After two years of fully integrated Jammu and Kashmir into the mainstream of India by abrogating Article 370, signs of socio-economic development are clearly visible in the Union Territory. The socially and economically disadvantaged section of the people in Jammu and Kashmir has now begun to witness a significant change in different walks of their life.
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Let’s began with the tribals of Jammu and Kashmir. They were neglected by all the erstwhile state governments. Their needs and demands were neither highlighted nor worked upon. But after the abrogation of Article-370, they are given special attention by the UT administration. The tribal youth is given much more priority. They are provided with the skill and training to start their new ventures for economic independence and development. Other developmental measures are also in the pipeline including filling vacancies to strengthen the Tribal Affairs Department for efficient functioning, developing a portal for scholarship disbursement and real-time online monitoring, e-office, educational plan, and Forest Rights Act implementation. Recently the government has announced the opening of four model residential schools in tribal areas of Jammu and Kashmir to provide educational opportunities to them.
After the abrogation of Article 370, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has established a special initiative for the youth of the union territory. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir was brainwashed to act against their own country by way of joining militancy or participating in anti-social and anti-national activities like stone pelting. Various studies proved that lack of job opportunities and financial support was pushing the youth towards anti-national activities. Therefore, after the abrogation of Article 370, it became important to address the issues of youth and take some profound initiatives. The government took an initiative called “Mission-Youth”. Its objective is to engage the youngsters of the union territory from developing their skills to training them for starting their own ventures. According to a report 15,142 candidates have been imparted job-oriented training in sales and customer service, hospitality, among others, 6,763 youth are undergoing training and 6,556 youths have got employment. Recently Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha unveiled the Mission Youth Skill Development calendar. According to which 10,000 youths are being targeted to be trained under a total of 98 programs and certified courses, coupled with other initiatives of Youth Engagement & empowerment for the future job skills in a post-Covid world. Now there is around a significant 40% decrease in the involvement of local youth in terrorist organizations.
Under this mission, special attention is being paid to the women. They are providing financial help up to Rs. 500000 to start their own business and achieve economic independence. The women interested in higher education are also provided scholarships up to Rs. 100000. They are also provided with the basic skill required in business. This undoubtedly is bridging a gap between the rich and the poor, between the advantaged and disadvantaged sections of the society. The focus of these government schemes is to bring about socio-economic change in the life of disadvantaged people. Not only this many job opportunities are also created by the administration for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
The people engaged in horticulture and agriculture sectors in Jammu and Kashmir had witnessed a downfall over the years due to the inefficiency of the local government in opening up global markets for the sale and export of Apples, Saffron, and other fruits outside the Kashmir. But now with the introduction of the Geographical Indication (GI) tag and establishment of New Market Intervention Scheme for apple growers, the agrarian sector is undergoing a huge transformation. This would directly impact the lives of over 1.5 million farmers in Jammu and Kashmir positively. This this indicate that since the abrogation of Article 370, the central government and UT administration is making a significant effort to bring developmental change in the region.
In the period or Post Article-370, the investment in different sectors is coming from outside the territorial boundary of Jammu and Kashmir. One such sector is tourism. Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir has huge potential. The investment in the tourism sector is bringing more job and earning opportunities for the people.
There is no doubt that the abrogation of Article 370 has brought about socio-economic development in the new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Socio-economic development has empowered people, brought equity and fairness to those discriminated since ages. The socially and economically disadvantaged sections are now getting their due share and Justice along with comprehensive development. These are some of the important socio-economic changes that are ushering Jammu and Kashmir towards the path of peace and progress.
