Historic decision taken on August 5, 2019 of abrogation of article 370 seems to have no benefits and situation has gone from bad to worse. It was expected that this decision will bring peace and progress in Jammu and Kashmir but rather has disheartened the people.
This decision did not bring any benefit in the District Development Council elections even in the winter capital region itself. In December 2020, People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) swept the first-ever DDC polls held in J&K. Farooq Abdullah-led seven-party coalition, which comprised Abdullah’s National Conference (NC), and Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), won 110 seats. Though BJP won 75 seats, emerging as largest wining party, the expectations were bigger from the nationalist party, which had taken historic decisions on J&K.
The basic facilities-electricity, roads and water problems even are not managed. Region has to face worst ever power crises in this year’s summers but no probe in this regard was done. Similarly water problems have been on rise.
No special relaxations for the business community have been announced after the slowdown due to Covid-19 pandemic.
The youth alienation, on the other hand, has been such that during Covid19 when New Delhi generously funded the war against the pandemic in J&K, there was a larger public demand that skilled youth from various fields be at least given need-based jobs by the government in emergency services dealing with the crises.
Also there has been no benefit for the government employees and are starving for the wages since they get their wages after 2 to 3 months.
A professor at Jammu University said that while a lot of events, festivals and shows are being held by the government, such events have neither resolved the issue of unemployment nor has improved even the basic amenities. Observers believe that these events mainly benefit concerned officials.