There is a myth of powerlessness going around. The National Conference blames the LG for everything. But what stops the Chief Minister from delivering on the ministries he commands? Let’s see what he controls. Contrary to popular noise, the elected CM and his cabinet do have portfolios under their belt. Here are key departments under their direct control:
- Agriculture & Horticulture
- Education
- Health & Medical Education
- Social Welfare
- Rural Development
- Youth Services & Sports
- Cooperatives
These are not ornamental departments. They are lifelines of rural and urban Kashmir. But what has this government delivered? Let’s measure it.
Agriculture: ₹600 Cr Budget, 0 Cr Vision
- Kashmir’s farm output has grown less than 2% annually – below inflation.
- Cold storage gap: over 75% of produce still lacks access to modern storage.
- No new market linkages, no crop insurance rollout, no MSP-like model.
- SKUAST-K still runs like a bureaucratic fortress – no reforms, no rural tech transfer.
The CM said “agriculture is our backbone.” Then why is it still crawling? You don’t need full statehood to start crop insurance implementation.
Education: 23,000 Dropouts and a Wall of Silence
- According to official data, 23,000 school dropouts were reported in 2023-24.
- Thousands of government schools lack science, math, and computer teachers.
- Teacher rationalization policy? Not even drafted.
- No vision for smart classrooms, despite NC’s promises of “21st century education.”
Where is the reform? Where is the change? Where is the political will?
Health: Buildings Rise, But Medicine Counters Are Empty
- 57% of PHCs in J&K lack a full-time MBBS doctor.
- Essential medicines like Metformin, Amlodipine, and ORS are routinely unavailable.
- In the past year, the Health Dept. announced “100% availability” in press releases.
- But patient queues and shortage of diagnostic kits tell a different story.
Where’s the universal health registry promised in last year’s policy speech? Not even a prototype exists.
Rural Development: Dead Files and Hollow Panchayats
- No rural asset mapping, no dashboards, no digital tracking.
- Works under MGNREGA are still contractor-driven – not people-driven.
- Back to Village programs are now just backdrops for press conferences.
Where is the decentralization the NC swore by? Where is the rural empowerment?
Cooperatives and Youth Services: The Orphaned Ministries
- Cooperative credit societies are defunct in most districts.
- Youth programs are still stuck in sports tournaments and photo-ops.
- No jobs, no skill centres, no innovation hubs.
- Kashmir’s youth are staring at an employment vacuum – and the CM’s office is staring back in silence.
What Has the CM Actually Announced?
Here’s a list of reforms the CM has promised in the past 8 months – across speeches and pressers:
- Digital cold storage hubs for fruit growers – not a single one operational.
- Model schools with modern labs – tender not even issued.
- Health cards for rural women – no framework released.
- Skill-upgradation schemes for unemployed youth – still on paper.
- Panchayat governance devolution – no rules framed, no timeline shared.
When reforms remain announcements, governance becomes a myth.
Selective Powerlessness Is a Political Fraud
Let’s call the bluff. This is not about Delhi vs Srinagar. It’s about intent vs inertia. If you control seven major departments and deliver nothing, don’t blame the LG. You don’t need Article 370 to start irrigation work or repair schools. You don’t even need statehood. You already have enough on your platter. But yes, you need courage, clarity, and accountability. And you also need to rise above your fetish for wielding more and more power than a pen.
The Bitter Truth
- This government has power where it wants it – and excuses where it doesn’t.
- Omar Abdullah’s cabinet isn’t paralyzed. It’s uninterested.
- Departments that touch people’s daily lives are still gasping for a whiff of reform.
The CM may not control everything. But what he does control – he is failing to fix. And in the end, a government that cannot reform the parts it owns cannot be trusted to govern the whole.
