MILITANCY IN KASHMIR – ITS IMPACT ON KASHMIRI ECONOMY
Introduction
Mesmerized by the beauty of Kashmir, mughal emperor Jahangir once said that he was ready to forsake all his empire if someone offered him Kashmir in exchange. Kashmir is often acknowledged by many to be the only state in india preserving its over 5,000 years old history. This natural paradise on earth is not just rich in history, but also in its natural diversity and eternal beauty.
However its historical and cotemporaneous glory is also tainted with the blood of a lot of innocent veins. Rise of militancy kashmir during the 1990s being the reason behind such bloodshed. Kashmir valley was almost peaceful after the independence from Britishers in 1947 till the outbreak of militancy in late 1980s
A conclusive definition of militancy in Kashmir is difficult to be coined. But its affects on the state’s economy and the livelihood of the local kashmiri people can be seen even with blind eyes.
Affect On Kashmiri Economy
The rise in militancy has brought the economy of the state to a that as compared to the other states. Kashmir was once flooded with tourists; both local as well as foreign ones. The backbone of the economy of the state was its tourism sector which saw an 86% decline in 1990s compared to 1980s. Tourism contributes a total of 7% of the state GDP which started dwindling when the militancy peaked in 1995. As per the govt records, more than a million tourists were visiting Kashmir every year before 1990s when the militancy started taking shape in Kashmir. Not only these tourists were providing livelihood to the local populace but they also supported other secondary industries like handicrafts, mountaineering and small scale manufacturing etc.Multiple violence activities in the kashmir valley has also affected many enterprises, people’s access to critical health services, their mental health, their basic fundamental rights and most importantly their livelihoods. People are deprived of their basic right of a dignified and a meaningful life only due to a dozen militant outfits operating ad trying to provide a concrete shape to their nefarious agendas whose blueprints are prepared across our borders . Almost every sector that would have boosted the economy of Kashmir has failed to flourish due to these activities.
Kashmir is a home to a lot of popular religious shrines of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Sikhs. People from all over the country visit these shrines every year in large with a lot of enthusiasm. This religious tourism also provides the locals many livelihood activities. Sadly, there has been a steep decline in the no of visitors thus taking out a lot of money from the hands of local Kashmiri people which further fueled the mass unemployment of Kashmiri youth. This unemployed youth of Kashmir are very effectively brainwashed by the anti national forces working across the borders with the help of their OGWs in the valley and convert them into militants.
Due to all this neither the govt nor the pvt sector investors have taken keen interest of investing heavily in Kashmir by setting up factories or other industries in the region. Risks of heavy investment with no major returns are by far most possible outcome with the current security situation. This has also been a major factor for the large unemployment prevalent in the state
Demographic profiles of the new militants in j&k in the last decade shows the rising trend of local boys picking up weapons, rather than foreign terrorists infiltrating into Kashmir valley is a worrying factor for the state. Furthermore due to loss In tourism sector and other malor industries, there has been a job loss of 1.5 lacs in the last five years. Handicraft industry has also suffered bad because it is highly dependent on the earnings from travelers visiting from around the globe.
Way Forward
The Indian armed forces have worked really hard in wresting the rise of the militancy in the valley. However In the last decade, Kashmiri militancy again gained grounds despite a decline from the high levels of militancy during mid 1990s. The cornerstone of unrest in the region is the rise in militancy and its connected activities which have certainly proven to be worst for the local kashmiris.
The life line of Kashmiri economy ie. Holidaymakers dropped visiting Kashmir in recent years which includes the religious tourists. However focusing on the brighter side of the picture, nature has gifted Kashmir with rich flora and fauna. The largest tulip gardens in Asia are found in Kashmir . it is very rich in its floriculture sector, Silk industry and Handicraft sector is the most prominent. It is land to some incredibly beautiful landscape on earth. Therefore whenever the security situation in the valley improves, it will not take much time for the Kashmiri economy to boom . Govt estimates show that if fully utilized, mountaineering and trekking sector can alone provide 2-3 lacs jobs and Rs 1,500 crores per annum to the Kashmiri exchequer.
However due to the existence of militancy and resultant existential crisis prevailing in kashmir, much less has been possible by the govts to carry out any development work in the valley as has been done in the other parts of the country. But with the reduction of militant activities being reported in the valley in the last 2-3 years, Kashmiri citizens will certainly rise above all and bring back its lost glory to their loved land.
Conclusion
The solution to the problems faced by the Kashmir and its people lies in the economical, social as well as educational development of the region. It lies in the proper education being offered to the youth of Kashmir which will further give boost to the employment opportunities which in turn will drastically move its youth away from engaging the militant activities.
A developed Kashmir will always stay like a “Kohinoor“ on the Indian crown. Its development will certainly help in raising the living standards of the fellow Kashmiris by taking them out of the clutches of violence, unrest, uneducation and poverty.
In the end, people here also have to understand that no matter what the situation of militancy goes in Kashmir, the territorial integrity of the land and the dignity of the people will always be preserved by our nation to its best of capacity.
