Thursday, 17 October 2024
Thursday, 17 October 2024
Omar Abdullah was sworn-in as the new chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday but his road ahead is tough.
One of the biggest concerns is the high unemployment – 28.2 per cent, the second-highest in the country, according to a PTI report.
Last month, the Congress accused the BJP of misleading people on the issue and claimed that 48.6 per cent is the actual unemployment rate among young women. An estimated 25 lakh young people in Jammu and Kashmir are currently seeking employment.
The Telegraph Online spoke to five people from the Union Territory. What they spelt out have some common threads. The common people of Jammu and Kashmir are hoping for substantial changes, especially concerning unemployment, electricity, high prices and infrastructure challenges.
Mousin Bashir
private sector employee
Nishat Bagh, Srinagar
I think our new CM is better and I feel he will do good work in future. I feel he will fulfil all that he said prior to elections. As a common man staying in Srinagar, there are many issues I face on a daily basis. The electricity bill I pay is extra. I pay around Rs 4000 per month even when I go to the office whereas my neighbours pay Rs 800 to Rs 1000. Next, in my family there is an issue of joblessness. There are very few jobs in J&K which need to be increased. Another big problem is related to the education system in this place which the new CM needs to work on.
Adnan Shah
Businessman
Pampora
As a businessman with 300 employees, I can say that the buying power of customers has reduced and I have also been experiencing less footfall in my shops. The major issue here is related to the economy, which can only be solved by the Centre. Tackling unemployment is another area that needs focus. As a common man I will only have expectations once the status of statehood is given back to J&K, as in a Union Territory a CM has no powers and he needs approvals. The issue is neither doe we know what the CM’s work nor does he know
Mohammad Ramzan Kar
Business owner
Rajwar
The electricity bill people get in urban areas is Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 whereas there is no electricity at times. Even in rural areas like Dogri Pora, Lachman Pora where the bill used to be of Rs 160 to Rs 180 now it is Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,300. In these areas there is hardly one to two hours of electricity in the entire day, that too not at a stretch. Joblessness is at its peak in rural areas. I believe our new CM will and can bring positive change. But we still want J&K to be given the status of statehood as then only he can do anything; as of now, his powers are sealed. He has said he will give us 12 gas cylinders for free, up to 200 units of electricity for free, and 5 to 10 kg of rice. I feel we will now get our rights. I would also like to add that J&K has witnessed terrible destruction in the last nine years.
In my area, Rajwar, a bridge worth Rs 14 crore was entirely damaged in April this year. There was illegal mining done by the government side, there was also mafia raj here. In some of our villages, there is no internet as well. We still have 2G or less than 2G speed, but these issues are small compared to the joblessness.
A police officer
Bandipora
Things are already priced higher here. A common man in Jammu and Kashmir is not benefited from the products produced here as most of it goes out of the state. Same goes for electricity, the benefits from hydroelectric power plants go more to other states than us. As someone from the police department, this is a common issue I have heard from people. Earlier the system was that the people of the state benefited from the resources produced here; now it has changed drastically. The resources of the state were protected previously, which are being exploited now. I don't think in the coming days anything will be left in abundance because of this. I cannot say anything political as it is not allowed in our profession. We are supposed to focus on the safety and security of the people
Dr Tanzeela
Budgam
As a doctor in Budgam, the main problem I have been facing here is the lack of jobs along with rising cost of essential products. Our present generation is struggling to find employment and that’s affecting the overall well-being of families here. I can’t say we’re very hopeful about the future either, especially with the demotion of Jammu and Kashmir from a state to a Union Territory. It feels like the power to bring meaningful change has been reduced. What we really need is the restoration of statehood and Article 370, which would give us more control over our own affairs. Along with that, providing jobs to the unemployed youth should be the top-most priority of the new government. Without these in place, it’s hard to imagine any real improvement in our situation.
