Reopening schools, sign of improving situation
Reopening of more schools in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir is a sign of improving situation in these areas. It may take some time to the schools, particularly in Poonch and Rajouri districts, to function fully and have same attendance of students which used to be there during the pre-shelling time. The people, affected by artillery shelling by Pakistan, are trying to get back to normal life with a wish that the peace prevails and that they will not have to face again the worsening situation and subsequent deaths and destruction.
Amid this wish they are also hoping early relief for them and their early rehabilitation by the government. Much more is to be done as far as the relief and rehabilitation of the affected people is concerned. Stopping of shelling after the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan has generated a hope among the border people that the situation will further improve in coming days and weeks and that they are able to fully resume their normal lives.
Twenty eight lives were lost and large number of residential houses, business establishments and government buildings damaged in the cross border shelling in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Hundreds of people were displaced as they had to leave their homes for the safer places. They too are returning to their areas. Those, whose houses were damaged are intending to rebuild those. The government is in the process of making the assessment of damages and losses and accordingly provide the compensation.
Besides the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, leaders from various political parties are also visiting the affected areas, meeting the people there, showing solidarity with them and extending their sympathies. Some national and regional parties from other states are also sending their delegations to meet the affected people. But the visits of national and regional level parties must be further widened so that more and more parties from the country get involved in the relief and rehabilitation work.
The damage and losses are heavy particularly in Poonch and Rajouri districts. Some areas in some other districts too have been hit.
Political parties in J&K rather than doing politics at this crucial time and unnecessarily criticising others must strengthen the efforts of reconstruction of the affected areas. In future they have enough time to do politics. Right now the people, who have lost their near and dear ones and their houses, need their support. Any kind of unnecessary politicking can affect the focus on the relief and rehabilitation work. The government must speed up the damage assessment process and provide the helping hand to the needy people at the earliest.
The ruling party has more responsibility on its shoulders in present scenario and it has to meet the challenge and deliver. The visits by leaders must be followed up by the solid and productive steps on the ground. The damaged educational and health infrastructure too has to get special attention. The people should not suffer on the health and education fronts.
The work in other sectors too has to go smoothly. Greater and better coordination between the government officials and the affected people is more important in such situations . Those, who suffered, have to be listened to and their major and minor problems solved speedily.
All political parties have a responsibility towards the people, who have been affected. Their senior leaders have been visiting the border areas and urging the government for immediate relief and rehabilitation measures. The opposition parties must support the government efforts in every possible way for helping the people in border areas.
The elected government rather than outrightly ignoring or rejecting the feedback of opposition parties will have to take their practicable suggestions seriously so that the affected people are helped in a better way. By and large the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have taken a united stand since the Pahalgam terror attack and reflected the public sentiment. However, at times they have divergent views on some issues. Difference of opinion is part of democracy but criticism for the sake of criticism at this crucial time can prove a disadvantage.
The parties can go into election mode when the election time comes later this year. Right now they will have to see what is better for the people, particularly those who have suffered losses. The elections for panchayat, urban local bodies and block development councils are scheduled this year. The government has already announced to hold these elections. However, it is not yet known when exactly the polls are held.
The panchayat elections will likely be held on non-party basis, while urban local bodies and block development council polls on party basis. The ruling National Conference intends to repeat the 2024 assembly poll performance in these elections also but opposition too wants to make their presence felt.
The author is senior editor at Greater Kashmir
