The Government of Jammu and Kashmir appears to be committed to deal with the emerging problems in different sectors of the economy and ancillary activities as a fallout of the lockdown etc due to outbreak of Corona virus pandemic. While we have positive outlook in the entire exercise to be undertaken and expectations of good results, however, the immediate acid test of such measures which were announced by the UT administration immediately after the address of the Prime Minister to the nation , would be how supply chains of essential goods and services were fully ensured . Not only that, essential and critical services too were required to be ensured reaching the people who needed them most. For example, problems on day to day basis which ordinarily keep on sprouting in households like related to plumbers, electricians, mechanics etc though looking to be not of that importance, do otherwise matter, as we have numerous reports pouring in about problems faced by people on that count . Not only that, PDD authorities need to keep a helpline number available at least during maximum hours of the day where electrical faults needed to be attended to promptly. That, set of guidelines and measures have been announced by the UT administration in ensuring that community transmission of the pandemic did not take place while maintenance of essential supplies to be maintained at every cost,is what is required under the current situation. At the same time, identified hotspots would receive focussed attention during the extended period of lockdown and now SOPs are decided to be followed in these areas which should result in bringing about perceptible changes for the better.
Equally, the UT administration preparing to develop Strategy cum Action Plan for restoring normal economic activities in all sectors of the economy and announcing a package for assistance to Industry, Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry should percolate down at the ground levels and not remain confined to announcements alone. More than the usual “assistance” , these sectors need a stimulus in order to put them on rails of normal activities. As regards recruitment in Government jobs, we understand that it is the second time an announcement has been made in this respect but some sort of process by now should have started . However, it is nice that the constituted Task Force has been asked to submit necessary inputs and recommendations on job vacancies by May 15. The exercise of early recruitment would instil hopes in the aspirant candidates and any inordinate delay would take the wind out of their sails.
Industrial units are facing problems especially those, which are now not functioning due to corona virus restrictions or are partially functioning, facing labour and other problems while their loans with banks and their liquidity position coupled with marketing problems too need to be addressed. What could be the Package for Assistance to the four sectors under reference so that their formal functioning could be made likely, must be not only made known by May 30 but implemented at the earliest as well. The most vital sector that of tourism and tourism related activities – transport, hotels, restaurants, arts, crafts, sales outlets and emporiums etc directly related with the participation of people and in numbers, obviously at the moment due to lockdown restrictions, cannot be activated and normal activities kick-started must, however, be on top priority should the current crisis come firmly under control at an early date.
Since the composition of the Task Force is in the form of representation from vital and important wings of the administration, it is hoped that not only could expert opinions and advice be readily available but decisions and recommendations were expected to be on the principle of equity and priority. For better management of corona virus related issues, nomination of nodal officers is a welcome step and high ranking officers from different wings of the administration are assigned particular duties. However, since much attention is sought to be given in stopping the spread of the corona virus in Jammu and Kashmir and rightly so, we hope side by side, economic packages and steps towards providing requisite stimulus to different areas of the economy would not be lost sight of, not even in the least.
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