People’s Agenda: Priorities for the present government

There are some big challenges that the government will need to take head on.  The current government has a lot of work ahead in addressing Jammu and Kashmir unemployment. The youth have voted because they need jobs. Every party made unemployment a primary concern in their manifesto, therefore, it’s the duty of the Omar Abdullah led government to fulfill the promises made by him and his party candidates to provide employment opportunities. The government has to focus on industrial development.

While making manifesto, the government also knows how to keep things running well and what plans of action to take to solve issues. Words are not spoken for the sake of speaking. It’s time to implement the right policies. The culture of nepotism and favoritism has to go. Last few years have been jobless years. Many people have cast their votes in the recent election with the singular focus: jobs. And they are looking to their elected leaders to provide a framework for economic stability and growth.

The government need to prioritize policies, addressing drug menace in Jammu and Kashmir as voters are clearly calling for measures to combat the rising drug problem among youth. The government has to tackle the drug menace as early as possible. At present there are huge numbers of NDPS cases in the courts which is alarming. The drug menace should be tackled and rehabilitation centers should be well maintained.

The government should work on the rehabilitation centers. Hygiene, in house treatment and consultation should be given to the drug abusers and same shall be monitored and reported. Heroine consumption which was not common in J&K until the past few years, has been steadily rising. The rate of Charas and Cannabies intake is too  high. To stop the youth from being drug addicts, cross border smuggling needs to be stopped through effective measures. Rackets should be exposed, suppliers should be arrested. The police should not favor anyone. Candidates have promised to tackle this critical issue and people are going to hold them accountable for delivering on these commitments.

In Jammu and Kashmir, youth is not struggling with only one problem. A significant number of youth are languishing in prisons. As voters cast their votes, they are driven by the desire to see an end to wrongful detention. Past few years have resulted in the unnecessary incarceration of numerous youth. Some of them are in jails merely because they have posted some content on social media or some for pursuing professional work and some for favoring one cricket team over the other in T20 World Cup.

More has been said and written about Statehood Restoration. Now is Omar Abdullah’s turn to fulfill his pledges to work in this regard. The decision of August 5, 2019 was a harsh blow to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stripping them of their autonomy and identity. In order to win back their faith, Omar Abdullah led government must now vigorously advocate for the Restoration of Statehood. This won’t be an easy battle, but with persistence, policies, talks and dedication, it’s achievable. Actions are important than empty promises. With hope and anticipation running high, the NC led government must deliver on its commitment!

Aafiya Altaf Kirmani, LLM Scholar