Sumit Hakoo in Jammu
THE five working groups were set up by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre. The aim was to involve stakeholders from various regions, ethnic groups and social organisations in J&K in the entire gamut of the issues facing the people, including ways to bring peace in the region affected by terrorism. The following were the high five:
The four working groups gave their reports in April 2007 to PM Manmohan Singh during the third roundtable in Delhi. A high-level committee was formed in February 2008 headed by then union home secretary to oversee implementation of the recommendations of the four groups. Following were the objectives and results:
Group I headed Hamid Ansari: Improve the condition of people affected by militancy, rehabilitation of orphans and widows, issues relating to the relaxation of conditions for persons who have foresworn militancy; effective rehabilitation policy, including employment, for Kashmiri Pandit migrants, an approach to return of Kashmiri youth from areas controlled by Pakistan, steps to protect and preserve the unique cultural and religious heritage.
Ground Reality: Some centrally sponsored schemes implemented for militancy victims particularly orphans and widows, two key recommendation of the WG-I.
No much headway on return of Kashmiri youth from Pakistan and rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
Nothing on AFSPA and Disturbed Areas Act because of continued Pak support to cross-border terrorism. A job package for Pandits was implemented in 2010, no further steps for their return and rehab following opposition from separatists. Centre slow in allowing Kashmiri youth from Pakistan to settle back in Kashmir.
Group II: Strengthening ties across LoC: (chairman M. Rasgotra): To recommend steps to simplify procedures to facilitate travel across LoC, increase goods traffic, expand people-to-people contact, open up new routes such as Kargil-Skardu
Ground Reality: Trade and visits started in 2006, but no headway to increase people-to-people contact. Opening of Kargil-Skardu is unlikely in near future as Pak shows little interest.
Group III: Economic development (chairman: Dr C Rangrajan): Ensure balanced economic development and employment generation, a balanced regional and sub-regional development.
Ground Reality: No headway in transferring 390mw Dulhasti and 1020mw Bursar project. Despite government expressing its commitment to balanced development, unemployment, development disparity, regional divide and rising grievances about corruption are key challenges.
Group IV: Good governance (chairman: NC Saxena): Increase responsiveness, accountability and transparency of the administration, strengthen local self-government, monitor development programmes, promote zero tolerance for rights violations.
Ground Reality: No serious attempt to strengthen accountability commission and bring transparency. Panchayat system and urban local bodies remain without much power. Majority of the developmental projects run behind schedule. Rights situation has improved but continued provocation by separatists and militants has led to death of several youths in protests.
Group V: Strengthening ties between state and Centre (late Justice Sageer Ahmed). Matters relating to the special status within the Union; effective devolution of powers.
Ground reality: The recommendations on some sort of autonomy in the Justice Sagheer Ahmed working group report caused discord between NC and Congress when they were in coalition (2009-2014). A cabinet sub-committee formed to give its opinion on the matter failed to reach any consensus.
‘Recommendations redundant, irrelevant’
Former BJP ideologue Prof Hari Om, who had presented the party in working groups, says their recommendations have become redundant and irrelevant.
Prof Hari Om, who had attended deliberations in the working groups and round table conference as vice president of the BJP, argued that recommendations were by and large Kashmir-centric. The wishes and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Ladakh were “deliberately ignored,” he said.
“There is no mention of such issues as problems faced by West Pakistani refugees, rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri Hindus and issues concerning refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)”, he said. Prof Hari Om had signed a dissent note in the recommendations.
Panun Kashmir (PK) chairman Ajay Chrangoo was also a member of Working Group on Centre-State ties.
“The report was submitted without taking most members into confidence”, Chrangoo says. The entire process was a futile attempt to negate the aspirations of national population in the state that believes in Constitution of India, he said.
— Dinesh Manhotra in Jammu
A decade of ups & downs
— Compiled by Azhar Qadri
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