Socio-economic growth in Kashmir

Since the subcontinent was partitioned, Kashmir has been a source of territorial disputes between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming sovereignty over the whole former princely state.

On August 5, 2019, India revoked the state’s special status and separated the territory into two territories: Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, igniting a global controversy over the Kashmir issue.

As a result, India has made a concerted effort to dilute the region’s Muslim dominance by placing Hindu migrants in IIOJK and providing around 3.4 million new homes to non-Kashmiris, primarily Hindus.

Because of the removal of IIOJK’s “special status,” India argues the region has seen growth, tranquilly, job creation, and investment. However, the reality on the ground is very different.

IIOJK residents are fed up with the state of affairs, which has erupted into turmoil and disarray. The economy as a whole has seen a significant decrease. According to the Indian government, real estate investment in IIOJK is booming, however, this may be judged because real estate in India is in decline. Financial experts are now requesting information from Indian authorities on the percentage of IIOJK youth who have been employed since the Indians took over the company.

Human development metrics, both before and during the takeover, have debunked the government of India’s own claims about the country’s progress.

According to a joint statement issued by the Gupkar Alliance, the Indian government’s allegations about the Gupkar Valley may be disproved by reviewing the valley’s pre-and post-2019 growth and human development records.

In only the first five months after the Indian takeover, the economy of IIOJK lost 178.78 billion Indian rupees and more than 90,000 jobs in the handicraft, tourism, and IT industries because of communication blockades, curfews, and threats from occupying troops. Students and the horticultural industry are also in serious jeopardy because of the continued internet blockage.

Rural areas of IIOJK are seeing their worst economic downturn in 75 years. More than a thousand farmers have been left with little choice but to sell their goods at trash rates or let them go to waste. No substantial economic activity has taken place in Jammu & Kashmir since the Indian aggression, according to the Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industries.

In the ORF survey, 40% of companies rely on pilgrims and visitors, but the law and order situation has worsened, making people afraid to go to IIOJK.

Farooq Amin, the general secretary of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said that “the economy of Kashmir is now dead if it was ever on the ventilator.” India’s economic narrative has come crashing down. The authoritarian Indian government has made it impossible to live in the valley instead of giving it up to industry.

According to the BJP administration, “major businesspeople have shown their interest in investing in Jammu & Kashmir.” Economic progress, however, can no longer take place in a closed environment in today’s globe. There is no longer any hope for the people of IIOJK, who are drowning in financial misery.

The scenario in IIOJK and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) is starkly different, which also illustrates the sharp gap between freedom and enslavement. The citizens of AJK are protected by all of their fundamental rights and freedoms.

In this country, the military does not patrol the streets, and no one is arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned, or kidnapped.

Aside from housing and food, the AJK administration has also collaborated with Pakistan’s government to give IIOJK refugees health care, education and education. The people of AJK hope that CPEC would also offer enormous advantages. The events in IIOJK need the attention of the international community. Atrocities committed against civilians must be stopped if South Asian peace and stability are to be realised.