Dual Strategy To Rebuild Kashmir Economy

2 mins read
Kashmir

From The Editor / The Legitimate
With the markets and transport in Kashmir valley making a gradual comeback from Monday after authorities lifted the restrictions partially, the economic vows Kashmiris were facing unprecedentedly may also be eased out.

Since March this year, Kashmir witnessed another spell of shutdown as it was yet to overcome the losses it suffered due to complete shutdown in 2019 after the Union government abrogated provisions of Article 370 and 35A completely. In March the lockdown was imposed after COVID-19 played havoc with human lives across the globe and Kashmir too suffered massive losses.

The authorities justified the shutdown on the grounds that COVID 19 was spreading very fast and may cause massive human catastrophe in case the Standard Operation Procedures are not practiced fully. Lockdown was the first SOP imposed. While in other parts of the country, the lockdown was gradually eased out and life was getting normal, in Kashmir, it took more time, and still, the normalcy is not fully restored. Authorities are just taking measures on a trial basis to resume the normal activities and allowing transporters and business houses to gear up partially.

Kashmir in the last 12 months has suffered over 5 billion dollars to the lockdowns; first after Article 370 abrogation and now to an ongoing pandemic COVID-19. KCCI, the rich trade body of Kashmir last week put a statement in the media criticizing authorities for making different yardsticks in Kashmir from the rest of the country in dealing with COVID-19. The KCCI claimed that when Maharashtra is the worst hit of the pandemic, it still continues with normal life while practicing SOP’s. But in Kashmir, there is a blanket ban on socioeconomic activities. As the pandemic is living with humans for some time till vaccines are available in the market, the socioeconomic concerns for the normal people cannot be put aside. Meanwhile, the new LG Manoj Sinha who after assuming the office met for the first time to the trade body in Kashmir and promised a slew of measures to elevate the fraternity from the losses it suffered in the last one year. The people in Kashmir must wait and see how the promises made in the meeting are being transpired on the ground.

But in the meanwhile, there is a need to restore the all socioeconomic sectors in Kashmir to avoid the major economic collapse. It is impossible for the people of Kashmir to bear the more economic losses as hundreds and thousands of people have already lost the jobs. The tourism industry is crippled, so is the manufacturing and retail market.

The construction industry is facing immense pressure given to massive gaps in the supply and demand chain. Now it is time to work on dual strategy. While the people must be allowed to return to normal life with strict implementation of SOP’s to stop the spread of Coronavirus, on the other hand, the UT administration also introduced economic measures and discussed the economic package for the affected sectors with the central government. This way only the Kashmir economy can be rebuilt.

Latest from Archives