A New Year is a time for new beginnings, new resolutions and new hope. There has been so much strife in the world and in the country during the past year. Restricting ourselves to Kashmir, there has been a tectonic shift there. The abrogation of Article 370 and the splitting of the state into two Union Territories are bold steps, long overdue, but curbs and restrictions do add to the winter gloom in the Valley. It accentuates residents’ fear of future. There is a significant percentage, if not a silent majority that does not want violence, of any kind, by any side. They just want to be left alone, to live in peace.
Over the past three decades, Kashmir has become used to violence and protests, often accompanied by stone-pelting, and frequent shutdown of schools and shops, inter alia. The Kashmiris have become accustomed to annual cycles of violence, less in ‘Chillai-Kalan’, the peak winters, and more in summers till the Darbar moves southwards to Jammu. Until next summer only. Meanwhile, there is loss of life, property and livelihood. The common man feels that there is no escape from this cycle. There is a sense of hopelessness, a fear of future.
ADDRESS THE FEAR OF FUTURE
How do we address their fear of future? There is a need to create hope in the minds of Kashmiri people and youth. It will not be easy, but has to be done. There are several stakeholders; they must work in sync, complementing each other. This is not the time to work in silos, nor is this the time to pull in different directions. Now, with direct governance from the Centre, is the time to synergise our efforts, all organs of the government must work in unison to create favourable winds of change, for the better. This will require astute leadership and coordinated management.
The security situation is much better than before. People are pleased, albeit grudgingly, with the way administrative work has started moving forward, accompanied simultaneously by reduced corruption. The government must capitalise on good governance, and show results at the grassroots level. To that extent, empowerment of the panchayats has been a step in the right direction. A sum of approx ₹35,000 crore has been disbursed to panchayats over the past one year for local development schemes. Besides meeting local development aspirations, it is also likely to throw up some new leaders from the grassroots. That is the need of the hour.
We need to fulfil aspirations of the youth. Job creation by government, by corporate entities and increasing self-employment opportunities are required. The army has increased its recruitment; police have joined in. We can raise more Territorial Army and Border Scouts units. But more, much more is needed. Industry must step in, investments must follow. There is tremendous scope for encouraging service-based industry, and value-addition to fruit is viable. It will create its own ecosystem of employment. The government needs to give industry sops to invest in Kashmir and create an investment-friendly atmosphere.
SPELL OUT AN ACTION PLAN
Merely creating better jobs, however, will not be adequate. The state must spell out an action plan on many facets. As a UT, the rules on jobs and on land must be clarified and communicated. Can corporate and others buy land in J&K now? If so, after how long a domicile? All these issues must not only be clarified soon, there should be an outreach to educate people regarding these, and more. Strategic communication is found wanting. Block development councillors and sarpanches have been roped in to spread the sentiment among the population. However, all of them may not be good at communicating effectively. Ex-servicemen and retired policemen, and others, can also be employed to carry this message.
Today, if we leave a void in information, it will be filled up by someone, and that is likely to be inimical to our interests. It is in our interest to keep the information flowing. For that to happen, curbs on internet will have to be lifted. If it leads to violence, the curbs can be re-imposed. But it is time that curbs are eased. It is slipping into a case of ‘too much for too long’. Two other aspects that need attention are education and healthcare. One of the main reasons for the closure of these facilities in remote, rural areas is absence or non-attendance by staff. Is there a scope to employ technology to augment effort here? By digitising classrooms, we can ensure better and uninterrupted education to remote village schools. Similarly, tele-medicine can assist in providing quality medical care in remote areas. There is scope to put modern technology to positive use, including the creation of strategic communication. So far, we have seen it being used by the other side for radicalisation, mobilisation and spreading violence and hatred. It is time to reverse the tide.
If we have to set the stage for a political process in the state soon, it is imperative that we maintain a secure LoC, a stable and peaceful hinterland and an atmosphere conducive to growth and development. Let us attempt to meet the aspirations of the people, and more importantly, ensure strategic communication, so that people are kept informed. Even if it takes a long time, and it will, there is an urgent need to dispel the fears in Kashmiri minds, and fill these with hope, if we want to assimilate them fully.
satishdua@gmail.com
The author, a former commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps and a counter-terrorism specialist, retired as chief of Integrated Defence Staff. Views expressed are personal.