Major takeaways from Prime Minister Modi’s Kashmir visit
, Modi’s message was loud and clear– this menace would be dealt with firmly and in a befitting manner (Image:File/PTI)
By Farooq Wani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s eventful two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on June 20 and 21 is his second one in four months that expectedly saw a slew of expected positive announcements and outcomes in terms of development-oriented deliverables. However, two announcements stood out.
One, that the assembly elections in the UT may take place any time after September. Two, that during its third consecutive term as prime ministerial, the Modi led NDA government at the center would leave no stone unturned in ensuring unimpeded continuation of its citizen-oriented development and empowerment initiatives as well as a concerted drive to make J&K even more tourist-friendly.
During this visit, Modi laid foundation stones and inaugurated 84 developmental projects worth over Rs.3300 crores in Srinagar. Readers would recall that in February, he had unveiled multiple development initiatives worth over Rs.3200 crores in Jammu, spanning various sectors like education, railways, aviation and road infrastructure.
On the issue of terrorism, Modi’s message was loud and clear– this menace would be dealt with firmly and in a befitting manner. Mention was made of Article 370 by him in the context that its abrogation in August 2019 has allowed for the “Indian Constitution” to be “truly implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.”
‘Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K’ was the theme of this visit. The over Rs.1500 crores worth of development projects announced saw more investment for the surface communication sector, and proposed improvements in water supply and higher education infrastructure.
A Jammu-Kashmir Competitiveness Improvement in Agriculture and Allied Sectors Project (JKCIP) worth Rs.1800 crores was also inaugurated and 2000 locals were given jobs. The JKCIP will be implemented in 90 blocks across 20 districts and will have an outreach of three lakh households covering 15 lakh beneficiaries.
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted the global impact of a government’s continuity, claiming the world’s outlook of India has changed for the better and that an aspirational India is a huge attraction for the global community. This mandate of stability ends a period when India witnessed five elections within a decade that had halted development, he maintained.
The record voter turnout in J&K in this year’s general elections reflected the local peoples’ trust in keeping the “flag of democracy high”, he said, adding that the mantra of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” (progress through collective cooperation) is paying off after ten years of very hard and dedicated work.
Recalling the importance of hosting a G20 summit-level meeting on tourism development in Srinagar for the first time, Prime Minister Modi said it had not only given a major boost to the tourism and hospitality sector in J&K, but also sent out a clear message to the world that normalcy has returned to a region long regarded as a hot-bed of terrorist and militant activity, and socio-economic instability. This has made the people of J&K proud.
Quoting J&K Lt Gov. Manoj Sinha, the Prime Minister said a record figure of over two crore tourists visiting the Kashmir Valley has contributed significantly to the UT economy.
The valley today is experiencing the rewards of better connectivity, education, health, electricity and water. The region is now at a take-off point for emerging as a major hub for start-ups, skill development and sports, with a primary focus on key local sectors like agriculture, tourism and hospitality. Kashmiri women and girls are being given training and jobs under various schemes.
The “Khelo (Play) India” scheme has given a major boost to sports in the UT. The excellent sports infrastructure today is helping around 5000 Kashmiri youth to take part in national and international competitions.
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Leading Friday’s 7000-strong 10th International Day of Yoga session held at the Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, a landmark event for the UT, the Prime Minister described it as the start of a “Yoga Economy”. Supported by 177 UN member nations when it was first launched in 2014, the International Day of Yoga has been achieving record after record.
Describing Kashmir as the land of yoga and meditation, PM Modi said, “The expansion of Yoga has changed the perception related to Yoga. Today, the world is seeing a new Yoga economy going forward….we can witness a new trend of Yoga tourism emerging in India….”
The influx of foreigners into India to learn yoga has had a salutary effect on the hospitality, tourism and apparel sectors, to name a few. Employment opportunities for youth are also emerging. Universities and other academic institutions worldwide are now carrying out yoga research.
So popular has yoga become, that the Department of AYUSH in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has created a Yoga certification board for yoga practitioners. At least 100 Indian institutions and ten foreign institutions have been granted this certification.
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This year’s theme was “Yoga for Self and Society,” emphasizing the need of yoga to ensure individual well-being and peace in society.
That his first visit of Modi to J&K after being elected prime minister for a third consecutive term passed off without any untoward incident speaks volumes about the exemplary dedication of those responsible for his security arrangements and highlights the fact that normalcy is fast returning to Kashmir Valley.
The author is Editor Brighter Kashmir, Author, TV commentator, political analyst and columnist.
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