Where are heading, is a great concern now. Every day is a Hartal day and it becomes a dark day for many families in Kashmir. But there are many who have a ‘win win’ scenario out of Bandhs and Hartals in the suffering valley. It’s mostly our poor families who have to face the wrath. They earn their bread and butter on a day to day basis and it seems this world will not let them live in peace and dignity. When there is Hartal as an order of the day, managing life for a poor man is like managing a living out of immense adverse situation. Though many people are already fed up now with constant strikes and seek the leaders to go for some introspection and reframing of strategies, but it doesn’t matter as we continue to live in a state of status quo.
The future of our children is now more unsafe and insecure. Any society will prosper better when only its children are given proper treatments to grow and a safer and secure environment. But here, the children of conflict are at the receiving end and no one seems to be really caring for them. Our students are pursuing their studies with greater difficulties but the system is corrupt when we don’t have better infrastructure and proper policies in place. We live in an Internet age and the country is claiming to be ready for its 5G revolution and we, living in a constant state of war, are every now and then deprived of internet services in the valley- sometimes the speed is reduced and sometimes internet is totally barred. When it comes to our valley, every ‘G’ is missing and the tardiness of internet makes people suffer. The bad internet service is giving more troubles to the businesses and the students. Now we have online filling of application forms as a requirement for many jobs and our valley students can’t apply on time. It aggravates the unemployment index further and shatters dreams of many deserving candidates.
Our administration is always caught in a bad look when it comes to doing justice with their concerned services. Whenever there is a testing time for them, they are totally a fuss. During my three months long recent stay in the valley, most part of the valley was kept under darkness. It is really surprising to see outside states with availability of 24 hours daily/7days electricity generated by this godforsaken state. We have no rights to use our own power but there is no leniency in our electricity bills and infact the rates have taken a big hike.
It is the people who form a good society. But our lax approach being a part of the society has pushed this state into more gloom. Our labors, businesses and employees have become too casual in their approach. We have lost our strength and high spirit. Now everyone means business and self centric approach is prevailing at its peak. We have lost almost all good trades and there are better alternatives available for the world to pick and chose.
Dogged by destructive politics, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has always been the victim of political as well as administrative apathy. While our administrators boost about opening of new cinemas for the sake of better economics, they however don’t seem to have an eye on the essentials of a common man. Cinema is a luxury which is hardly required in the valley and infact everyone carries a mini cinema in his pocket nowadays. The basic amenities are missing in the valley and the masses are bereft of several basic amenities.
The writer is Assistant Professor, ITM University Gwalior and can be mailed at dr.shahidamin15@gmail.com
