Article 370 has been one of the contentious issues in the country for long time. The Scraping of Article 35A and Article 370 were one of the major points in the agenda of NDA government in 2019 election campaign. Today, we stand as witness of the revoked Article 35A and Article 370. The Article was incorporated in year 1954 by presidential order to link State of Jammu and Kashmir with the Union of India. It limited the powers of Indian Parliament to make laws for the state of Jammu and Kashmir without the concurrence of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on all matters except defence, foreign affairs and communication. As per article 370 and its terms, Jammu and Kashmir drafted its own constitution in the year 1957.

On 5th Aug 2019, NDA government adopted three step processes which was revoking of article 35A, abrogation of Article 370 and passing of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill 2019. Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization bill 2019 divided state of Jammu & Kashmir into two separate union territories i.e. Jammu and Kashmir (with legislative assembly) and Ladakh (without legislative assembly). Although it has been said by the government that the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir may again get the recognition of state.
There are many aspects of this decision. Economic is being considered to be most critical one. Many new industries are expected to be established in Jammu & Kashmir after ownership rights have been granted to be non-residents of Jammu and Kashmir. It will further increase the job opportunities in the union territory. Jammu & Kashmir is also rated amongst top three most corrupt states. Due to this, the financial aid sent by the central government never percolated to the masses. This may get rectified now after central government gets more control over union territory.
After the article 370 was withdrawn all separatist Leaders were put under house arrest for months to reduce the chances of mass protest by their supporters. Mobile services were disrupted for nearly five months which were finally restored in Jan 2020. Till now the internet speed remains 2G in Jammu & Kashmir. The abrogation of Article 370 has also affected separatism and nepotism in the valley as union government can now make laws without the concurrence of state legislative assembly of Jammu & Kashmir. This decision in also expected to boost tourism in the valley and open new prospects of the people of valley.
Thousands of additional security forces were deployed in valley to assist the Civil Administration in maintenance of law and order. This decision has also raised concerns for the north eastern states like Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Assam and Nagaland, as they also enjoy similar constitutional safeguards. Pakistan also reacted on this decision by condemning it and suspending bilateral trade with India. Pakistan also informed India to withdraw its High Commissioner to Pakistan. China on the other hand blamed India of undermining its territorial sovereignty as China claims part of Ladakh (Aksai-Chin Plateau) as its own. Both China and Pakistan later raised the issue in UN but didn’t got much attention at UN forum.
The process of restoring normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir has been successful to a certain extent. Most of the offices and schools had started to function normally before lockdown was announced due to the pandemic of COVID-19. Restrictions under Section 144 had been removed completely from the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Lieutenant Governors have taken charge in both the territories. Centre also allowed foreign delegates to visit Kashmir recently. There are lot of different opinions on the question whether the withdrawal of Article 370 is beneficial to Jammu and Kashmir or not.
As reported by the government of Jammu and Kashmir, the agriculture operations are going on smoothly in the valley. During FY 2019-20 (upto January, 2020) 18.34 lakh MTs of fresh fruit (apples) have been dispatched. In the horticulture sector, under the Market Intervention Schemes (MIS) launched by the Government of India in September 2019, for the first time, 15769.38 MTs of apples valued at Rs. 70.45 crores have been procured till 28th January 2020, directly from the growers in Kashmir valley through National Agriculture Marketing Federation of India (NAFED). This schemes has been extended up to 31st March, 2020. The sericulture sector recorded a production of 813 MTs of silk cocoon in the year 2019. During the 1st three quarters of FY 2019-20, handicrafts worth Rs. 688.26 crores were exported.
The central govt has announced fifty landmark decisions for upliftment and development of Jammu and Kashmir region. Few important steps of the govt initiative are as under :-
(a)The centre announced Rs 366 crore to 4483 panchayats for the development of grampanchayats.
(b)Sarpanch to receive an incentive of Rs 2500 per month and panchs Rs 1000 per month.
(c)Gram Panchayats to initiate the process of recruiting 2000 accountants to maintain account book.
(d)The government has decided to digitally connect 634 Gram Panchayats and provide internet.
(e) Each district to have two digital villages.
(f)Immediate push to implement PM Modi’s Rs 80,000 crore development package.
(g)Rs 8,000 crore allotted for development schemes in the region.
(h)Under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, 1632 kms road to be built in Jammu and Kashmir.
(i)Construction of industrial Bio-Technology parks underway in Kathua and Handwara.
(j)Groundwork to provide 24/7 drinking water through pipes to 15 lakh homes underway.
(k)Green light to survey of the rail link between Baramulla to Kupwara.
(l)Work begins on the target of generating 2500 MW of power in Jammu and Kashmir.
(m)Srinagar and other major cities to get cooking gas via pipes.
(n)Contraction of AIIMS in Awantipura and Vijaypur underway. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the same in February 2019.
(o)Number of MBBS seats in Jammu and Kashmir increased from 400 to 900.
(p)Cancer institute to be built in Srinagar, worth Rs. 120 crore.
(q)Srinagar to get metro rail services, which will be operational from 2024.
(r)Construction of 15,334 houses approved under PM Urban Housing Schemes in Kashmir.
(s)40,000 people included under Old Age Pension, Widow Pension schemes.
(t)Twenty thousand new homes approved for policemen.
(u)85,000 farmers registered under PM crop insurance schemes.
(v)Financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh for meritorious students with disabilities.
(w)Juvenile justice board and child welfare committee to be constituted in every district of J & K.
(x)Process of making 43,000 teachers permanent under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has begun.
(y)50,000 new jobs generated for the youth of J&K .
(z)Focus on beautification of Srinagar’s Dal Lake.
(aa)Two wildlife Sanctuary proposed at Tral and Kishanganga.
(ab)To promote tourism, Phase 1 of Gulmarg Master Plan 2032 has been approved. The phase 2 plan will be completed by this year.
(ac)New tourist places to be developed in Leh and Kargil.
(ad)Rs 250 crore fund allotted to push sports infrastructure.
(ae)One thousand medical officers to be inducted in the UT.
With the abrogation of Article 370 and happiness on completion of its first anniversary, the following benefits are expected by the people of Jammu and Kashmir:-
(a)Better employment facilities for the youth.
(b)Influx of MNCs and better industries into the state.
(c)Enhanced tourism Kashmir.
(d)With the central policies coming in, corruption will reduce with better transparency.
(e)Inclusion of Jammu and Kashmir with the mainland India
(f)Reduced separatist and anti national funding from foreign land.
(g)Stability in state as well as territorial local governance.
The government should ensure that the economic development of both the union territories takes place with efficient governance and the further exploitation of people is stopped. Ease of doing business and steps to attract private investment in Jammu and Kashmir should be taken by the government. The welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir can only fill the gap of Article 370 and Article 35A otherwise it will act as a bedrock for separatism and militancy in the upcoming years. Working of all government civil and originations in a synergised manner towards development and upliftment of the state would help in stabilising and maintain the security situation and integrating the state with the national mainstream. Apropos, it is important that a proper and practical plan be implemented towards the upliftment of the state for the betterment of the nation.