Rameez Makhdoomi
In the past more than 5 years of National Conference- Congress led coalition government one has more often than not seen disappointing developments that have defined the inefficiency and rotten rule of the present government .
Abysmal human rights record, Scams, Heavy Load Shedding and other bleak veracities have defined the working of National Conference and Congress led government in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
On January 5, 2009, Omar Abdullah became the 11th and the youngest Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir after forming a government in coalition with the Congress party. Tipped as Kashmir’s hope, he began with a clean slate and distanced himself from the political and administrative blunders committed by the previous governments.
More than 5 years down the line, Omar Abdullah led Government has dashed the hopes of Kashmiris on many fronts. The human rights record of Omar Abdullah led government has simply been highly unimpressive and it is this bleak veracity especially the killing of 120 youth in 2010 which has dominated the news about the current government. Pertinently, the families of victims have often complained lack of justice and have expressed disenchantment with the government .
Pertinently, as a matter of great discomfort scores of youth have lost their vision on account of use of brute force on protests .
On the other side, one has also seen people facing quiet tough times in getting basic amenities like electricity and frequent power cuts marring their lives. As a matter of fact, the government has failed to harness 84 percent of the hydropower potential of the State forcing the energy-deficient J&K to purchase 28 percent power from outside last year.
Of the 20,000 MW estimated hydropower potential of the State, the government had identified 16,480 MW for harnessing.
However, of these 16,480 MW, the government has failed to harness 13,786 MW.
According to Jammu and Kashmir government’s Economic Survey 2013-14, which was tabled during the ongoing Budget session in the State’s winter capital – Jammu, only 2693.45 MW or 16 percent of the hydropower potential of the State has been harnessed so far.
Even the implementation of all important schemes has not happened at desired pace. On a grim note, the Jammu and Kashmir has performed dismally in utilization of funds under the National Health Rural Mission (NHRM). The state government has failed to utilize Rs 316 crore under the scheme during the past five years.
Recently in response to a question by PDP member Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, the Government had informed the Legislative Assembly that out of Rs 1063.58 crore allocated to J&K under the flagship health program during the past five years, Rs 316 crore remained unspent.
The government reply said that during 2008-2009, Rs 142.59 crore were available under NRHM out of which only Rs 81.77 crore were utilized, while in the year 2009-10 the state spent Rs 109 crore against the available funds of Rs 166.18 crore .
Again in the year 2011-10, against availability of Rs 216 crore, the state could utilize only Rs 157 crore.
Similarly, in the year 2011-12, the Government could utilize only Rs 189.87 crore against the availability of Rs 260.51 crore, while in the year 2012-13 the utilization of funds was recorded at Rs 209.12 crore against available funds of Rs 277.65 crore.
Painfully enough, the Jammu & Kashmir state witnessed no relief from corrupt practices in the present tenure of NC-Cong government with even prestigious MBBS exam scam surfacing. Common Entrance Test paper leak and selling scam is undoubtedly one big shameful scam among them.
Sometime back, Mercy Corps, a US based NGO, report on extensive corruption in Kashmir in its report painfully observes: “The corrupt are not looked down upon in Kashmiri society where monetary affluence is a major measure of success in life.” It adds: “Corruption has plagued every sphere of life and left the private sector desperately underdeveloped”.
The NGO quotes a young man saying: “You are confronted with corruption each time you enter a government office. Whether you want a license or an electricity connection or you are competing for a major tender, you are either directly asked of indirectly expected to offer a bribe”.
Inflation has risen considerably and has broke the bone of common man. For a state like Jammu & Kashmir which is vulnerable to supply side inflation due to various supply chain constraints, besides the demand side factors, the current level of inflation is a matter of deep concern. The current government has hardly offered any effective solution to the monster of inflation.
Without an iota of doubt the current NC-Congress led coalition government has dashed many a hopes.