epilogue magazine, june 2010

8/7/2019 Epilogue Magazine, June 2010

1/56Jammuu200V4su6PcR3PaRNK320www.epoinEpilogue

ISSN : 0974-5653J&KS MONTHLY MAGAZINE

N E W S , C U R R E N T A F F A I R S , S O C I A L S C I E N C E S

Epilogue...talks of the state's many current issues without sounding grim

SEVANTI NINANMedia Analyst & Columnist

In her column Media Matters, May 23, 2010The Hindu,

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42th

issueof

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Identity Politics and

Regional Polarisation in J&K

POPULAR MOOD

(Startling results of new opinions poll in J&K)Options For Future

Waiting for the Worst

J&Ks Ailing Power System

P9P5 P32

REKHA CHOWDHARY VIKRAM GAUR

Jammu & Kashmir

Strengths

opprortunitiesWeaknesses

threats

An ANALYSIS


2/56

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3/56

C O N T E N T

Vol. 4, Issue 6 Epilogue, June 2010www.epilogue.in

Epiloguebecause there is more to know

www.epilogue.in

I N FOCUS

Towards Vibrant J&K

Strengths

14 Towards Vibrant J&K

15 Fertile Land

15 Abundant Hydel Resources

16 Upwards Cash Collections

16 Growing GDP

17 Basket Full of Fruits

18 Impressive Forest Cover

19 Favourite Tourist Destination

20 Word Famous Handicrafts

20 Populous Livestock

21 Picking up Industrial Culture

Weaknesses

22 Insufficient Connectivity

23 Poor Domestic Share in Revenues

25 Faster Population Growth

26 Unexplored Power Potential

27 Far from Main Market

27 Huge Supply - Demand gap in Poultry,Meat Product

Opportunities

28 Seizing the Opportunities

Threats

31 Eliminating the Threats

Letters 3

Prologue 4

Commentary

Identity Politics and Regional 5

Polarisation in J&KRekha Chowhdary

Policy Reforms

Waiting for the Worst 9

J&Ks Ailing Power SystemVikram Gaur

Opinion Poll

Options for Future 32

A new Survey on Kashmir ShowsOpinions More Split Than Ever

Column

Womens Initiatives or the Lack 44

of them in KashmirManisha Shobarjani

Long Years of Injustice 45M Shamsur Rabb Khan

Exclusive SeriesAuchinleck : Af-Pak and Kashmir 47Rakesh Ankit

Features

Development with a vengeance 50

the only roadmap for BastarAsha Shukla

An unlikely flood in Kashmir 51Naseer Ahmad Lone

Editor

Zafar Iqbal Choudhary

Publisher

Yogesh Pandoh

Consulting Editor

D. Suba Chandran

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Tsewang Rigzin

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Art Editor

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EpilogueN E W S , C U R R E N T A F F A I R S , S O C I A L S C I E N C E S

REGIONAL IN CONTENT

NATIONAL IN PROFILE


5/56

LettersReaders Write


he twin marginal districts of Rajouri and Poonch need an

Tenhanced development strategy and at the same time

care should be taken build bridges between castes and

communities. In Social Structure and Perceptions of Regional

Disparities by Mazammal Hussain Malik (Epilogue, May 2010),it is submitted that the enterprising author has

microscopically dissected a dimension of the microcosm of Pir

Panchal Range and generated sufficient light. The concept ofsocio-cultural and economic development has been discussed

threadbare and the novel idea of an Autonomous Hill

Development Council floated to infuse the element of

accountability and transparency in the focused areas.The idea of Hill Development Council is apparently

appealing but in the long run it shall not broaden the outlook

of already caste ridden society of Rajouri-Poonch belt. It wasshocking to read that the religious communities were dividedin to 54 sub castes. So far as Muslims are concerned, caste

system militates against the true spirit of Islam. In Hinduism

it has been a bane that did incalculable harm. A cosmopolitan

and an international outlook is the hallmark of 21st century.Our politically incorrect leaders have always played the caste

card for self-aggrandizement and the pathetically innocent

loved to be exploited.Anyhow, there is no harm in giving a trial to what Mr.

Malik has penned down. Only intellectuals can come forth

with novel ideas. The intention of the author regarding AHDC

appears to be sincere but whether our political bosses display

the genuine sincerity is a billion dollar question. Therehabilitation of disgruntled youth has also to be addressed

to. This is a tall order.Epilogues May 2010 issue focus on Rajouri and Poonch

instills sense as also promises hope at the end of a darktunnel. Your editorial efforts deserve compliments!

PROF. S.K. BHALLAPrincipal,

Government College, MendharPoonch

adakh has a long border with Western Tibet. EarlierLthere were many trading routes from the KarakorumPass, Lenak La, Dambu Guru, Spanggur Tso, Dumchulle

La, Demchok, Hanle, Chumar and many more. Even

today some of them are being used unofficially.However, this trade is technically illegal, and the

Ladakhis who take out Indian goods and bring in Chinese

ones can be and are harassed. This could be avoided if aLand Customs Station (LCS) is opened.

A Land Customs Station facilitates trade between

two countries and makes it legal. It needs to be stressed

that there is considerable cross border trade between

Ladakh and Tibet, and yet it is all illegal. Till a LandCustoms Station (LCS) is opened this illegal trade is

likely to continue. Several proposals were sent to the

Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance,Government of India since 1996, but all have been

either ignored or dismissed unjustly.If Ladakhi's are not troubled by Customs Act, they

are by a relatively innocuous Ingress and Egress Act of

the State of Jammu and Kashmir.If a Land Customs Station was opened up in Ladakh,

like it is on Shipki la (at 4000 meters as precisely) in

Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, many people would

benefit. From 2002, I had been trying to get peoplefrom Ladakh involved in the move to open an LCS there,

but to no avail. The commercial advantages for thepeople of Ladakh are undeniable and immense.

In 2003, anticipating that the opening up of an LCS

is imminent, a Ladakhi lady had sat through a test andgiven a Clearing Agent's License. But nothing has

happened.

ROMESH BHATTACHARJI,New Friends Colony,

New Delhi

Developing Rajouri, Poonch

Commitment Honouredn behalf of the people of Rajouri and Poonch I wish to thank the Epilogue for covering this region in minute details

O(Epilogue, May 2010). This region is perhaps home to a major readership segment of many a leading newspapers andother media but no effort has ever been seen towards generating an understanding on the socio-political atmosphere of

Rajouri and Poonch. I remember while responding to a letter, written about special issue on Ladakh in September 2009,

Epilogues editor had promised exclusive issues on other marginal areas like Rajouri and Poonch. Thatcommitment stands honoured but we would like to request that it should not end here.

A Case for Land Custom

Station in Ladakh

SHAHZAD KHAN

Rajouri

3


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PROLOGUEFrom the Editor


under guidance of its director GAround ten years back whenQureshi, the cover focus of this issueIndia was in the middle of as u g g e s t s t h a t s t r e n g t h s an dce l lphone revolut ionopportunities available in the state farpeople in Jammu and

Aoutnumber the weaknesses and threats.

Kashmir would turn to In normal discourse a thought of Jammunewspapers and magazines to knowand Kashmir would immediately throwabout the mobile phones and the wholeup the politics and conflict as itssystem of their working. There was aweakness and threats and therefore nogeneral perception that Jammu andstrengths and opportunities to discussKashmir was unlikely to have the mobilebut we believe that the other side of thetelephony. Not only the securitypicture, mostly ignored, is oftenagencies had raised obstacles for thebrighter. With this view we have keptusual obsessive concerns, the cellphonethe politics out of the focus and treatedoperators were actually reluctant toeconomy as only term of analysis. Lateroperate in this remote, mountainous,in this issue, we have dealt with asparsely populated, infrastructurerecent opinion poll conducted by adeficient and conflict riddled stateBritish Scholar Robert Bradnocklooming under perpetual politicalassociated with the internationallyuncertainty. Any ugly word was no less

the times over past 60 years and theyrenowned think-tank Chatham House,suitable to define the situation. And inare not really willing to stay caged inbased in London. The survey conductedlate 2003 when first cellphone companythe history. An overwhelming andon both sides of the Line of Control inopened shop to long and desperatealmost near absolute majority ofJammu and Kashmir with fundingqueues of prospective subscribers,respondents to this survey have calledsupport from Dr Saif al Islam al Gaddafi,others realized the mistake. Sevenfor moving beyond the status quo. Ina progressive son of the Libyan leaderyears later half the population inresponse to another question again anMuammar al Gaddafi, throws upJammu and Kashmir has cellphones andoverwhelming majority has favouredstartling results. Without going into thethe demand is just growing. Somethat for moving beyond status quo theirquestion what attracted the youngproblems are more of the mindset.opinion should be taken on board. If thisGaddafi to Kashmir, the results ofJammu and Kashmir is seen more insurvey is anything to go by, the generalBradnocks survey are something moreperspective of its politics and conflictmood is for the better and its time thatimportant to ponder upon. Whatand less in context of the opportunitiesIndia, Pakistan and the leadership ofhandful of leaders suggests as future ofthis state offers. In this issue we look atKashmir seized the moment.Jammu and Kashmir has actually notthe strengths and opportunities and

been endorsed by the public mood. Itenlist the weaknesses. Primarily basedFeedback :seems that peoples on both sides of theon the data compiled by the [email protected] of Control have been traveling withDepartment of Economics and Statistics

ZAFAR CHOUDHARY

Seize the Moment

MAY 2010

4


7/56

COMMENTARYIdentity Politics

5


uring the recently concluded bud- high court gave verdict in a case - the qualification" bill in the state legisla-

get session of the Jammu and Sushila Sawhney vs the State of J&K - ture. This bill got the full support of theDKashmir (J&K) legislature, two pending before it since 1979. This ver- National Conference (NC) and was unan-issue generated a lot of furore both dict corrected an administrative anom- imously passed in the Legislative

within a well a outside the house. Of aly, which restricted the rights of Assembly in 2004. However, as it cre-

these, one issue emanated out of a pri- women married outside the state. As ated a lot of controversy, it was stalledvate member's bill in the Legislative per an administrative practice, which thereafter and could not be made into

Council which was not supported by any provision of law. The issue, however, remained alive

the state constitution, PR certificates with the PDP vociferously arguing that asought to disqualify women mar-issued to women were stamped "valid law is required to disqualify women mar-ried to people outside the state fromtill marriage".' Women married to peo- ried outside the state. The Permanentthe status of permanent resident ple from outside the state could not get Resident (Disqualification) Bill, 2010(PR). The second issue related to aa fresh PR certificate and were there- introduced in the Legislative Council bydemand for introducing a bill to banfore deprived of the privileges associ- Murtaza Khan of the PDP was an effort ininter-district recruitment in govern-ated with this status the right to pursue this direction. This bill was laterment job .What came to be focused,employment in state services, to vote dropped due to a "technical" flaw sincethrough both the issues, was the sharpfor the state legislature and to contest it pertained to a constitutional matter itinter-regional divide and emphasis onelections within the state. The full could not be initiated in the upperemotive identity politic on the onebench of the high court opined that the house. However, the issue remains alivehand, and the on laught on the right ofdaughter of a permanent resident of the as the PDP is committed to bring it againmarginalised sections of society, on theJ&K will not lose her status as a per- in the state legislature.other. In the first case, the discourse onmanent resident if she marries a personthe "rights of women" was subordinated The bill, as introduced in 2004 andwho is not a PR of the state. It statedto the discourse on the Kashmiri versus as resurrected in 2010, has been used tothat there is no provision in the existingregional/national/Hindu identity. In the generate political emotions in Kashmir.law dealing with the status of a femalesecond case, the issue of the It has been argued that restrictions onPR who marries a non-permanent resi-marginalisation of backward districts women's rights are necessitated to pre-dent.was articulated in a manner which serve the political identity of Kashmir.

placed it in contradiction to the interest This decision was considered his- The right of women to marry outside theof other backward sections of society, toric because it did away with a discrim- state and retain their PR status is seenlike the scheduled castes (SCS) and inatory practice and brought relief and as contradictory to the autonomy andscheduled tribes (STS), while also equality to women. A sense of justice

special status of the state. There is areducing it to a Jammu versus Kashmir and fairness prevailed after this deci- campaign that such a right, given toissue. sion. However, the then People's women, would ultimately lead to demo-

Democratic Party (PDP)-led governmentThe Disqualification Bill graphic change in the state. The fear issought to undo the high court's judg-The issue of disqualification of expressed that the right of women toment by filing a' special leave petition inwomen from holding the PR status, if hold their PR status even when they arethe Supreme Court. Later, it withdrewthey are married outside the state, is an married outside the state would openthe judicial appeal but introduced a "dis-ongoing one since 2003, when the state the floodgates for the non-permanent

REKHA CHOWDHARY

Identity Politics and Regional

Polarisation in J&K


8/56

residents to swamp the state and con- Jammu (BAJ) actually called for a the demand became intense, following

trol the property and employment Jammu bandh to agitate against the the appointment of a few Jammu-based

within the state. "anti-Jammu" and "anti-Hindu" nature of persons in that district. One of the most

the bill. According to Sunil Sethi, the backward border districts of the state,The political class in Kashmir,

president of the BAJ, the bill is a con- Kupwara has suffered the maximumacross party and ideological lines,spiracy against the people of Jammu. To brunt of militancy and with the emerg-whether belonging to the separatist or

quote him: "This bill is discriminatory to ing scenario of relative peace, develop-the mainstream politics, supported thewomen of the state, particularly of ment and employment have becomedisqualification of women in 2004 in the

Jammu region. It is anti-Jammu as most emotive. issues here. The general argu-interest of, what was termed the pres-

of the girls here marry outside the state ment, in terms of employment, is thatervation of Kashmiri identity. Nothing

with persons who are non-state subjects the district is too backward to competeunusual was seen in the subordination of

(non-permanent residents of J-K)." with other better developed districts,women's rights to Kashmiri identity. Thisand therefore, the appointment of "out-time too the general refrain has been In this whole context of competi-

siders" will cut into the share of localthat the bill does not concern women as tive identity politics, not only was theyouth, who themselves cannot competemuch as it concerns the Kashmiri iden- central issue of women's rights totally

for jobs in other districts. Hence, thetity facing threats from external forces. demand for banning inter-districtThe concern for protection and preser-

recruitment was forcefully made by thevation of Kashmiri identity therefore

Kupwara Bachao Committee led byoverrode the concerns for women's

Engineer Rashid, an independentrights.

MLA from Langate, one of the fiveHowever, it was not only in Kashmir

assembly constituencies of the Kupwarathat the gender identity was subordi-

district.nated to the political identity of the

community. Almost in the similar vein, It is important to note these the

the discourse in Jammu was also based issue, as it was raised in Kupwara, was

on the lines of regional, communal and located in the context of the

national identity. The bill to disqualify marginalisation and underdevelopment

married women from holding the PR sta- of the district. Hence, resentment was

tus was opposed not as much from the expressed not only against the SCs seenperspective of women's rights as on the as outsiders, but also against the more

grounds that it was "antiJammu", "anti- developed districts of Kashmir. While

national" and "anti-Hindu". The cam- making the demand that recruitmentssidelined, but the politics of the statepaign, both within as well as outside the be made only from within the district,was also polarised on dangerouslegislature, against the bill was carried Kupwara's leaders talked about theregional and communal lines.out mainly by the forces of the Hindu marginalisation of the district withinThe Inter-District Recruitment Billright whose major objection to the bill the state in general and Kashmir divi-

was its pro-Kashmir and anti-Jammu The other issue which generated a sion in particular and referred to the

basis. lot of heat during the budget session low standards of education and under-

was related to a demand that inter- staffing of schools and colleges whichChaman Lal Gupta, senior

district recruitment within the state be directly affect the employment and eco-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader thusbanned. The demand was first articu- nomic prospects of the local youth.described the bill: "The Bill is anti-lated by the Jammu-based Jammu and They argued that north Kashmir hasJammu and antiwomen and will deprive

Kashmir National Panthers Party been deprived of major opportunitiesour girls' ancestral rights to own land,(JKNPP) after a few people from provided to other parts of Kashmir. Toproperty and jobs if they marry outside

Kashmir, selected for the subordinate quote the representative of thethe states Not only the BJP but manyservices, were posted in the Udhampur Kupwara bar association and districtother organisations found in this bill

district of Jammu. Later, it was in the president of the People's Conference:another instance of discriminationKupwara district in north Kashmir thatagainst Jammu. The bar association of There is a university in central

Politics in J&K has become very precari-

ous with identity-related issues assum-

ing importance and sensitivities

increasing on Kashmir versus Jammu

issues. Almost on every issue, one can

witness a regionally polarised response.


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9/56

Kashmir, a university in south Kashmir. ous disadvantages vis-a-vis the more had been able to negotiate for them-

Yet the authorities chose to locate the developed districts of the state. selves. Since 2004, when the state gov-

central university just 15 kilometres The regional connotations that the ernment had allowed inter-district

from the existing University of Kashmir. demand for banning inter-district recruitment, a number of Gujjars from

Train service was truncated at Varmul recruitment acquired, however, had Jammu division were able to get jobs in

and all the administrative relief systems very critical implications. The demand the Kashmir division through reserva-

seem to be scarce in this impoverished directly hit the interest of those sections.9 However, the Gujjar response

district.6 tions of society which had been availing has been "politically managed" with the

However, the Kashmir-based par- the advantage of reservation, espe- help of two ministers belonging to this

ties appropriated the demand by taking cially those belonging to the SC and ST community, who have assured "full sup-

a position that the inter-district recruit- categories? The leadership of this sec- port" to the government from members

ment hurts the interests of Kashmiris tion responded by opposing the of their community.

since it allows the "outsiders" (meaning demand. On the lines of the Kupwara On the contrary, it is the response

thereby the people from Jammu) to be Bachao Committee, the Anusuchit Jati from Kashmir that has acquired emotive

appointed in Kashmir. More specifically, Arakshan Bachavo Manch [Scheduled overtones. Here a feeling has been gen-

opinion was built up against the policy Caste Save Reservations Front] (AJABM) erated that, by allowing reservationsof reservations for the SCs and the STS. was formed which demanded that the for SCs in all the districts of the state,

Though the major beneficiaries of res- interest of the marginalised communi- the government has adopted an anti-

ervation include the STS (located in the ties within the state be protected. Ka shmi r st ance . PDP Pres iden t

whole state including Kashmir) along These organisations were supported by Mehbooba Mufti has come out openly

with the SCs, reservations were por- the All Ind ia Con federation of against the reservation for SCs citing

trayed as benefiting only the Jammu SC/ST/OBC Organisations and the All the "peculiarity" of the state. A PDP

region, as Kashmir does not have any India Gujjar Mahasabha. leader from Kupwara reflected the opin-

Hindu or dalit population. With one section of the marginal- ion of the party when he said, "the bill is

The Jammu-based political parties ised confronting another, and issues akin to stabbing the people of Kashmir

complimented this discourse by por- gettting articulated in a regionally in their back. It is injustice with the peo-

traying the demand as anti-Jammu com- polarised manner, the NC-Congress ple of Kashmir and we will continue to

pletely underplaying the fact that the coalition came under extreme pressure. fight against it". The debate has beendemand for such a ban on inter-district The PDP and other Kashmir-based par- joined by the separatists with Syed Ali

recruitment had come, in the first ties demanded the introduction of a bill Shah Geelani stating that the 8% reser-

instance, from Jammu itself. Using the to ban inter-district recruitment in the vation for SCs in Kashmir is "unjustified,

issue of reservations for SCs, parties like current session and the Jammu-based illogical and wrong". Mirwaiz Umar

the BJP portrayed it as opposed to the opposition, including the BJP, opposed Farooq, meanwhile, assailing the state

interests of Hindus of the Jammu it. Finally; a consensus was brokered government for passing the bill in its

region. Like the women's disqualifica- where the bill to ban inter-district amended form has stated that it harms

tion bill, the discourse on this matter recruitment was passed, but with an the "interests of Muslims and especially

was also articulated around the Kashmir amendment which stated, "Candidates Kashmiris..." He warned that "J&K is a

versus Jammu identity, although it applying under sc category for any post Muslim majority state. If interests of

entailed complex issues of the rights of in the divisional or district cadre shall, Muslims are harmed we won't remain

socially and economically backward sec- irrespective of their place of residence silent."

tions entitled to reservation on the one in the state, be eligible for selection Precarious Politics

hand and the dilemmas of people living against the posts reserved for the said Politics in J&K has become very

in underdeveloped districts on the category at such selection". precarious with identity-related issues

other. The backward districts of Jammu This "consensus formula", however, assuming importance and sensitivities

including Rajouri, poonch, Doda, generated more resentment as the STS, increasing on Kashmir versus Jammu

Kishtwar and Ramban are similarly especially the Gujjars, were not issues. Almost on every issue, one can

placed as Kupwara and suffer from vari- extended the advantage that the SCs witness a regionally polarised response.


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10/56

Earlier, such a response could be seen change. It was the same fear that led to polarised politics has compelled the

only in Jammu, where political mobili- mass mobilisation in 2008 against the centre to provide two central universi-

sation was often based on regionally sen- government order transferring forest ties to this state - one each for Jammu

sitive issues. "Kashmir-centric" power land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and for Kashmir.

politics, "regional imbalances", "re- (SASB). The issue of demography has Regional polarisation does not

gional discrimination" were the major been raised by the PDP and by Syed Ali remain limited to this form of divisive-

idioms used by Jammubased parties and Shah Geelani even in the context of the ness, but often spills over and becomes

organisations to mobilise local political presence of Bihari labour in Kashmir.) communalised in many ways. This has

support. Regional sensitivities, though Regionally polarised politics tends been happening in both Kashmir as well

important earlier, did not characterise to divert all political energies to divisive as Jammu. Jammu's regional politics has

the identity politics of Kashmir, which positions and reduces substantial issues been, in any case, appropriated by the

was mainly defined with reference to its to simplistic notions of regional discrim- Hindu right for fairly long and, there-

relationship with India - whether ination. The important issues of "dis- fore, in the regional discourse here

through the politics of autonomy, crimination " and "backwardness" , Jammu get equated with Hindu and the

demand for plebiscite or azadi (inde- two terms are often used interchange-

pendence) politics. However, while this ably. Often regional politics is used tocontestation remains, the regional stoke barely camouflaged communal

dimension has also been added to the sentiments.

identity politics of Kashmir. One can In Kashmir too, there is a growing

often pick up voices raised against the trend to conflate the regional identity

"discrimination" of Kashmir vis-a-vis with the religious. In general discus-

Jammu region. (Often on such petty sions, the Muslim context of the

issues as a comparison of the size of Kashmiri identity is a given fact - that is

flyovers in Jammu and those in Kashmir the reason that arguments about the

or to more important issues of employ- regional discrimination of Kashmir

ment and the share of "Kashmiri often tend to be extended to the dis-

Muslims" vis-a-vis that of "Jammu crimination of the Muslims. The idea

Muslims" in state services.) which has come to define the identityMuch of this is the fallout of the politics of Kashmir is the "Muslim-

increasing relevance of the politics of majority" character of the state and the

governance and the intensity of compe- need to preserve it.

tition between PDP and NC, the two For a socially and culturally diversewhich often transcend these regionalKashmir-centric parties. With both of state like J&K, there is a fundamentalboundaries, are pushed back from thethem competing for the same political danger in the deepening of identity poli-public eye. This politics of regionspace, they tend to radicalise the politics polarised along regional and com-mainly emanates from the two larg-tics of Kashmir and in the process munal lines. It will not merely weakenest urban areas of Jammu andincrease sensitivities about "KilShmiri the secular basis and plural ethos of theSrinagar and, at best, represent theidentity". Since 2002, when the elec- state, but also endanger the very integ-interest of the urban middle class. They,toral space came to be fragmented in rity of the state by fracturing the rela-thus, do not leave much space for repre-Kashmir between these two parties, the tions between its constitutive regionssenting the interest of socially and eco-politics around "crisis of Kashmiri iden- and communities. This danger wasnomically backward sections of soci-tity" has been perpetuated - either clearly visible during the Amamath agi-ety. For example, for a state whichthrough the issue of "regional dis- tation of 2008 when extremely acrimo-recorded one of the lowest literacycrimination" or that of "demographic nious relations emerged between therates in 2001, there is a competitionchange". (The issue of women's disquali- publics of the two major regions of thefor establishing colleges and universi-fication bill is not of singular nature in state and communal tensions surfacedties in two regions, rather than focus-evoking the fear of demographic in many parts.ing on social schools. This regionally

For a socially and culturally diverse

state like J&K, there is a fundamental

danger in the deepening of identity poli-

tics polarised along regional and com-

munal lines. It will not merely weaken

the secular basis and plural ethos of the

state, but also endanger the very integ-

rity of the state by fracturing the rela-

tions between its constitutive regions

and communities.


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POLICY REFORMSPower Sector

iving the prevailing state ofaffairs, it may be embarrassing

Gfor us, the citizens, but notreally shocking that private organiza-tion called Credit Rating Information

Services of India Ltd (CRISIL) engaged in

carrying out survey in all the states of

the country in respect of the working of

government/semi-government agen-

cies, has placed Power Development

Dept (PDD) of the J&K state at second

position as for as theft of power is con-

cerned and PDD holds 26th position in

respect of Working Efficiency in thecountry. Its poor rating may not worry

the PDD since it is used to working the

way it has been working for decades

now but the public is certainly worried

about the dark future that PDD faces in

the years to come. Although, this rating

gives us the reason about the ever wors-

ening power position in the state yet it

does not indicate why PDD has been

placed in such a pathetic position in the

country.

Well the reasons could be political,

administrative, managerial, and profes-

sional or all these combined together

and above all lack of genuine interest at

all levels including the 'political will' in

improving the system. It certainly needs

to be investigated and rectified without

any waste of time if the state is to be

VIKRAM GAUR

WAITING FOR THE WORST

J&K's Ailing Power System

Now when Jammu and Kashmir has been confirmed as second topper in the country in the notoriousth

list of power thefts and the state's Power Development Department is ranked 26 in inefficiency,there is hardly anything worst to come. Isn't there a need for the helmsmen to do and introspection?

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saved from future catastrophe that may per the political exigency without any properly supplemented keeping in view

fall if the conditions continue to be the accountability. the state's future requirements result-

same in the power sector especially ing in lop-sided expansion of the sys-

because Electric Power is the key to tem. At least in Jammu region theSOME RECOMMENDATIONSdevelopment of the state in all other increase in 220/132 KV grid stationsThe department as huge as PDDsectors. capacities that has been carried outthat is directly connected with common

after a long time under forced condi-Some of the important factors man and his welfare, there is no inde-tions have completely been nullified bywhich are affecting the power system pendent Public Relation office (PR) tonot matching the evacuation of poweradversely, at least in Jammu region sort out the public problems.at 33-KV level to distribution stationsare:- Consequently, the engineering cadrewith the result that the 33kv lines areNon working of the power system wastes most of its time in dealing withgetting over-loaded calling for forcedon professional and scientific lines and public complaints and their professionalshut downs of power supply in spit of thenon-implementation of power reforms work of maintaining the power systemsufficient availability of power. Some ofas required under international/ suffers.the 33/11 KV stations in the urban areasnational norms. The Power Development wing of

are over loaded and at times even whenLop sided and unplanned develop- the government is being run on ad-hoc the power is available the stations havement of power system. basis without any planning for the needsto be shut down because of overloadingExisting power system from receiv- of the people and the state, present orof the individual transformer.ing end to the consumer end is in sham- the futu re. Even if the pro-

About the existing power transmis-bles and does not conform even to the jects/proposals/ plans are framed andsion and distribution system, less saidelementary Electricity Rules/ stan- submitted, they gather dust in the sec-the better. Starting from Major 220/132dards. retariat and no action is taken to meetKV Grid Stations down to 33/11-kv andthe existing need on emergent basis.Although the PDD has 6-7 distinct11000/400 volts distribution stationsThe result is that the development suf-separate departments under as manyand distribution network up to the con-fers and the state remains short of sup-numbers of Chief Engineers yet theresumer end everything is in precariousply against the ever increasing demand.are no specialised cadre based servicecondition. Although, some 220/132-kvAnd consequently, the power cuts andconditions for the engineers in this mod-Grid Stations have been improved, theshut downs to manage the availableern age of specialization.

existing condition of almost all other sta-power are resorted to. This affects all-In spite of repeated directions fromtions does not conform to any standard,round development of the state includ-the CEA Energy Auditing has not beennot even to the basic laid downing industry, agriculture, business, com-taken seriously.Electricity Rules under the Act formercial and domestic consumer etc.On the revenue realisation side thesafety and security of workers of theThe working of the PDD and entirework of revenue collection has beenPDD not to talk of the public. The resultEnergy Management itself is extremelyentrusted to the maintenance engi-is tremendous increase in T&D lossesunprofessional.neers and not to an independent com-and poor quality of supply to the usersThe solution is to engage nationalmercial wing resulting in loss of revenueincluding unwanted interruptions duelevel consultants in the field to adviseof several hundred crores.to the failures of the system. Loose hang-the government as how to effectivelyThe age old practice of carrying outing wires in the busiest of the streets,and efficiently run the PDD and its alliedalmost all works departmentally is stillbent poles, no guard net under the highservices to exploit the available powerbeing followed. The PDD despises outvoltage transmission lines, over loadedresources in the best possible manner.

sourcing the construction works to the pole supports carrying even the TVEngage services of an extremely compe-specialised private agencies that wouldcables and boosters, unauthorisedtent professional may be from outsidetremendously improve the quality ofadvertisement boards, no LT switches atthe state for a fixed tenure of at leastwork and save time involved in procure-the distribution transformer stations,for 5-years to make him accountable forment of material etc.no cables, no fencing around the sta-what he does.Utilisation of Human Resource at alltions, improper earthing of the trans-Our power generation, transmis-levels is not as per the present estab-former stations and a lot more. There ission and distribution system is not beinglished standards of suitability but is as


10



13/56

of the power sector in the futuristic obvious from the results. And theecently a leading English dailydevelopment of the state). They are results are not very heartening withof the state carried two inter-R certainly not acquainted with the an official T&D loss figure of 66.70%esting news items thattechnicalities of Power Production (although the T&D losses are moredirectly concern the general public.and the Energy Management which is than 72%) and the net consequentialOne saying 'T&D Losses in J&K high-a specialized subject of study for financial loss is much more than pro-est in the country' and the other

jected loss of Rs 2064-crores for the'J&K Bank posts record Rs 512-cr netyear 2010-11.profit'. Both the organizations Power

The PDC which is supposed toDevelopment Department/Powerhandle, manage and exploit powerDevelopment Corporation and J&Kpotential (highest in the country) ofBank are professional, commercialthe state and is in existence for theand government controlled organiza-last over 20-years, has till date, nottions. But while PDD/PDC isbeen able to create its own cadre ofGovernment run, the J&K Bank isworking experts and professionals.autonomous and run professionally,The entire work force from MD down-guided by a Board of Directors, 13 inwards is on deputation to the PDCnumber. The Board headed by expertwhich goes back to their parentprofessional like Dr. Haseeb Drabu isdepartments after completion ofa mix of top professionals, men oftheir tenure posting. So much soexperience in banking, known busi-that when the state took overnessmen of repute and men from the

Baghliar Hydro Power Project afterpublic life. But PDD/PDC supposed tocompletion of its first phase the PDCbe autonomous is totally state-did not have its own work-force tocontrolled through its bureaucraticrun the Power House and they had tosetup. The Board of Directors ofborrow services of the NHPC. SuchPDC, 10 in number, is headed by CMconditions have prevailed in theand includes 8-IAS officers and onlyPDC/PDD since their inception.one 'absentee Professional member'

To make these organizations runfrom CEA and the PDD is all a totallyeffectively and efficiently and togovernment affair.achieve optimum benefit for the peo-Working under the guidance ofple of the state the governmentsuch formation of Board of directorsmust immediately go in forwho may be expert administrators

unbundling of the entire Powerbut lack professional or commercial Sector into three independent andback ground; they neither have pro-autonomous corporations e.g. Powerfessional foresight and vision of theDevelopment Corporation (PDC),future required growth of the powerPower Transmission Corporation andinfrastructure nor any idea about the Power Engineers. What heights canPower Supply Corporation and freepower-needs of the common man (as the PDD/PDC achieve under the guid-the Power Sector from political andalso over all idea of the importance ance of such a Board of Directors is

UNBUNDLE TO SURVIVE

Learn lessons from J&K Bank

The J&K Bank is autonomous and runprofessionally, guided by a Board ofDirectors, 13 in number. The Boardheaded by expert professional like Dr.Haseeb Drabu is a mix of top profession-als, men of experience in banking, knownbusinessmen of repute and men fromthe public life. But PDD/PDC supposed tobe autonomous is totally state-controlled through its bureaucraticsetup. The Board of Directors of PDC, 10in number, is headed by CM and includes

8-IAS officers and only one 'absenteeProfessional member' from CEA and thePDD is all a totally government affair.


11



14/56

no continuous running earth wire the better as it involves hundreds

along the LT distribution network of crores of rupees of the state rev-

which is mandatory under the enue. This wing can also look for

Electricity Rules. other potential resources of reve-

nue generation like commercialIn spite of repeated CEA direc-advertisement on electric polestions since 1993 the PDD has not

and buildings, rental charges frombeen able to introduce Energycable operators for carrying theirAuditing. Metering of electric

cables on the electric supports,energy received from various

advertisements on the electricsources by the PDD is not com-

bills etc which has been com-plete. Similarly PDD have not been

pletely ignored till now.able to completely meter the

energy supplied to the consumers. More than thirty five years

DURING THE LAST MORE THAN 5- back in early seventies when Er.

YEARS PDD has only been able to R.S. Gill, an eminent engineer was

meter about 52% of its consumers. invited to head the then ElectricityMeters worth crores of rupees are Department with only one Chieflying in stores and not installed for Engineer and requested to reor-reasons best known to the political ganise it he renamed the depart-bosses. The suburban and the rural ment as Power Developmentareas where theft is almost Department and created 6-7 inde-unchecked have been completely pendent wings under separateignored as for as the E-metering is Chief Engineers. The wingsconcerned. included Generation, Planning,

On the revenue realisation Purchase and stores, Construction,side still the age old practice of M a i n t e n a n c e & r u r a ldepending on line staff e.g. line- Electrification, etc with an idea tomen, meter-readers, revenue- build separate independent cadresclerks, inspectors, etc under the of engineers in each wing whoMaintenance Divisions, for recov-

would get specialised in theirery of hundreds of crores of rupees

respective cadres with time. Afterfrom the sale of electric energy, is

the departure of Er. Gill in 1976,being followed in spite of creation

the state engineers, for theirof an Independent Commercial

vested interest, influenced theWing under a separate Chief

political set up to dispense withEngineer. In fact the effort of the

the caderisation plan. And tillPDD to separate the revenue reali-

today, after 35-years we find oursation from the maintenance wings

engineers are 'jacks of all tradeswas sabotaged by the vested inter-

but masters of none'. This twenty-ests. And the government was afirst century is age of specialisationparty to it. It must be understood

and to keep up with pace of devel-that unless the revenue collectionopment in the modern world weis completely brought under inde-should immediately go in for com-pendent specialised wing orplete caderisation by unbundlinghanded over to some privatethe entire set up under PDD andagency, the pilferage, bungling andban inter-wing transfers of engi-theft in revenue realisation cannotneers. This besides improving thebe checked. And sooner it is done

beaurocratic hold. The state already has

PDC; we need to create another two corpora-

tions. All these Autonomous Corporationsshould have separate Boards of Directors who

are experts/professionals and men of experi-

ence who have sufficient experience in the

field of handling power sector. Such commit-

ted team of professionals can be picked up

from with-in or out-side the state. And these

professionals should have a fixed tenure to

show results so that they can be made

accountable for their success or failure.

People in the PDD have not still forgot-

ten Er. R.S.Gill (father of KPS Gill) an emi-

nent and well known hydro-electrical-engineer of great repute. It was for him that

the state government created the post of

Commissioner-Secretary to the Government

for the first time as he wanted direct access

to the Minister in-charge to personally

explain to the minister his proposals for need

to expand the Electricity Department into

Power Development Department with more

than six Chief Engineers. It was his vision and

foresight that gave the PDD its present shape

although a number of wings were eliminated

after he left the state under the ill advice of

the then top engineers in 1975. Er. Gill wasinvited from outside the state in 1972-73 to

head the then Electricity Department with

one Chief Electrical Engineer for J&K.

Presently, all top brass in the PDD/PDC

including the Board of Directors and

Administrative Head of PDD keep changing

seats and no one is held or can be held

accountable for any lapses or failures.

Such vitally important decisions can only

be taken by an imaginative and dynamic

political head who could understand the

urgency and importance of running a com-

pletely professional and commercial organi-

zation on modern and commercially accept-

able lines. We were hoping that with the

change of Chief Minister such a change would

possible but..

-Vikram Guar


12



15/56

work quality would also make every one either been made or placement is suffering a loss of over 70% and its sys-

accountable for what ever he does dur- effected where it is needed most for run- tem is crumbling under its own weight,

ing his service carrier. ning/maintaining the system. Whatever it must first set its own house in order.

The age old practice of carrying changes have been made these were To begin with, the Chief Minister should

out all works departmentally is still under pressure either from unions or pol- have a full time Power Minister who com-

being followed by the PDD. This has iticians. The result is steady deteriora- mitted to his work and he seriously think

greatly affected the quality of works tion of the infrastructure which has fur- start thinking about taking PDD out of

be s ide s de lay ing the execu - ther resulted in increase in the losses government control and make it as

tion/completion of works because of suffered by the system. The immediate autonomous as possible even to the

non-procurement of required material need is creation of an independent extent of privatising some of its wings

in time coupled with other departmen- Human Resource Wing for the PDD under immediately. Any half hearted steps to

tal constraints. Present practice all over qualified professionals. affect a change will not suffice. It also

the country is to out-source the works to The department as huge as PDD needs to be kept in mind that more and

private agencies and maintain strict which is directly concerned with public more generation or power alone shall

quality control over works by the board for their day to day living, their com- not be able to solve the problem. 'Any

engineers. But for reasons best known fort, their development in all spheres of storage tank with holes in the bottomto the PDD they have not found favour life including industry, agriculture, com- will never get filled-up, how so ever,

with out-sourcing of the works. In fact merce, health, etc and has hundreds of large quantity of water you pour into it.

the PDD should think of immediately pri- complaints every day, has no Public The holes have got to be plugged before

vatising some of the maintenance works Relation wing to deal with the day to filling the tank'.

as also the revenue collection works. day problems of the public. For educat-

This will greatly improve the perfor- ing them and creating awareness among

mance of the PDD in these sectors. them about proper and economic usage

Recruitment and Utilisation of of the scarcely available electric

available Human Resource is not as per energy, its use and how best to conserve

any of the standard norms or practices it, avoid wastage etc it is imperative

followed at national/international level that a full fledged Public Relation wing

for such huge commercial organisa- be created under an independent headtions. PDD with a work-force of about who takes care of the public problems.

25,000 has no department of Human This will allow the technical/ engineer-

Resource to canalize the huge working wing to look after the power distri-

force. The recruitment and or place- bution system exclusively to carry out

ment are done not as per requirement the necessary improvement in the

or suitability but more as per political power distribution system to run it effi-

exigency. There is absolutely no prac- ciently.

tice of training technicians or line staff. From all that has been said above it

Absolutely raw hands are recruited for will be seen that the government has to

'system maintenance'. Hardly any engi- very seriously tackle the problem of

neer is sent for any ref resher power generation and its effective utili-

course/short training anywhere to sation strictly as per the established

equip him with the latest development principles and treat the PDD strictly as a

in the field in spite of the fact that there professional/commercial wing which

are several opportunities available at should under no circumstances be

the national/international level. allowed to work under any extraneous

Although, large scale expansion considerations. If the government is seri-

has taken place during the last three ous about taking the PDD out of the pres-

decades yet no fresh recruitment has ent precarious situation where under it

Epilogue

Available atJawahar Book Center

Jawahar Lal Nehru UniversityNEW DELHI

---India Book CenterTHIRUVANTHAPURAM

---CNA EnterprisesDN Road, MUMBAR

---KC Enterprises

Himayat Nagar, HYDERBAD

---EBS News AgencySector 22-B, CHANDIGARH

---Bhargave Book Center

University Center,ALLAHABAD


13



16/56

tOWARDS vIBRANT j&kStrengths

ammu and Kashmir's strategic location towards top ofJSouth Asian region and geographical proximity withCentral Asian region is perhaps its biggest strength. The State

occupies a strategic place on the country's map with its

borders touching Pakistan, Tibet and China. Geographically

and climatically three distinct and different regions of the

state Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh have their own

specific resource basis and are best known for the richness of

their resources. Barring some parts of Jammu region and

Kashmir Valley, almost entire state is mountainous. Density of

population in the state is 100 persons per sq. km against the

corresponding figure of 325 persons at national level. As per

density (persons per sq.km) the state is the 31st populous

state among the states/UTs of India. The main working force

in J&K constitutes 37.01 % of total population against the

corresponding rate of 39.10% in the country. The state is neck

and neck in respect of work force with national rate.

or success of a project, a fair understanding of its strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats is must. The pro-

ject here, for purpose of the subject, is the Jammu and Kashmir State and the objective is peace and prosperity

through developments. Points highlighted here are not the only aspects connected to the objective of a prosper-

ous Jammu and Kashmir but outside the realm of politics they make key ingredients of the strategic understand-

ing for achieving the target - an economically vibrant Jammu and KashmirF

Stre

ngths

Towards Vibrant of J&KAN ANALYSIS OF STRENGTHS, WEAKNESS, OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS

BAGLIHAR SHOWS THE WAY

A World Bank appointed arbiter gave

a verdict on the India-Pakistandispute on Baglihar hydro-electricpower project which was accepted byboth countries amicably. In that

backdrop, Epilogue's March 2007issue talked about other disputesbetween both countries effectingprogress of Jammu and Kashmir and

discussed how each one of them canbe resolved amicably

SUGGESTED READINGS

V O L . 1 , I S S U E 3 , M A R C H 2 0 0 7

14



17/56

tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

he land of the State is highly fertile and water resources are also

Tabundant. Rice, maize and wheat are the major farm produce.Agriculture constitutes an important sector of the state economy asaround 70% of the population of J&K derives its income directly or

indirectly from this sector. Agriculture absorbs 49% of the total working

force of the state with 42% as cultivators and 7% as agriculture labourers

depending directly on agriculture for their livelihood. Apart from direct

impact of agriculture growth on generation of rural employment and

incomes, its significant secondary linkages with development of rural

non-farm sectors are more crucial. Trade in agricultural outputs and inputs and services required by it and

processing of its products open up additional and more significant avenues for labour absorption. Agriculture,

besides, has a significant contribution in the export of rare

agriculture produce like saffron, honey and basmati from

state and remains an important source of raw material

demanded by many industries. Vegetables are grown all over

the state and an area of 51 thousand hectares has been

reported under vegetables during 2008-09. Production of

vegetables during 2008-09 has been of the order of 13.92 lakh

tonnes. Surplus vegetables are exported outside state every

year. During 2008-09, 220 thousand tonnes of off-season

vegetables have been exported outside the state generating

an amount of Rs. 133.00 crore. Kashmir's agriculture has an

international identity. The world's best saffron is grown in the

valley and its major intensity is in district Pulwama and

Budgam. Nearly 98% of total area in the state under the crop is

cultivated in Kashmir Province only. Its cultivation in Jammu

division is limited to district Kishtwar only.

Fertile Land

Stre

ngths

POLICY FAILURES RESOURCE

CONSTRAINTS

Jammu and Kashmir is one of thestates richest in water resources butawfully deficient in availability ofelectricity. July 2007 issue of Epilogue

went down the history to trace what went wrong over past 60 years inharnessing the resources. This issue

became a referencer on the issue ofpower and politics behind it. Aninterview with Wajahat Habibullahbrought in fresh suggestions on what

Delhi needed to do on Kashmir

SUGGESTED READINGS

V O L . 1 , I S S U E 7 , J U L Y 2 0 0 7

he estimated hydropower potential of the State is 20,000TMegawatts (MWs), of which 16480 MWs have been identified.During the year 2008-09 an amount of Rs. 628.00 crore was real-

ized against the total target of Rs. 1105.00 crore, constituting

56.83 percent of the targeted revenue realization in the power

sector. The revenue realization during 2008-09 has registered an

increase of RS.36.03 crore

thereby registering a growth of

6.09 percent over the previous

year (2007-08). During 2007-08,

879.35 MWs energy was gener-

ated of the value of Rs. 81.42

crore and 1658.59 MUs power

was generated, valued at Rs.

295.47 crore during 2008-09.

ABUNDANT HydelResources

Basin-Wise Potential Identified (MWs) Total 16480 MWs)

Chenab, 10360

Jehlum, 3560

Indus, 2060

Ravi, 500

15Strengths



18/56

tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

he overall revenue receipts of the state have gone up from Rs.8866.00 crore in 2004-05 to RS.19077.00

Tcrore in 2008-09 registering a 115% increase. The current year's total receipts have been estimated at Rs

22739.00 crore. The revenue receipts of the Government from all sources over the years from 200405 to 2008-09

have registered a progressive growth. From growth percentage of 9.33% in 2004-05 over the previous year, the

revenue receipts in 2008-9 have increased by 19.08% over the previous year. In the current fiscal Rs 19462.00

crore are expected as Revenue Receipts and Rs 3277.00 crore as Capital Receipts. States own Revenue Receipts

(taxes as well as Non-taxes) have increased from 22.47% to 24.33% of total revenue receipts from 2004-05 to

2008-09. The total tax revenue of the state is estimated at Rs 3111.00 crore for the financial year 2009-10 as

against Rs 2693.00 crore of the previous year. The non-tax revenue has been estimated at Rs 1219.00 crore as

against the budgeted figure of Rs 1127.00 crore of last year. Revenue on account of Central tax transfers has also

increased from 10.53% to 12.98% of total revenue receipts from 2004-05 to 2008-09. Jammu and Kashmir is

receiving plan assistance from the central Government on 90%

grant:10% loan basis as a special category state. The grants

received are the major source of revenue to the state. Almost

60-65% of the revenue of the state is coming from this Source.

he Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of the J&K stateTis continuously growing. It has grown from Rs. 15659.81crore to Rs 34805.18 crore during the period from 199900 to

2008-09 at current prices, registering an increase of 122.26%.

At constant prices, the GDP has risen from RS.15659.81crore

to Rs 24471.31 crore during the same period registering an

increase of 56.27%. The growth rate of state GDP is also show-

ing an upward trend. Annual growth rate of state GDP whichwas 3.53% in 199900 has risen to 6.12% in 2008-09. Annual

growth rate of GDP at national level was 6.7% during 2008-09.

Contribution of Primary sector to State GDP in 2008-09 was

25.82% (Agriculture & Allied Sectors) against 19.78% during

2007-08 at the national level. The individual share of agricul-

ture has been estimated in the range of 8-9% for 2007-08 (ad-

vance estimates). Contribution of Secondary sector to State

GDP in 2008-09 was 28.92% against 24.71 % at the national

level. Contribution of Tertiary Sector to State GDP in 2008-09

was 45.89% against 54.74%

in 2006-07 at national level.

Per capita annual

income of J&K State in 2008-09 was Rs.21561 at constant

prices. The per capita

income of the state has

grown from Rs. 15988 in

1999-00 to Rs. 21561 in

2008-09 registering a per-

centage growth of 34.85%.

UPWARDS Cash Collections

GROWING GDP

Per capita annual income of

J&K State in 2008-09 was

Rs.21561 at constant prices. The

per capita income of the state

has grown from Rs. 15988 in

1999-00 to Rs. 21561 in 2008-

09 registering a percentage

growth of 34.85%.Stre

ngths

LADAKH THE LAND OF MOON

Locked in the Himalayan enclave,

Ladakh region has often stayed awayfrom the media reach and publicdebates. Epilogue's November 2007issues reached out to the land and

peoples of Ladakh to understand where the region stood on socio-economic landscape of Jammu and

Kashmir and listed measures onwhat could be done for the better.Subsequently, there was anotherissue August 2009 exclusively

devoted to Ladakh

SUGGESTED READINGS

VOL. 1, ISSUE 11, NOVEMBER 2007

Strengths16



19/56

tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

Stre

ngths

FORESTS FORESTERS

In the laps of Himalayas, a state like

Jammu and Kashmir is expected tobe greener than any other state in thecountry. However, things are notquite encouraging. December 2007

issue of Epilogue took the readersdeep into forests to understand howrich our state is in the green wealth

and what are the threats andchallenges. This issue also dealt withthe organizational structure of theForest Department and suggested

some policy measures for overhaul.

SUGGESTED READINGS

VOL. 1, ISSUE 12, DECEMBER 2007

orticulture makes one of the biggest economic strengths

Hof Jammu and Kashmir. The State is largest producer ofApple, Walnut, Almond and many other temperate dry andfresh fruits. J&K holds top position in saffron production in

India. J&K is a major exporter of superior quality carpets,

wooden art, embroiderical clothes and many other valuable

crafts. Horticulture is emerging as a fast growing sector in the

state. Its importance can be visualized by its contribution to

the state's economy, which is estimated to be 7-8%. Almost 45%

economic returns in agriculture sector is accounted for by

horticulture produce. 5 lakh families comprising of 30 lakh

people are

involved in

horticulture

t r a d e . A n

area of 3.06 lakh hectares was under horticulture during the

year 2008-09 showing an increase of 3.73% over the previous

year's area figures. In the area figures highest share of 43.30%

is claimed by apple followed by 27.80% walnut. The

production of fruit for the year 2008-09 was reported to be

16.91 lakh tonnes registering an increase of 3.36% over the

fruit production figures for 2007-08. Out of total fruit

production for 2008-09, 15.26 lakh tonnes constituting 90.24%

were fresh fruit and the remaining 9.76% dry fruit. In the fruit

production figures share of apple accounts for 81.18% and

walnut with 8.97% share is the next major fruit. During 2008-

09, 11.17 lakh tonnes of fruit were exported outside the state.

Foreign exchange earnings on export of dry fruit for 2007-08

were Rs. 161.44 crore.

Basket Full of Fruits

Average population per Doctor during the period from 1950-2009 has

decreased from 17683 to 2266.

Population covered per school in the state is 469 in 2008-09 against 967

persons in (2001-02) at the national level.

Pupil teacher ratio at upper primary level in the state in 2007-08 was 31

against 46 in 2004-05 at the national level.

Pupil teacher ratio upper primary level in the state in 2007-08 was 20

against 35 in 200405 at the national level.The number of house less persons in India has come down from 2342354

in 1981 to 1943766 in 2001. Houseless population constitutes 0.19 percent

of total Indian population. Similarly houseless population recorded by

2001 in J&K was 12751.

The house less population in the state has come down from 0.18% in 1981

to 0.13% in 2001.

F A C T O I D S

17Strengths



20/56

tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

orests play an important role in maintaining the ecological

Fbalance by moderating the climate, maintaining the soil man-

tle, improving soil fertility, minimizing soil erosion, purifying the

air, preservation of wild life and in regulating the flow of water in

rivers and streams. Forests are also main source of timber, fuel,

fodder, medicines and other non timber minor products. Forests

ensure good agriculture produce and offer considerable potential

for industrial development of the State. The Sector provides graz-

ing facilities for our livestock too. Per capita forest area accounts

for 0.17 hectares as compared to 0.07 hectares in the country.

Outturn of for-

est for the year

2007-08 was 101.16 thousand cubic metres with 68.27 thou-

sand cubic metre timber and 32.89 thousand cubic metre fire-wood. Export of timber during the year 2007-08 was 30.70 thou-

sand cubic metres, the highest level achieved during the

period 2000-01 to 2007-08. The state has 4 national parks, 16

sanctuaries and 35 conservation reserves covering an area of

15912 sq kms. During the year 2007-08, an income of Rs. 22.65

crore accrued from forestry to the state exchequer against the

corresponding figure of Rs.

16.92 crore for 2006-07 indi-

cating an increase of 33.87%.

Jammu and Kashmir

state has a sizeable irriga-

tion potential available

which requires to be har-nessed. The net area sown in

the state during 200708 was

734 thousand hectares whereas the gross area sown (total area

sown under different crops) was 1134 thousand hectares.

IMPRESSIVE Forest cover

Per capita forest area accounts

for 0.17 hectares as compared

to 0.07 hectares in the country.

Stre

ngths

ECONOMY & OTHER IDEAS

In a politically sensitive state like

Jammu and Kashmir, economy is theleast talked about subject. In January2008 issue, just ahead of thepresentation of state's annual budget,

Epilogue met the incumbent and theformer Finance Minister as alsoleading economists to list suggestions

for turning around the economy. Afreewheeling discussion with thenGovernor Lt Gen SK Sinha brought tothe readers Raj Bhawan's perception

about the state of affairs in the state.

SUGGESTED READINGS

VO L . 2 , I SSUE 1 , J ANUARY 2 0 0 8

Crude Birth Rate of 18.9 of J&K State is lower than the national level

birth rate of 23.8.

Crude Death Rate of 5.5 of J&K State is also lower than the national

death rate of 7.6.

Infant Mortality Rate of 50 of J&K state is lower than the national

infant mortality rate of 58.

Institutional births rate of J&K State of 54.3% is higher than the

national rate of 40.7%.

Average Population covered per Health Institution during the period from

1950-2009 has decreased from 26240 to 3121.

F A C T O I D S

Strengths18



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tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

Stre

ngths

ourism generates employment, though it is difficult toTmeasure or calculate the employment generation as thesejobs are scattered across many sectors and cannot be

identified without a proper survey. However, according to

some rough estimates, 20% of people get direct and indirect

employment from Tourism Sector. Tourism is one of the

important revenue earners for people in the state, though the

industry has suffered a lot due to law and order problems, but

there are definite signs of its revival. The annual revenue

earnings made under the Tourism sector during the last 4 years

is about 103.62 crore. There has been substantial increase inthe earnings during the last four years from Rs. 2072.26 lakh

during 2004-05 to Rs. 2916.93 lakh during 2007-08. The

percentage of earnings has been more by 40.76% during 2007-

08 when put in comparison to the figures of 2004-05. The influx

of tourists to J&K has increased from 28.35 lakh in 1988 to

77.18 lakh in 2008 showing an increase of 172.19% in tourist

rush during the last two decades.

FAVOURITE TouristDestination

TABLE : TOURISTS ARRIVAL FROM 2004 TO ENDING NOV. 2009

Year Kashmir Valley Jammu Ladakh

Amarnathji Domestic Foreign Total (Mata Domestic Foreign Total GrandVaishno Total

Devi Ji)

1988 96055 662097 59938 818090 1992595 8608 16256 24864 2835549

2004 400000 358000 19000 777000 6100000 13000 22000 35000 6912000

2005 388000 585702 19680 993382 6251998 13781 2465 38446 7283826

2006 265000 412879 20009 697888 6950573 17822 26078 43900 7692361

2007 213565 417264 24576 655405 7222318 22102 28477 50579 7928302

2008 498075 550100 22000 1070175 6576000 39000 33000 72000 7718175

2009 373419 520454 20809 914682 7657000 47127 30446 78573 8650255

Domestic & Foreign Tourist Arrivals to Ladakh

'TOWARDS FOOD SECURE

JAMMU AND KASHMIR'

In Epilogue's April 2008 issue, the world

famous Agriculture Scientist and father ofgreen revolution in India, MS Swaminthan

outlined the measures for making Jammuand Kashmir food surplus. Agriculture

Minister Abdul Aziz Zargar made a detailedaccount of government policies and the Vice

Chancellors of two Agriculture UniversitiesSKUAST, Jammu and SKUAST, Kashmir

outlined the research activities for promotingagriculture in Jammu and Kashmir. This

issue is an important reading forunderstanding agriculture in J&K

SUGGESTED READINGS

V O L . 2 , I S S U E 4 , A P R I L 2 0 0 8

19Strengths



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tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

he industrial sector produced handicraft

Tgoods for the year 2007-08 worth Rs.

1614.59 crore. The production figures for the

year 2008-09 are RS.1100.00 crore approxi-

mately. The Department has a target of pro-

ducing handicraft goods worth Rs.1150.00

crore during 2009-10. Exports of handicrafts

have also maintained upward trend during the

years. Handicrafts goods valuing RS.12.00

crore were exported during the year 2007-08.

However, there was a decline of export sales to Rs.7.00 crore

during the year 2008-09. Handloom industry also occupies a

premier position in the State's economy. There are approxi-

mately 37000 handlooms in the State, out of which Kashmir

Valley is having a share of about 70%. In the cooperative sector

during the year 2008-09 approximately 7.045 million meters

of handloom fabrics valuing Rs.36.61 crore was produced.

WORD Famous Handicrafts

Stre

ngths

TIME FOR TRANS LOC TRADE

Jammu and Kashmir has suffered a

huge cost of conflict. But there isalways a time to turn the challengesinto opportunities. June 2008 issueof Epilogue talked about Cross-LoC

trade between two parts of Jammuand Kashmir as means of buildingnot only peace but also strong

economy. This issue was a sequel toour earlier issue on the subject inSeptember 2007

SUGGESTED READINGS

V O L . 2 , I S S U E 6 , J U N E 2 0 0 8

ivestock sector engages a sizeable number of workforceLnot only in rearing of animals but also in processing,transportation and sale of animal products. As per livestock

census of 2003, total livestock in the state has increased from

91.75 lakh in 1997 to 98.99 lakh showing an increase of 7.9%.

The number of livestock per 1000 of population as per 2003

livestock census was 926 animals while as at all India level the

number of livestock

p e r 1 0 0 0 o f

population works

out to be only 457

animals. Average

l i v e s t o c k p e r

household i s 6

animals in the state

compared to 3

animals at the

national level.

POPULOUS Livestock

Strengths20



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Stre

ngths

he Industrial sector of the J&K State comprising of manufacturing sector (both registered & un-registered),

TConstruction, Electricity, Water supply and Gas and Mining & Quarrying is growing slowly. Overallcontribution of Industrial Sector to GSDP has risen from 22.79% in 1999-00 to 27.43% in 2007-08. The slowgrowth in Industrial sector is mainly attributed to sluggish growth of manufacturing and construction activities

within the secondary sector. The contribution of Manufacturing sector (both registered & un-registered) in

GSDP of J&K is increasing day by day and has increased from 4.71% in 1999-00 to 6.56% in 2007-08. Taking

individually, the manufacturing sector (Registered) contributes 3.09% and (un-registered contributes 3.46% to

GSDP of the state. The contribution of Construction sector to GSDP of the J&K state is also increasing over the

years and has increased from 7.59% in 1999-00 to 16.99% in 2007-08. The construction sector is growing

significantly which is evident from the fact that its contribution to GSDP has more than doubled during the

p e r i o d f r o m

1999-00 to 2007-

08. The small

scale industriessector plays a

pivotal role in

J&K state in the

absence of large

scale industrial

set-up. It has

r e c o r d e d a

constant growth

rate. The number

of small scale

industrial units in

the state has

increased from 43689 in 2001-02 to 50472 in 2007-08,registering an annual average growth rate of 2.44 percent. As

a consequence of increase in SSI units, employment

generation increased from 1.94 lacs in 2001-02 to 2.30 lacs in

2007-08, registering average annual growth rate of 2.98%.

PICKING Up Industrial Culture

SETTING OUT AGENDA FOR OMAR

GOVERNMENT

Barely a month after Omar Abdullahtook over as youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Epiloguereached out to an array of best brains

across the country. February 2009 issuelisted key suggestions from experts oftheir fields on what they wanted the

young Chief Minister to do for makingJammu and Kashmir the best state tolive in. Among the participants wereAmb Salman Haider, Lt Gen Patankar,

PR Chari, Balraj Puri and Madhu Kishwar

SUGGESTED READINGS

VOL. 3 , ISSUE 2 , FEBRUARY 2009

Census 2001 has revealed that 55% households live in permanent houses,

32.15% in semi-permanent houses and 12.85% were living in temporary

houses, and the relative position in India was 51.80%, 30.04% and 18.16%

respectively.

Categorizing the households living in owned, rented and other categories

works out to be 93%, 5% and 2% for J&K and 87%, 11 % and 2%

respectively for India.

F A C T O I D S

21 tOWARDS vIBRANT j&kStrengths



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tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

s the saying goes, advantage never comes without a disadvantage or two.While Jammu and Kashmir's location at map is it biggest strength it is aAweakness as well. For its remoteness and mountainous terrain, Jammu and

Kashmir faces special developmental challenges and is therefore known for a high

cost mountain economy. Remoteness and isolation is a major drawback. It is

landlocked and located far from the major markets. High transport costs make it

harder to turn to the major markets to compensate for the drawbacks of the small

size of its domestic markets. Despite 6 decades of planning, 1755 habitations are

yet to be connected. The PWD road length per 100 Sq Kms of area for the state is

18.55 Kms which is lowest in the country. In many parts of the state, we have road

density as low as 3.33 Kms (Leh) and

just 6.84 Kms (Kargil) per 100 sq Kms

of area. In rural areas with more than

seventy percent population, road

connectivity requires improvements.

The Jammu-Srinagar Highway is the

only lifeline that connects the state

to the rest of the country. The government has taken the

initiative of creating an alternate highway via Shopian-

Bufliaz popularly known as Mughal road. The construction of

this road is presently going on at full swing and the project

is expected to be completed by 2012 under the Prime

Ministers Reconstruction Plan (PMRP). The topographical

landscape of the State presents the alternates like civil

aviation as a costly affair. However, commissioning of

Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport at Srinagar has openedthe new vistas for enhancing connectivity at International

level which will in-turn facilitate international tourism,

promote international trade especially export which will

provide a big push to the economy and generate avenues of

better employment.

Jammu and Kashmir badly suffers from limited capacity in

the public and private sectors. The access to national capital

markets/external capital is very limited for J&K. Most private

sector enterprises are still in the primitive stage of

organization. The residents of J&K experience higher volatility

in their incomes. Overall, the range of per capita income and

rates of growth are not significantly different across Indian

state economies. Because of its small domestic markets, J&Kis relatively un-diversified in its production structure and

exports.

Due to adverse climatic conditions during winters,

agricultural activities remain suspended as a result of which,

only one crop is sown during the year in most parts of the

state.

INSUFFICIENT Connectivity

wea

knesses

BUILDING PEACE COUNTERING

RADICALISATION

Any state can progress only whenpeople make united efforts.Bitterness between regions andreligions can be the worst spoiler.

Epilogue's December 2009 issuedealt with the agenda of counteringradicalization for building peace. It

was about launching a dialoguebetween three regions Jammu,Kashmir Valley and Ladakh

SUGGESTED READINGS

VOL. 3, ISSUE 12, DECEMBER 2009

Weaknesses22



25/56

he revenue from own resources to the state is very

Tlow (around 25%) of the total revenue receipts.Comparing the revenue situation of the state viz-a-vizits expenditures for last 5 years, there always remains

a deficit. This deficit has increased from Rs.1665.00

crore in 200-05 to Rs. 3386.00(E) crore in 2008-09. The

fiscal deficit comes to around 9.7% of GSDP in 2008-09,

which in the year 2006-07 was 6.6%. The Fiscal deficit

of around 10% is unsustainable. It requires immediate

corrective action. Multi-pronged strategy in terms of

mobilization of additional resources, greater tax and

non-tax collections, cost of recovery of use charges, full

funding of Plan and expenditure compression, particularly

establishment related, is required to be put in place. Interms of economic growth, Jammu & Kashmir is not placed

at desired level having 21st place in the race at the India

level. Among fast growing states/UTs economically,

Chandigarh tops the list registering growth rate of 13.6% fol-

lowed by Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Goa and Maharashtra. The

bottom ranks are occupied by Jharkhand, Bihar and Manipur.

If ranked in terms of per capita income at constant prices in

2005-06, Chandigarh has got the highest per capita income in

the country. Goa, Delhi, Pondicherry, Haryana, Maharashtra

and Punjab are also among the top ones. Jammu & Kashmir is

placed at the lower 22nd place (total 35) which shows the

state has not kept pace with the other States/UTs. The bot-

tom ranks in per capita income are held by the States of

Mizoram, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Growth in primary sector

which include Agriculture & Allied activities is stagnant at

1.79%-2007 -08(A) as compared to growth rate of 3.95% in

2007-08 at the national level. Secondary sector is also stag-

nant registering a growth of 11.18% against 11.45% at the

national level in 2007-08. Tertiary sector is slated to grow at

6.15% as against a growth of 6.26% in 2007-08. The growth of

tertiary sector at national level as compared to state is much

higher at 11.08% in 2007-08. The annual average Growth rate

of per capita income is not growing at the desired rate and

hence is not able to keep pace with the national averages

which results in poor purchasing capacity of the commonmasses. However, there is not much wide gap in income dis-

tribution since the income is almost fairly distributed among

the inhabitants of the state which has resulted into emer-

gence of larger section of middle class society whileas in

other parts of the country income distribution has wide gaps

which results in inequitable wealth and welfare distribution

resulting in poverty, illiteracy etc.

POOR Domestic Share in Revenues

If ranked in terms of per capita income at constant

prices in 2005-06, Chandigarh has got the highest

per capita income in the country. Goa, Delhi,

Pondicherry, Haryana, Maharashtra and Punjab are

also among the top ones. Jammu & Kashmir is placed

at the lower 22nd place (total 35) which shows the

state has not kept pace with the other States/UTs.

wea

knesses

CONNECTING JAMMU AND

KASHMIR ROAD, RAIL, AIR

For any state, roads are the lifeline of

economy. Poor communicationnetwork is one of the biggestdisadvantages before Jammu andKashmir. March 2009 issue of

Epilogue discussed all means ofcommunications in the state road,rail and air and suggested measures

for improvement.

SUGGESTED READINGS

V O L . 3 , I S S U E 3 , M A R C H 2 0 0 9

23 tOWARDS vIBRANT j&kWeaknesses



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tOWARDS vIBRANT j&k

wea

knesses

The Index of Industrial Production. (IIP) estimates of J&K State (1999-00) estimates were, 100.874 in 2004-

05, 109.462 in 200506 and 108.82. in 2006-07, whereas it has crossed 200 mark in many other states of the

country. The low growth index reveals that industrial performance needs to be improved further which in

turn will generate high quality employment in the nonagricultural sector.

The share of agriculture and allied sectors towards GSDP has declined from 51.05% in 1980-81 to 31 % in

1999-2000 and around 25% in 2008-09 at constant prices. Less contribution of Agriculture towards state

economy is attributed to the following factors:

Low Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) in case of High Yielding Verities (HYV) of major crops is less than 10% in

comparison to the national level SRR of 25%. To sustain continuous growth in productivity, seed manage-

ment plays a vital role.

Stagnation in the average yield rate of 16.5 quintals per hectare.

Stagnated cultivable area (Le. 801 thousand Hectares). Stagnant net area sown percentage of 30% over the

years from 2003-4 to 2008-09.

Availability of irrigation facility to only 42% of the net area

sown.

Inadequate double cropping- due to lack of irrigation facil-ity in some areas and climatic difficulty in others.

Small size of land' holdings. 94% of the land holdings fall in

the size class of less than 2 hectare.

Lack of irrigation, as around 58% of the net area sown is

rainfed.

Inadequate research in the field of agriculture in the state.

Inadequate Agricultural Finance facilities.

Horticulture is no doubt contributing substantially to the

State GDP but there are certain problems/weaknesses, which

are proving as hindrances for further growth of this sector.

The problem areas are:

Absence of Post Harvest infrastructure non-

establishment of cold storages has locked the growth of this

sector. At present, post harvest losses are estimated about

2030%. Experts say that there are losses to the extent of 10%

at field level, 5% at transportation level, 2% during packag-

ing, 9% at storage, 4% at processing Le.30% in total.

Surprisingly there is not even a single cold storage facility

for apple preservation in the valley. The lack of this facility

forces the farmers to sell their produce at che

epilogue magazine, june 2010

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