Finished my exams, stepped on my land, on the way home I was awe struck. To my surprise, we now had traffic lights in Kashmir. Days passed by and I could see how everyone’s eyes struggled with the numbers. This number game really excited me. Again, to my surprise I heard a fellow Kashmiri saying, “What a commotion, why was there a need, all we need is just another protest and a single target could turn these lights down.”
What my fellow Kashmiri didn’t give a thought to is how beneficial the traffic lights would be. All his concern was that he’d have to abide by yet another law. Implementation of traffic lights is certainly not a move against people, it’s for the benefit of the masses.
However, there is no denying that the installation of traffic lights in some parts of the summer capital has not been done to the extent comparable with various metros like New Delhi. At certain points, the lights have created confusion. While the authorities are yet in the process of installing the lights across the city, they would be expected to make these more relevant to different directions at the crossings.
By touching upon the traffic lights, I am indeed trying to underscore a need, a need to change. As concerned citizens, if we would just have a glimpse of our standing in the country we would see that: as a state, our per capita income is 24214 INR which is quite low as compared to the national average of 33238 INR and we rank at the 21st place.
Taking our terrain, resource base, infrastructure and effects of militancy into account, these factors have contributed in low economic growth, employment and income generation. Our literacy rate is 68.74 per cent. We are ranked 15th in agriculture even though more than two third of the state population is engaged in the sector. The growth rate is almost six per cent below the standard average.
Analyzing the condition, it seems that our state has very high standards to match. Time has come when we should not make militancy an excuse. We need to change our mindset. Militancy did take a toll on the growth but if we work in unison, we will witness growth in the economic indicators in the coming years. We need to take into account that if the government is there, it’s because of us. If it takes a step, there is need to acknowledge it as it’s for our own good.
This certainly doesn’t imply that we shouldn’t voice our grievances; we should make it a point to do it. We do need to fight but in a positive direction: fight for development and against corruption; fight to make this land benefit from its abundant resources. We need to find ways and construct ideas to make this state flourish. Let’s change for the good and do it together.
We have all dreamt of a developed Kashmir, let’s make it happen as no dream is too big.

The author can be reached at azka@hotmail.co.in

Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 6 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST