still they were unable to develop the J&K state and unable to deliver govt schemes at the ground level. So what changed after 2014? The answer is Political will to achieve these things and to make Naya Jammu and Kashmir a real thing and not a paper. People has started to believe Modi as the implementer.
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