Bridges to Nowhere

There is an old adage: corruption is authority plus monopoly minus transparency. No other phrase has captured the menace as aptly. From subtle bribes to high-profile scams, corruption in Kashmir permeates various facets of our socio-economic realms, bringing with it considerable impediments.

As Kashmir marches forward with aspirations to progress, this looming nemesis continues to dampen the spirited momentum. Across Kashmir, tales of siphoned funds, inflated contracts, and phantom beneficiaries whisper like the wind through the pines.

Bridges meant to connect communities crumble before they’re finished, schools stand empty with leaking roofs, and hospitals lack basic equipment, their sterile halls echoing with the groans of neglected patients. Each unfulfilled promise, each shoddy construction, each missing medicine bottle is a testament to the insidious grip of corruption on the region’s development. The impact is not merely economic. It’s a betrayal of trust, a corrosion of hope…

Corruption in the context of Kashmir is not just an administrative dysfunction but is profoundly complex, tied up with its challenging political scenario. When one assesses the broader impact, corruption emerges as an underbelly beast that swallows not only developmental milestones but also public faith.

The skimming of development funds in Kashmir through illicit transactions continues to make a sizable dent in the region’s growth curve. Several reports point towards this conundrum. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (2021), India stands at an alarming 86th position, and within the country, the corruption landscape in Kashmir is particularly dismal.

Noteworthy projects that have become victims of this mire include the Rambagh-Jehangir Chowk Flyover project and the Jhelum River Flood Management project, delayed by many years due to gross mismanagement and corrupt practices. Several projects have been shrouded in corrupt practices involving construction material theft, funds diversion, and a blatant disregard for project completion deadlines.

In terms of measurable impacts, the cost of corruption can be quantified. For instance, it is not unusual for infrastructure costs in corruption-ridden projects to bloat by nearly 30%. This substantial increase invariably adds burden on the exchequer, undermining public spending capacity and directly impacting the developmental agenda.

The costs of corruption in Kashmir, however, aren’t limited to the monetary wastage or delay in infrastructural projects. These include public works, transport, healthcare, education, and social welfare programs, casting an indelible blot on the notion of fair, transparent governance.

For instance, let’s delve into the health sector’s corruption abyss in Kashmir. Medical facilities have grappled with allegations of procurement malpractices, skewed tender procedures, ghost employees, and medicine theft.

In the sphere of education, although several schemes aim to foster universal access to quality education in Kashmir, there have been recurrent complaints about misappropriation of funds intended for mid-day meals, fake enrolments, and leaking exam papers. These unethical practices, born from rampant corruption, deny young minds their fundamental right to education and set a poor precedent for future generations.

Besides these monetary costs, the indirect costs are even more potent. The consequences ripple outwards, poisoning the very fabric of society. Disillusionment festers, breeding cynicism and apathy.
J&K can be viewed as a poignant case study to examine the destructive impact of corruption. And the fight against corruption should be more than just rhetoric. Concrete action - transparency, accountability, judicial effectiveness, and rigorous governance - is required. Moreover, intensified audits, transparency and accountability mechanisms can help keep government expenditures under a watchful eye.

Stringent anti-corruption measures like effective laws, regular oversight, a proactive judiciary, and public awareness campaigns could make J&K a robust fortress against the attack of corruption.
Finally, the buck stops at public vigilance and mass participation.

If the people demand accountability and eschew the seeds of corruption, they will usher in an era where Kashmir thrives – not merely survives.

The time to act is now. Let us rise together, not as passive observers, but as active participants in this fight. Let us be the generation that exorcises the ghost of corruption and lays the foundation for a Kashmir where development truly serves its people, a Kashmir where every child can dream without fear, a Kashmir where every project stands as a testament not to greed, but to hope.

BY MAHOOR HAYA SHAH