The reality of Jammu and Kashmir is that the governance-deficit here dates back to years. While one would admit that there are some positives that have been witnessed during LG administration over the years particularly on the law and order front, there are certain issues that need immediate attention of the government. A few good decisions have been taken during this but on the ground, these have not been acted upon the way people here would have expected.
A Kashmiri Hindu, who now lives in Jammu, wanted to dispose of his property here in Kashmir. He himself retired as a top official in Law Department and thus knows all the laws and regulations and followed the same in letter and spirit. He was made to run from pillar to post, from Tehsil to District, from District to Division and then again in a reverse gear. It has been one year, and he still has not got the requisite documents.
This is just one example and that too about a Kashmiri migrant Hindu. What would be happening to the common people here is understandable. Corruption is as rampant as it has ever been; unaccountability as pervasive as ever. Our roads and streets continue to remain in shambles. Minor drizzles still flood our drains and subsequently our roads. Encroachment of government lands, including the lakes, lagoons and other water-bodies and forests remains as rampant. And to cap it all partisan politics which pits one region and religion against the other also continue to be played unabated.
Jammu and Kashmir is a very small place and people here have, over the years, learned to read through the politics. So even though the political symbolism means a lot here, but expecting the people to be satiated and satisfied just by this symbolism is way too farfetched. For instance, people may buy that this administration wants to do some real good work; but unless and until they see that “good work” happening on the ground, they are not going to be amused by anything. Instead of falling victim to the confused and disjointed priorities, it will be worthwhile to put money where the mouth is. Despite successive governments having repeatedly said that the state has a potential to generate over 20,000 MW of hydro-power, Jammu and Kashmir continues to reel under perennial power shortages. The state is yet to reach a stage wherein it could suffice even the local energy needs. Although this is not to say that the state doesn’t generate that much of hydroelectricity. It certainly does. But instead of satiating the local requirements, the same energy is supplied to mainland India to light homes and super-engines of industrial development there.
In case of power sector, one can certainly point fingers at the New Delhi’s “discriminatory and exploitative” policies, but successive administrations in the state too cannot escape blame of their own inherent inabilities and inefficiencies. This is where the current dispensation must share the responsibility of failures of previous regimes – and try and initiate corrective measures so that people too get to see something concrete happening on the ground.
