WE THE PEOPLE
With power crisis and food insecurity remaining unresolved, unemployment has assumed more alarming dimensions in J&K
Hence Center’s earmarking 70 million jobs in 11th Plan can go long way to resolve and address State’s staggering problem
By: Shirjeel Ahmad
Srinagar: With uncertainty looming large and infrastructure raised well over past six decades damaged to a great extent, problems like shortage of power, uncontrolled price-rise and unemployment have assumed alarming proportions in J&K State. Many hinterland pockets continue to reel under long shadows of darkness and even metered areas face frequent power-cuts. Food shortage has equally touched new heights as is evidenced by cuts in the monthly quota of ration-ticket holders in the Valley of Kashmir. The problem of unemployment has posed a bigger threat to the Administrative and social structure of the State.
But it is heartening to learn that target of 9 per cent economic growth and 70 million jobs have been earmarked by the Planning Commission government of India in the draft of 11th Five Year Plan. The approved document also focuses on development of agriculture sector. Since the food security is coming under stress in the next decade so global trends in food production and prices are bound to get affected which in turn shall put increasing pressure on both the availability and prices of basic food items. This calls for proper management so that pressures are eased and food planning adjusted to the emerging market realities.
It is further learnt that the approved draft aims at raising G.D.P. rate to 9 per cent from 7.6 per cent during 2002-2007, while more than doubling the outlay to Rs.3644718 crore. The document seeks to make growth inclusive by increasing the outlay for priority sector programmes. It is also given to understand that the 11th Plan aims at reducing poverty by 10 per cent and ensuring electricity connection to all villages. The thrust will be on social-sectors, agriculture and rural development. This becomes clear that the Planners are conscious of the alarming dimensions of unemployment prevailing in the country. No doubt, there is a global phenomenon of unemployment, but India has its own environment and problems, which need special treatment. Moreover the 11th Plan promises to provide electricity to all villages in the country, but the recent document of International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed that there will be 6 crore people without electricity by 2030.
It has come to light that the Government has drawn an extensive plan to improve primary, secondary and higher education that includes setting-up of new IITs, IIMs and Colleges. Of the total 11th Plan size amounting to Rs.3644000 crore, the Central Gross Budgetary Support would be Rs.1400000 crore. This shows that the share of GDP, total plan resources at the Centre and State levels move from around 19.4 per cent to 13.5 per cent. These are large increases by any reckoning. The high growth of 9 per cent achieved in the first four years of the present Government cannot be restricted to isolated pockets or to certain sections of society. The growth needs to be far more broad based and the plan is expected to draw a road map for achieving inclusive growth. It has been emphasized that the growth tempo and the target of 9 to 10 per cent for the 11th Plan has to be maintained.
“ As a matter of fact, it is the Planning process that helps nations to build-up their economy. It was the vision of early Planners who concentrated on construction of dams and building steel plants. The dams helped in bringing more and more areas under cultivation and gave a boost to the generation of electricity. It is the electricity that is the driving force for the industry. It is the industrial development that helps in improving economic health and also providing jobs to the jobless people. Now the planners have prepared a draft for 11th Plan, but they should see the shortfalls in previous plans and try to make up deficiencies. It is not good to move two steps ahead and leave targets halfway. Therefore, it is for the planners to prepare such a plan which will address basic problems of the common man in the streets of J&K State”, said a group of knowledgeable persons of Kashmir valley.
However, it would be advisable that thrust is given to job-oriented-education and industry to improve the quality of life of countrymen in general and of J&K state in particular. Besides the Government must ensure that the delivery services of empowerment programmes are effective and free of leakages. Whether the newly formed state government addresses these issues remains to be seen!
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