They must focus on unemployment, agriculture, education, healthcare, sports and governance for real progress, and provide a realistic roadmap for addressing these issues

Unemployment is the most pressing issue in Jammu and Kashmir, and it should be the primary focus of political parties in the upcoming Assembly elections. Parties must highlight unemployment as a central issue and, crucially, provide a realistic roadmap for addressing it. They must avoid making unrealistic promises, such as guaranteeing government jobs for everyone, which is not feasible. Instead, they should present a practical and sustainable plan to tackle unemployment effectively.

Support for farmers

Support for farmers should also be a key issue in the election manifestos. Given that Jammu and Kashmir has a predominantly rural economy, with most people directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, addressing the ongoing agricultural distress is essential. The horticulture sector, which was once the backbone of the region’s agricultural economy, is now under severe strain. In recent years, including this one, the sector has faced significant challenges, with apple and pear production, as well as other crop production witnessing a sharp decline. This has led to a drop in demand within the rural economy, reducing purchasing power and affecting overall economic activity.

Today, there is minimal construction activity going on in the rural side of J&K, and people are relying on borrowing and their savings to get by. While it is true that the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir is booming, it has had little impact on the rural economy. Tourism contributes very little to the overall economic well-being of the region, making it imperative that the focus remains on the more critical issues of the agricultural sector. Political parties must focus on these agricultural issues and provide a clear and actionable plan for how they will address this crisis.

Restoration of statehood

Restoration of statehood should be the third key issue in Jammu and Kashmir’s upcoming Assembly elections. Political parties must make a clear distinction between the restoration of statehood and Article 370 in their election speeches, avoiding any attempts to mislead the public. They should clearly inform the people that the restoration of Article 370 is no longer possible, as indicated by the Supreme Court of India. Instead, they should focus on the realistic and achievable goal of restoring statehood, refraining from making unrealistic promises and concentrating on this tangible issue.

Focus on education

Another crucial focus should be on the educational sector. Political parties need to address the pressing need for skill-based education in Jammu and Kashmir. The current system, where everyone receives the same type of education regardless of individual aptitude, fails to meet the needs of the population. During their election campaigns, parties should emphasize their plans to combat unemployment by prioritizing skill development. They should present a clear roadmap for reforming the educational system to better align students’ skills with job opportunities. Political parties must also highlight the flaws in the existing educational system, where even PhD scholars are compelled to sell items on carts to earn a living. They should commit to focusing on skill-based education and assure the public that, if elected, they will make skill development a central strategy for ending unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir.

Tackling healthcare challenges

Healthcare must also be a crucial issue in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The region faces significant healthcare challenges, with many areas lacking even basic health facilities, such as primary healthcare centres. In many locations where these centres do exist, there are no doctors available, and the facilities suffer from total mismanagement, with no effective oversight. The government must either shut down these non-functional centres or take immediate steps to improve them, as there is currently no proper monitoring in place. These healthcare centres were established to benefit the local population, but they remain largely unused because no doctors are available, and only substandard medicines are provided. In Gujjar bastis and remote areas, the situation is even more dire, with a complete absence of healthcare facilities. Dispensaries in these areas should also be a key issue in the election campaign.

Political parties must emphasize the healthcare crisis during their visits to different areas, ensuring that the public is aware of their commitment to improving healthcare services if elected. This issue must be highlighted as an important part of their election manifesto.

Water issues

Water issues should also be a significant focus in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Many areas in the region still lack access to clean drinking water, which is a fundamental necessity. This issue should be prioritized by political parties, as it directly impacts the daily lives and well-being of the people.

Promoting tourism

There are many potential tourism destinations in the region, rich with natural beauty, that remain underdeveloped. Political parties must additionally emphasize the need to identify and develop these new tourist locations. Currently, there is a lack of tourism infrastructure, with even basic facilities like toilets and drinking water being absent. Developing these sites could significantly boost the local economy and create jobs.

Promoting startup culture

Additionally, political parties should highlight their commitment to promoting a startup culture in Jammu and Kashmir. Rather than making empty promises, they must present a clear roadmap outlining how they intend to foster entrepreneurship and support startups. This approach would not only address the unemployment issue but also empower the youth to become job creators instead of job seekers.

Developing sports infrastructure

Another critical issue that should be addressed is the development of sports infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties must bring attention to the widespread corruption in this sector and make it clear that sports development involves more than just building playgrounds. While many areas may have basic grounds, they lack the necessary facilities and infrastructure to support serious athletic training. The absence of such infrastructure is a major reason why local talent often goes unrecognized, and only a few sporadic players from the region get selected for national teams, where they struggle due to inadequate preparation. For instance, in my own village of Shahoo Shachan, there isn’t even a proper playground for any kind of sports.

Political parties must focus on this issue during their election campaigns and provide a concrete plan for how they will address the lack of sports facilities. They must stop taking the youth for granted by merely using them for campaigns like anti-drug initiatives, which are important but insufficient without genuine investment in sports development.

Tackling bureaucratic corruption

Bureaucratic corruption should also be a significant issue in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. The region suffers from widespread bureaucratic authoritarianism, red tape, and inefficiency, making it extremely difficult for citizens to get any work done in government departments. Even when a file or task is processed through these departments, it often takes an excessively long time to complete. Although the government has introduced digitization, there are loopholes that bureaucrats exploit, undermining the effectiveness of e-governance. Political parties must address these issues by proposing improvements to digitization and ensuring more efficient, transparent governance.

In summary, political parties must focus on the practical, everyday needs of the people in Jammu and Kashmir, such as unemployment, agricultural support, healthcare, education, and access to clean water, rather than diverting attention to unrealistic issues like Article 370. By addressing these tangible concerns, parties can genuinely improve the quality of life for the region’s residents, rather than taking them for a ride with impractical promises.

The writer has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Kashmir

Dr Imran Khurshid