People must have faith in govt’s promise of statehood
In the run-up to the second anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, and against the backdrop of recent outreach efforts by the Union government, Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to Hindustan’s Shashi Shekhar on his administration’s plans and strategies, during a long conversation at the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar. Edited excerpts:
My tongue fumbles as I try to say ‘Lieutenant Governor.’ When would I be able to address you as Mr Governor?
I will try to give a direct answer. You want to know when it [Jammu & Kashmir] will get the status of statehood? Home minister Amit Shah has given a clear assurance in Parliament that statehood will be announced at the appropriate time. The Prime Minister also said this when he addressed the nation. Recently, when representatives of various political parties met in Delhi on June 24, the question was raised again. Even there the home minister repeated that statehood will be given at the appropriate time. You will understand the significance of something said in the national parliament. I believe the people of the nation and Jammu and Kashmir must trust them.
A number of promises were made to the people of J&K. You have even promised the homecoming of Kashmiri Pandits. When will be the proper time for their return?
I will come to the Kashmiri Pandit question later, but I would like to draw your attention to the promises that were made and fulfilled in the last few years. A programme runs under the name of Prime Minister Development Fund (PMDP). After the bifurcation, development projects worth ₹55,000 crores are being run as part of this programme... Today J&K has an IIT, an IIM, two central universities, and two All India Institutes of Medical Science are being set up... Here I am talking about just one region. Last year
What about Kashmiri Pandits…
Let me share two facts about Kashmiri Pandits with you. The Government of India promised to create 6,000 jobs and build 6,000 houses. Today, except 164 posts that are vacant, everybody else has got a job. As far as accommodation is concerned, 1,800 flats are being built quickly as one-room sets that will be complete in six, seven months... But I believe just jobs and accommodation are not enough to rehabilitate Kashmiri Pandits. We have taken a number of decisions that will create a conducive atmosphere for their return and rehabilitation. Secondly, we are going to take many other administrative decisions that will make it convenient for them to return. You will see the results in the next six months.
The unemployment rate in Kashmir is almost double the rest of the country. How will you address this imbalance?
Our unemployment rate was at 19.3 in March, which went up during the pandemic but the new statistic for this month is 10.3 or 10.4. We are better than Goa, Delhi and Rajasthan.
Why didn’t you name Uttar Pradesh?
It didn’t occur to me. If you want to understand J&K, you must know one fundamental fact: The population of J&K is 13 million and the budget passed by Parliament is to the tune of ₹1.08 lakh crore. The figure was ₹1 lakh crore last year and ₹90,000 crore before that... Despite this, 970 villages do not have road connectivity, many places don’t even have grid electricity. We haven’t been able to organise clean drinking water for many. This is the misfortune of J&K. We launched a ‘Back to the Village’ programme and kept a target of identifying two young people from every panchayat and providing them self-employment and offered a loan of up to ₹10 lakh at a subsidised rate. We were able to provide loans to 19,873 people. Of these, 4500 are women. We have a target of providing loans to 50,000 people for self-employment.
There are complaints that announcements have been made for MSMEs, but the banks don’t disburse loans…
There is no such complaint in Jammu and Kashmir. Secondly, we are setting up youth clubs in the panchayat. Through these, we are initiating skill development at a very rapid pace, in association with Tata Technology. Children are being provided 360-degree training in financial services along with the Bombay Stock Exchange.
Now drones are being used for attacks. Why haven’t we been able to thwart the conspiracy being hatched by foreign agencies to worsen the situation in Kashmir?
Drones have been seen in the last few months. A few drones were shot down by BSF personnel, some were captured, particularly those being used for smuggling of arms and narcotics... As far as the international scenario is concerned, the ministry of external affairs and the Centre will worry about it. Whatever needs to be fixed here is our responsibility and we will do it without any delay.
Do you see any impact of the developments in Afghanistan here?
I have already made it clear that we won’t wait for things to happen… whatever needs to be done, will be done.