A decade ago while analysing the development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, the Planning Commission lamented the slow growth in the region and attributed it to various factors. It said the climate of armed militancy in Kashmir and low productivity in agriculture and allied sectors has impeded employment and income generation. Poor industrial infrastructure along with the poor investment climate has left the industrial sector in its infant stage.

It mentioned that there has not been a suitable strategy for the potential sectors to achieve higher economic growth. It further mentioned that the lack of good governance and sound fiscal management has also been responsible for the poor economic growth of the state.

During the past two years, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been marching on the path of development as a result of the government’s initiatives, which included various developmental schemes executed under the prime minister development package focusing on individual beneficiaries and reviving long-pending projects lying dormant for several decades by removing the obstacles, through ensuring effective and transparent administration.

Both the Union and the UT governments have been leveraging technology to provide several benefits to the local population of the UT. In the field of IT, several procedures have been framed such as providing, building two large sizes IT parks (spread over half a million square feet) — one each in Jammu and Srinagar.

Among some other initiatives, the UT administration also released a real estate policy equipped with a transparent bidding process to disburse government-created “land banks” to private developers. The all-around developmental approach adopted by the J&amp;K government has a special focus on developing a network of roads and highways only.

To ensure growth in the valley and enable the UT to come at par with the other states of the country, almost all the projects across various sectors that were ignored, have been infused with new life.

In 2015, a huge package of Rs.800 billion was allocated by the Modi government to the state government for initiating various development projects to convert J&amp;K into a modern, prosperous and progressive place.&nbsp;

The benefits of abrogation of article 370 have started to trickle down to the people. After Aug. 5, 2019, the J&amp;K government received investment proposals worth Rs.150 billion from around 40 companies from sectors like Information Technology, Defense, Renewable Energy, Tourism, Skill, Education, Hospitality, and infrastructure.

During the past two years, the J&amp;K government has achieved 100 per cent household electrification with 24×7 power for all. Household water connections have reached 43 per cent of rural households which is double the national average of 21 per cent, and a road map has been prepared to ensure 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply to all 10816 million rural households by December 2021.

The Indian government in February 2020 approved Rs 60 billion for a multi-purpose irrigation cum power project in J&amp;K’s Kathua district. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has been in charge of power projects to overcome the acute shortage of electricity in J&amp;K.

In 2019, 15 power projects were inaugurated and the foundation stone for 20 others laid with worth Rs.100 billion. The formation of Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) and Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has been helping J&amp;K to become self-reliant in the power sector.

With a holistic approach for all-around human development in the UT covering crucial sectors like education, healthcare, employment generation, tourism, industrial growth among others. To provide quality education to Kashmiri children and youth, the government has established hundreds of schools and 50 new educational institutions offering 25,000 seats to students, launched scholarship schemes benefitting more than half a million students so far.

New Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) are coming up in UT. 02 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 07 new medical colleges, 05 new nursing colleges, and a state cancer institute are being constructed for better healthcare services to the J&amp;K people.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially from Valley, consciously exercised their political preference for democracy and idea of India, which encompasses, peace, pluralism, equality, terror-free right to, life and liberty, as against death and destruction inflicted by terrorists on the people of Kashmir.

The idea of India in Kashmir and plural Kashmir’s ethos is meaningless for Kashmiri society and the rest of the world unless the Exiled Kashmiri Pandits are physically repatriated back to their homeland with dignity and political-economic empowerment.

The enactment of the law regarding Zila Parishads under the Panchayati Raj system and its extension to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370/35A was a great step aimed at introducing grass-root level democracy and administration. In other words, it means taking the governance to the doorstep of the people living in the remotest corner of the UT.

Though it is being done for the first time in J&amp;K that the three-tier Panchayati Raj stands implemented, the people in the UT have responded like mature and responsible citizens and voters in the whole process of elections. The near normal and peaceful election process has added to the happy and satisfactory situation for all concerned.

An overall percentage of 50 per cent&nbsp;voting in the UT despite the severe cold, Covid-19 situation, and the background of the boycott politics in the valley, in particular, is not a mean achievement. Kashmiri’s are sick of ongoing terror violence for more than three decades and are longing for peace and a peaceful right to life and liberty.

They see India as a promising land of opportunities. people of Kashmir Valley have chosen democracy, the mainstream political narrative, and liberal Sufi Islamic way of life and have once again rejected the separatist rhetoric and religious extremism. New Delhi is doing its best to win the hearts and minds of people.

Kashmiris on their part have to make extra efforts to defeat terrorism and separatism and create an atmosphere for peace and a new beginning for regaining their land’s lost glory.”

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

A decade ago while analysing the development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, the Planning Commission lamented the slow growth in the region and attributed it to various factors.

A decade ago while analysing the development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir, the Planning Commission lamented the slow growth in the region and attributed it to various factors. It said the climate of armed militancy in Kashmir and low productivity in agriculture and allied sectors has impeded employment and income generation. Poor industrial infrastructure along with the poor investment climate has left the industrial sector in its infant stage. It mentioned that there has not been a suitable strategy for the potential sectors to achieve higher economic growth. It further mentioned that the lack of good governance and sound fiscal management has also been responsible for the poor economic growth of the state. During the past two years, the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been marching on the path of development as a result of the government’s initiatives, which included various developmental schemes executed under the prime minister development package focusing on individual beneficiaries and reviving long-pending projects lying dormant for several decades by removing the obstacles, through ensuring effective and transparent administration. Both the Union and the UT governments have been leveraging technology to provide several benefits to the local population of the UT. In the field of IT, several procedures have been framed such as providing, building two large sizes IT parks (spread over half a million square feet) — one each in Jammu and Srinagar. Among some other initiatives, the UT administration also released a real estate policy equipped with a transparent bidding process to disburse government-created “land banks” to private developers. The all-around developmental approach adopted by the J&K government has a special focus on developing a network of roads and highways only. To ensure growth in the valley and enable the UT to come at par with the other states of the country, almost all the projects across various sectors that were ignored, have been infused with new life. In 2015, a huge package of Rs.800 billion was allocated by the Modi government to the state government for initiating various development projects to convert J&K into a modern, prosperous and progressive place. The benefits of abrogation of article 370 have started to trickle down to the people. After Aug. 5, 2019, the J&K government received investment proposals worth Rs.150 billion from around 40 companies from sectors like Information Technology, Defense, Renewable Energy, Tourism, Skill, Education, Hospitality, and infrastructure. During the past two years, the J&K government has achieved 100 per cent household electrification with 24×7 power for all. Household water connections have reached 43 per cent of rural households which is double the national average of 21 per cent, and a road map has been prepared to ensure 100 per cent coverage of piped water supply to all 10816 million rural households by December 2021. The Indian government in February 2020 approved Rs 60 billion for a multi-purpose irrigation cum power project in J&K’s Kathua district. National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has been in charge of power projects to overcome the acute shortage of electricity in J&K. In 2019, 15 power projects were inaugurated and the foundation stone for 20 others laid with worth Rs.100 billion. The formation of Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) and Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL) has been helping J&K to become self-reliant in the power sector. With a holistic approach for all-around human development in the UT covering crucial sectors like education, healthcare, employment generation, tourism, industrial growth among others. To provide quality education to Kashmiri children and youth, the government has established hundreds of schools and 50 new educational institutions offering 25,000 seats to students, launched scholarship schemes benefitting more than half a million students so far. New Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) are coming up in UT. 02 All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), 07 new medical colleges, 05 new nursing colleges, and a state cancer institute are being constructed for better healthcare services to the J&K people. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially from Valley, consciously exercised their political preference for democracy and idea of India, which encompasses, peace, pluralism, equality, terror-free right to, life and liberty, as against death and destruction inflicted by terrorists on the people of Kashmir. The idea of India in Kashmir and plural Kashmir’s ethos is meaningless for Kashmiri society and the rest of the world unless the Exiled Kashmiri Pandits are physically repatriated back to their homeland with dignity and political-economic empowerment. The enactment of the law regarding Zila Parishads under the Panchayati Raj system and its extension to the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir post abrogation of Article 370/35A was a great step aimed at introducing grass-root level democracy and administration. In other words, it means taking the governance to the doorstep of the people living in the remotest corner of the UT. Though it is being done for the first time in J&K that the three-tier Panchayati Raj stands implemented, the people in the UT have responded like mature and responsible citizens and voters in the whole process of elections. The near normal and peaceful election process has added to the happy and satisfactory situation for all concerned. An overall percentage of 50 per cent voting in the UT despite the severe cold, Covid-19 situation, and the background of the boycott politics in the valley, in particular, is not a mean achievement. Kashmiri’s are sick of ongoing terror violence for more than three decades and are longing for peace and a peaceful right to life and liberty. They see India as a promising land of opportunities. people of Kashmir Valley have chosen democracy, the mainstream political narrative, and liberal Sufi Islamic way of life and have once again rejected the separatist rhetoric and religious extremism. New Delhi is doing its best to win the hearts and minds of people. Kashmiris on their part have to make extra efforts to defeat terrorism and separatism and create an atmosphere for peace and a new beginning for regaining their land’s lost glory.” (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

Opinion - Jammu and Kashmir: Marching with India on path of progress

To promote digital payments post demonetisation, the Indian government will give daily, weekly and mega cash awards totalling Rs 340 crore for consumers as well as merchants beginning the Christmas Day.

Announcing &#39;Lucky Grahak Yojana&#39; and &#39;Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana&#39;, Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said both the schemes will cover small transactions between Rs 50 and Rs 3,000 to encourage every section of the society to move to digital payments.

Terming it a &#39;Christmas Gift&#39; to the country, Kant said the first draw will happen on December 25 and the mega draw on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar.

National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will announce 15,000 winners of Rs 1,000 each for next 100 days, starting December 25. There will be 7,000 weekly awards each for consumers and merchants.

&quot;Focus of Lucky Grahak and Digi-Dhan Yojana is on poor, middle class and small businesses so as to bring them into digital payments revolution,&quot; said the Niti Aayog CEO.

As per estimates, only 5 per cent Indians use digital payment modes.

For consumers, there will mega awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. In case of merchants, it has been fixed at Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 lakh.

Estimated expenditure of the scheme to incentivize digital payments is Rs 340 crore, Kant said.

Giving details on digital transactions post demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes, he said PoS transactions witnessed a jump of 95 per cent since November 8 (till December 7).

RuPay Card transactions were up 316 per cent and e-wallet 271 per cent, while both UPI about and USSD witnessed increase of about 1,200 per cent each.

All forms of transactions through UPI, USSD, Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and RuPay cards will be eligible for lucky draws.

Niti Aayog also said the scheme is not applicable for transactions done through private credit cards and e-wallets of private companies.

(PTI)

The move aims to promote digital payment modes which are currently used by only 5 per cent Indians

To promote digital payments post demonetisation, the Indian government will give daily, weekly and mega cash awards totalling Rs 340 crore for consumers as well as merchants beginning the Christmas Day. Announcing 'Lucky Grahak Yojana' and 'Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana', Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said both the schemes will cover small transactions between Rs 50 and Rs 3,000 to encourage every section of the society to move to digital payments. Terming it a 'Christmas Gift' to the country, Kant said the first draw will happen on December 25 and the mega draw on April 14, the birth anniversary of B R Ambedkar. National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) will announce 15,000 winners of Rs 1,000 each for next 100 days, starting December 25. There will be 7,000 weekly awards each for consumers and merchants. "Focus of Lucky Grahak and Digi-Dhan Yojana is on poor, middle class and small businesses so as to bring them into digital payments revolution," said the Niti Aayog CEO. As per estimates, only 5 per cent Indians use digital payment modes. For consumers, there will mega awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 25 lakh. In case of merchants, it has been fixed at Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 lakh. Estimated expenditure of the scheme to incentivize digital payments is Rs 340 crore, Kant said. Giving details on digital transactions post demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes, he said PoS transactions witnessed a jump of 95 per cent since November 8 (till December 7). RuPay Card transactions were up 316 per cent and e-wallet 271 per cent, while both UPI about and USSD witnessed increase of about 1,200 per cent each. All forms of transactions through UPI, USSD, Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and RuPay cards will be eligible for lucky draws. Niti Aayog also said the scheme is not applicable for transactions done through private credit cards and e-wallets of private companies. (PTI)

India's Niti Aayog announces awards to spur digital payments

planning-commission

Planning Commission, News on Planning Commission, stories on Planning Commission, articles on Planning Commission, Planning Commission stories at Wion, Planning Commission news, Planning Commission latest news

planning commission

Opinion - Jammu and Kashmir: Marching with India on path of progress

India's Niti Aayog announces awards to spur digital payments