2012
Win boosts confidence

The NC and Congress coalition partner candidates won all four seats of the Legislative Council.

taking on terror (September 27): Omar Abdullah takes on the militants, challenging them to attack him instead of sarpanches and panches who had resigned from their posts after a series of threats and attacks against them.

Poll win (December 6): The National Conference gets a boost after it, along with its coalition partner Congress, wins all four Legislative Council seats.

2013
Fresh trouble

Afzal hanging (February 9): The ‘secret’ execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in New Delhi brings fresh trouble for the Omar Abdullah government after two preceding peaceful summers. Curfew and restrictions are imposed across the Valley to handle the law and order situation arising out of the hanging.

Curfew in Srinagar after the hanging of Afzal Guru.

rail link (June 26): Kashmir is connected via the rail link. Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister criticises BJP leaders for calling for the revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, warning that any such attempt will have to be done ‘on our dead bodies’.

flyover (September 28): Omar lays the foundation stone of the 2.41-km flyover to be built at a cost of Rs 351 crore in Srinagar.

Kishtwar riots (August 9): Communal riots in Kishtwar town after Eid prayers and incompetence of the district administration to control the situation triggers a nationwide uproar, with voices of the dismissal of the Omar government getting louder. Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo resigns following the riots.

points of pain
Law and order was a challenge following execution of Afzal Guru
Communal riots in Kishtwar town

Timeline by Azhar Qadri/ Photos by Amin War

The goods stacked up, cash didn’t

FINANCE

Deficit grows

PROMISED: To make the state self-reliant in terms of finances, effective financial management by ensuring revenue resources, tax collection and bringing down fiscal deficit was proposed. Austerity measures were announced for Cabinet ministers, their deputies and ‘babus’.

ACHIEVED: The government failed to reduce the fiscal deficit as per the recommendation of the 13th Finance Commission. The state had to maintain the fiscal deficit at 4.7 per cent of the GSDP, which was not achieved as the deficit was 5.9 per cent even after deferring payment of about Rs 3,368 crore on account of revision of pay and pension after adopting recommendations of the Central Sixth Pay Commission report.

Last year, the Planning Commission of India sliced J&K’s annual plan by giving Rs 700 crore less than the projection made by the state government. This is for the first time in the recent past that J&K failed to get any step-up in the annual allocation.

The total income of the state from all resources is Rs 6,500 crore while the annual salary of government employees has risen to Rs 13,500 crore. The state has to spend Rs 2,000 on pension and is incurring electricity losses to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore per year. Nearly 20 government-owned companies and corporations are almost bankrupt.

What remains: The Centre has withheld the Rs 2,064-crore Special Plan Assistance in the current fiscal, creating the worst-ever crisis for the state following mismanagement and sheer fiscal incompetence of the government. The state depends on the Centre to pay salary of its around 4 lakh employees. Tax collections need to be more effective and austerity measures must be adhered to in letter and spirit.

POWER

Potential not harnessed

PROMISED: For the cash-strapped state, power production was the best means to achieve financial self-reliance. Reorganisation of the power sector, effective realisation of revenue and start of various mega, medium and small hydro-electric projects to harness the maximum power potential against the total generation capacity of 20,000 MW was proposed. J&K was in a position to produce only 21.66 per cent power while the rest of it was purchased from other states.

ACHIEVED: Little has been done to bring down transmission and distribution losses which continue to hover around 62 per cent. Revenue collection from commercial and domestic consumers continues to remain dismal. It has collected Rs 1,450 crore against the target of Rs 1,900 crore for the financial year 2012-13. It had spent Rs 4,000 crore to purchase electricity from different resources in the last fiscal alone. Snubbed by the Planning Commission of India, the government has revised revenue target assigned to the power development department from Rs 2,340 crore to Rs 2,800 crore for the current financial year, which is unlikely to be achieved. The state has been facing a deficit of a whopping Rs 2,000 crore annually.

What remains: The government is working on a roadmap to realise generation of 9,000 MW by the end of 2014. The cent per cent e-metering of commercial and domestic establishments has remained a pipe dream for the power department as half-a-million consumers are still consuming power without meters. Successful commissioning of power projects will be a challenge.

TOURISM

Strong on numbers

PROMISED: Militancy, instability and decree of hardliners ruined the tourism industry, considered the backbone of the state’s economy. The government resolved to revive tourism and bring ‘unexplored and virgin landscapes’ on tourist map. It proposed to persuade foreign nations to withdraw their travel advisories and remove curbs for visiting restricted areas as well. The European Union had issued advisories to its citizens, cautioning them against visiting Kashmir since 1989. The government planned to push the state as an adventure tourism destination.

ACHIEVED: Relative peace and improvement in the security situation across the state paid rich dividends to the government when the UK withdrew its two-decade advisory to its nationals against travel to Srinagar, Jammu and Ladakh. A record number of over 25 lakh visitors, including a sizeable number of foreigners, visited the Valley in 2012 and 2013. The number of pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi Temple was over 196 lakh and 12 lakh Amarnath pilgrims paid obeisance in the last two years. Bollywood made a beeline for Kashmir, with superstars shooting films on the banks of the Dal Lake. The Centre has sanctioned 20 tourism projects worth Rs 97.36 crore. During the past five years, the state government sanctioned around Rs 450 crore for tourism.

What remains: Bureaucratic hiccups have delayed the completion of major tourism projects. Renovation of the historic Mubarak Mandi complex — the royal residence of erstwhile Dogra rulers — is moving at a snail’s pace. The Bahu Fort-Mubarak Mandi ropeway and Patnitop ropeway projects have failed to take off so far. Major fresh water lakes, including Wular, Manasbal, Mansar and Surinsar are yet to be fully developed. The tourist market in Southeast Asia, Middle East, the Gulf and Germany needs to be harnessed.

‘Peace the key’

Peace and tranquility are vital for the growth of tourism. Despite unwarranted incidents, the state has recorded an increase in tourist influx over the past five years. The credit for this goes to the people, stakeholders, bureaucracy and politicians. We have 365 days more. If peace prevails, we are hopeful 2014 will be the year of tourism.
GHULAM AHMAD MIR, MINISTER FOR TOURISM

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

No ration for 24 lakh people

PROMISED: As serpentine queues outside fair price shops was the order of the day, the government assured to put in place an effective mechanism to streamline the distribution of essential commodities to remote and snow-covered areas. It proposed to initiate drastic measures to overhaul the PDS, improve supply of LPG and stocking of ration, and expedite revision of BPL ration cards.

ACHIEVED: To some extent, the PDS has been streamlined and efforts have been made to bring in transparency and accountability. The government brought an ordinance to clear impediments regarding the acquisition and use of land falling under the 750-km Bathinda-Srinagar gas pipeline via Jammu, in view of the special position of J&K under Article 370. The project will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 880 crore.

What remains: The state is reeling under the shortage of 16,500 metric tonnes of ration every month. It doesn’t have ration for nearly 24 lakh people as it was getting ration as per the projected population of the 2001 Census. This will continue till the government introduces the Food Security Act and the Centre agrees to the state’s demand for the allocation of ration as per the 2011 Census. People living in remote places are still facing difficulties in getting subsidised ration

‘Will set up more gas agencies’

Efforts are on to streamline PDS and make it more transparent. The Valley used to face ration and LPG shortage during winter but we took measures to improve stocking of essential commodities. We are opening 172 gas agencies to ensure hassle-free supply. We have also proposed to open 5,000 ration depots.
CHOUDHARY MOHAMMAD RAMZAN, MINISTER FOR CAPD

AGRICULTURE

Partial success

PROMISED: Rapid shrinking of agricultural land, weather vagaries and shifting of farmers towards cash crops were areas of concern. The government assured to ‘glamorise’ agriculture to develop an interest in farming among people, particularly the youth.

ACHIEVED: The government lifted the inter-state ban on basmati grown in the RS Pura area which is now available in the US and Middle-East markets. Seed replacement and new scheme of providing farm machinery on subsidised rates yielded good results, with people showing interest in agriculture.

What remains: The state’s total foodgrain production is about 18 lakh metric tonnes against its requirement of 23 lakh metric tonnes. The crisis may deepen if immediate corrective measures to stop conversion of land from agriculture to non-agriculture are not put in place. This matter pertains to the revenue department which had introduced an important legislation — Jammu and Kashmir Prohibition on Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-Agricultural Purposes Act in 2011 — but its fate is hanging in balance.

‘Thrust on maize production’

Seed replacement has brought good results as productivity has increased. We have introduced new technology in agriculture and farmers are being provided with quality seed. Hybrid seeds of maize have brought in a revolution in Jammu division. Our focus will be on the production of maize in Kashmir. We are providing marketing facility to farmers on their doorstep. Cold storage stores are being constructed.
GHULAM HASSAN MIR , MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE

HEALTH

Primary healthcare best

PROMISED: Strengthening of basic infrastructure in health institutions, especially in neglected and rural pockets. Families below poverty line and labourers to be brought under Swasthya Bima Yojana. Drug policy based on rational use of drugs and promise to promote local manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, besides making provision for an essential list of medicines to be procured by the government for distribution. Improved healthcare facilities at two super-speciality hospitals in Jammu (pic above) and Srinagar.

ACHIEVED: Jammu and Kashmir received India's top award for primary healthcare, surpassing health departments from metropolitan cities and other states. Little has been done to improve infrastructural deficiencies in health centres of rural areas. The government adopted a new drug policy to streamline medicine procurement and check influx of spurious drugs. The government submitted a comprehensive plan of Rs 2,600 crore to the Centre to upgrade healthcare services in the state.

What remains: The health department is facing a shortage of around 1,300 doctors and 3,330 paramedics and nurses. There are around 3,000 health institutions (1,859 in Kashmir and 1,142 in Jammu). The super-speciality hospitals are yet to provide better healthcare due to shortage of manpower and equipment. Nearly 50 per cent posts are vacant in government medical colleges in Jammu and Srinagar. About 76 per cent health institutions are still functioning from rented accommodations. These institutions also face shortage of doctors and infrastructure. The number of females per 1,000 males (aged between 0-6) had plummeted to 859 as compared to 941 in 2001. A pro-active approach and a multi-pronged strategy are required.

EDUCATION

Topper in schools

PROMISED: Universalisation of elementary and higher education was proposed, besides working out strategies for effective and successful implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes. It was promised to give impetus to professional education and job-oriented courses to tackle unemployment.

ACHIEVED: The state received the Best School Education Department Award from the President in 2013. However, implementation of Centrally sponsored schemes, RMSA, SSA and MDSA, turned out to be the biggest failure. The government had announced 22 new degree colleges, including 11 model degree colleges, in the state. At least 9,000 promotions in various cadres of school education department have been made.

What remains: Most new degree colleges are still functioning from a temporary accommodation with two or three rooms, either in private houses or higher secondary schools in their respective areas. Infrastructural deficiencies and 11,000 vacant posts of lecturer and teacher are still a challenge.

‘Advisory council on cards’

We will constitute a higher education advisory council to explore the possibilities of opening new universities and colleges. It will hold deliberations with the Centre to get funding for the institutions. The thrust will be on expediting halted construction work, upgrade of infrastructure in colleges, introduction of job-oriented courses, increasing the intake capacity in universities and colleges, especially those offering professional courses.
MOHAMMAD AKBAR LONE, MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Voices

POLITICAL

‘Era of empowerment, peace’

The Omar Abdullah government's term has been an era of empowerment, peace and prosperity. The common man has been empowered through the Panchayati Raj; and 'to ask questions' and 'to know why' through an institutional mechanism, whether it is the SIC, SVC, SAC or Public Services Guarantee Act. Peace has led to economic resurgence. The phenomenal increase in the per capita income and GSDP speaks volumes about development. The government has made a sincere effort to tackle unemployment and unemployability by first tracking the issue and then creating an ecosystem which generated avenues for employment and self-employment. The performance has also to be seen in the light of the morass that the state was in 2008, when regional and communal passions were at their peak and whose aftermath was even felt in 2009 and 2010. But the sincerity and integrity of purpose of Omar cannot be doubted. Through various challenges, he came out unscathed because of his dedication to the ultimate aim of the welfare of people of the entire state, irrespective of caste, creed, religion or region.
Devender Singh Rana, provincial president, jammu, national conference

‘Hypocritical self-adulation’

The five-year account of the coalition government in terms of achievements is a damp squib. It is indulging in hypocritical self-adulation without delivering anything on the ground. The rule is an era of non-governance, non-performance, regional bias, fractioned work culture, lack of accountability, fiscal indiscipline, patronised corruption and poor government deliverance. It has not kept its promises."
Harsh Dev Singh, leader of panthers legislature party

‘people feel Alienated’

The performance has been disappointing. The Congress in particular will have to pay a heavy price in the state in general and Jammu and Ladakh provinces in particular. It has let down the people to please its communal masters in the Valley. The government indulged in the politics of bluff as it grossly ignored and politically marginalised the people of these regions."
Jugal Kishore Sharma, state bjp president

‘Credibility lost’

The performance is far behind the expectations of people. Corruption is rampant and there is administrative apathy. Can the government survive on its claims made in advertisements and the media? It must do something to bring credibility in the system and vital institutions.
MY Tarigmai, cpi (m) mla

‘No peace initiatives’

Omar failed to carry forward peace initiatives and has flittered away the achievements of his predecessors. Despite strong relations in New Delhi, he has failed to bring any benefit to the state. All major projects funded by Asian Development Bank have been stopped.
Naeem Akhtar, pdp chief spokesperson

from the street

srinagar
‘Good person, bad CM’

The MLA concerned has never visited our area. I have been in this market for the last 35 years but never faced such problems. In the name of constructing a flyover, they rendered the people unemployed. He may be a good person, but a bad CM.
Nazir Ahmad (60), shopkeeper

‘Changes cosmetic’

If constructing fountains and installing traffic lights is a historic thing, then this government has definitely been historic.
Kamran Ali (29), self-employed

‘Failed expectations’

People had many expectations from him. He was called a young and dynamic CM. His manifesto promised jobs. To some extent he provided jobs through Udaan and other schemes. But corruption increased and the education system turned out to be a hoax in the face of scams.
Shayan Nabi (25), rapper

Jammu
‘Industry not upbeat’

The government has fulfilled some promises but there has been no accountability in administration. Delay in clearance of files and no time-specific delivery of services has kept them at bay. We have to struggle to get excise duty exemption. J&K has seen an investment of only Rs 1,000 crore from 2009 to 2012.
Annil Suri, bari brahmana industrial association

‘Youth jobless’

He is the first Chief Minister who has raised the issue of J&K accession and Article 370, creating doubt in the minds of investors. He created roadblocks for employment opportunities. Government jobs are not in consonance with the market trend.
Mahesh Koul, jammu university scholar

‘Info panel toothless’

The government executed very little on the ground. It conducted panchayat elections but failed to empower panchayat members. They brought in the RTI Act but the State Information Commission was rendered toothless after amendment to RTI rules. They constituted the State Vigilance Commission but J&K is still number two on the list of the most corrupt states in the country.
Raman Sharma, rti activist