Trifurcation
There are multiple plans and policies to bring peace to Jammu and Kashmir. The pros and cons are manifold바카라¦
Trifurcation
Hive off Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Âregions into separate administrative units to disburse funds and accelerate development uniformly. There has always been an allegation that the Muslim-majority Valley discriminates against the other two Âregions바카라”Hindu-majority Jammu and Buddhist-majority Ladakh, which comprise over 85 per cent of the state바카라™s land area and half the population. Trifurcation will Ârestrict the area of terrorism to Kashmir.
The Catch: Politicians see trifurcation as a strategy to cut Kashmir바카라™s influence/dominance over the other two regions.
Articles 370 and 35A
These two articles of the Constitution of India grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 restricts Parliament바카라™s legislative power in J&K. Article 35A, which comes in Appendix 1 of the Constitution, flows from Article 370. It empowers the J&K legislature to define the state바카라™s Âpermanent residents and their rights.
The Catch: The Union government Âbelieves the two articles prevent the Âcomplete integration of the state with the country.
Delimitation
The Centre views delimitation of constituencies as a long-overdue measure in a state that gives unfair advantage to Kashmir over Jammu and Ladakh. Kashmir comprises 46 assembly seats, or 52.87 per cent representation, in an assembly of 87 elected members. Jammu and Ladakh accoÂunt for 37 and four. If Jammu and Ladakh get more, or equal, seats than Kashmir through delimitation, the BJP will gain the upper hand as the two regions, mainly Jammu, are the party바카라™s strongholds.
The Catch: Delimitation will end the state바카라™s Kashmir-centric politics, the Muslim-centric Valley parties will lose Ârelevance, and the power centre will tilt Âtowards Jammu and Ladakh. Some BJP leaders say the Valley is numerically Âoverrepresented, but Jammu바카라™s average Âpopulation per assembly is over 1.45 lakh, while it is close to 1.5 lakh for Kashmir. Thus the claim doesn바카라™t hold. Besides, there바카라™s a freeze on delimitation until 2026.
Economic Push
The government plans a first-ever investor summit in Srinagar, followed by another in Jammu in September-October. It is aimed at bringing investment and jobs바카라”two things the state needs the most after decades of insurgency. As part of a clean-up to remove corruption, Jammu and Kashmir Bank is likely to be merged with the State Bank of India.
The Catch: Such measures are floated to dispel the perception that central rule has brought peace to the state and it is no longer the strife-torn region it used to be. Such economic pushes, mostly in the form of financial packages/promises, have failed before. Besides, the long-drawn militancy has put the state바카라™s primarily (80 per cent) agriculture-based economy in tatters. The conflict has hit its handicrafts such as carpets, woolens and silk, and the once-flourishing tourism sector.
Administration
Improving the administrative setup and bringing development are seen as the biggest measures to mainstream Kashmir. The focus is on delivery of basic services to the grassroots and weeding out corruption. A 바카라˜Back to Village바카라™ scheme, which saw government officials camping in remote villages, was well-received.
The Catch: Experts believe steps to win back the people바카라™s hearts will remain rhetorical until New Delhi Âde-escalates the military presence in the state and checks the mounting Âanti-Kashmiri Âsentiments outside the Valley.
New Leadership
Several fresh faces emerged from the panchayat elections, which were Âboycotted by the National Conference (NC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Catch: Most new sarpanches, elected unopposed, are BJP-friendly and the party hopes some of them would be ready to fight assembly elections. The state is under President바카라™s rule since June last year.