[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]E[/dropcap]ver since one of the youngest commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani was killed in a surgical operation by the joint team of security forces in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on July 8 Kashmir valley has been witnessing complete shut down.
As the shutdown is inching closer to cross the 100 day period the questions are being asked as to how the local residents are coping up with the unrest and surviving through the uncertain times.
On some days the state govt desperately tried to throw open the market places and issued orders directing the schools and colleges to start function normally but by and large they have failed to restore normalcy.
As the shutdown is inching closer to crossing the 100 day period the questions are being asked as to how the local residents are coping up with the unrest and surviving through the uncertain times.
According to rough estimates the state has so far suffered losses to the tune of over Rs. 10,000 crores ($1.5 billion) and still counting.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]H[/dropcap]ow are these residents managing to acquire basic groceries, medicines, milk supplies and above all how much cash they have in their deep pockets to survive through the turbulent times when even banking institutions have not been able to operate their businesses and counting losses.
The state govt is trying its level best to maintain the stock supplies keeping in mind the long winter season ahead.
The supply lines from Jammu are temporarily on but businessmen in Jammu markets are also suffering huge losses as they are sending goods on credit to their loyal customers.
The state govt is trying its level best to maintain the stock supplies keeping in mind the long winter season ahead.
During peak winters most of the road network in rural pockets and remote areas remain cut off from the urban centres due to snowfall and people face shortage of ration/ fuel supplies.
Ever since the cycle of unrest hit the Kashmir valley and street violence engulfed all other districts the roads have been deserted, if not filled by the street protesters.
By-lanes remain blocked by concertina wires to restrict entry and assembly of people in down town areas of Srinagar. The situation in rural pockets was even worse in the initial days.
Till the time the centre rushed additional army men to take control of the roads in South Kashmir districts of Pampore, Kulgam, Shopian and Pulwama the same were occupied by the small groups of protesters making it difficult for anyone to commute.
Kashmiri families relocated to Jammu and and other cities across North India
Already large number of kashmiri families who could afford shifting to safer places like Jammu have relocated their houses and admitted their children in local schools/colleges.
Others have shifted base temporarily to other Northern states such as Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh to earn their livelihood and sustain their families back home.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he immediate fallout of the longest ever period of shutdown which is inching closer to cross 100 days in the coming week is the loss of livelihood for all those people who waited for tourist footfalls to ignite their kitchen fires.
He said the government had also suffered a loss of Rs. 1200 crores ($180 million) that it pays to employees in the form of salary in Kashmir valley alone.
Kashmiri economist, Nisar Ali said that the three-month shutdown has cost Kashmir Rs. 6000 crore ($900 million) with the Tourism sector alone suffering Rs. 3500 crores ($525 million) losses.
He said the government had also suffered a loss of Rs. 1200 crores ($180 million) that it pays to employees in the form of salary in Kashmir valley alone.
“As the output in public services is nil, the salary goes down the drain,” he said.
Never Ending Shutdown
The only respite that people have had during the shutdown period has been a few hours in the evenings on some days although certain sectors like public transport have not been able to avail even that breather.
Kashmir also witnessed long spells of shutdowns in early 1990s and again during the three summer uprisings of 2008, 2009 and 2010, however, strikes then would not be continuous and people would attend offices and do their businesses during some days of relaxation.
NGOs collecting money to feed the poor
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]I[/dropcap]n the absence of any hopes of revival of tourism industry various non government organisations and religious bodies have been collecting money for each household in the Kashmir valley to support all those who are struggling to make both ends meet.
Local markets are also suffering the pinch as their suppliers from Jammu and other destinations have been demanding payments in lieu of supplies.
Some of these organisations are active on the ground zero on behalf of the separatist organisations while large number of volunteers are serving the local population by running community kitchens in religious places and taking care of patients and their attendants in the hospital.
Due to complete breakdown of the transport services wherever caretakers of patients were not available, the locals came out and supported the patients and looked after them.
The state govt also tried to extend a helping hand to the students during their crucial examinations of UPSC and other competitive exams by way of organising transport and other logistics.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]S[/dropcap]tarting from cab drivers who ferried tourists between different exotic destinations to local ‘shikara’ wallah (traditional boat) who used to ferry tourists inside world famous Dal Lake they are feeling the pinch as they have almost dried up their savings and cannot afford to stay out of work for too long a period.
Local markets are also suffering the pinch as their suppliers from Jammu and other destinations have been demanding payments in lieu of supplies. Due to cash crunch these shopkeepers are helpless and not in a position to order fresh supplies as their regular customers have borrowed ration supplies and expected to repay their money after restoration of peace and order.
The entire govt machinery is clueless and struggling to survive through the worst period of unrest.The complete working season has been wasted and very few key developmental projects recorded satisfactory performance in the absence of supervisory and ground staff. Now in the last week of October as the seat of power would be shifted to Winter capital of Jammu the entire state machinery would be relocated leaving behind people of Kashmir to continue their struggle for resolution of Kashmir issue. This time they have already paid heavy price and they cannot afford more bloodshed in the lost paradise.
Note:
1. The conversion rate used in this article is 1 USD = 66.73 Rupees.
2. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
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