Stating that development and not the slogan mongering should be the endeavor of the political leadership for upcoming assembly elections, State Secretary CPI(M) Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami has said that mere rhetoric and hallow promises have lost meaning in the changed political context, where people are confronted with many grave issues including unemployment, corruption, insecurity, misgovernance and poor development.
Addressing a public rally at Kapren in Shopian district, Tarigami urged for governance to be institutionalized so that justice is provided to the common people. The shrinking political space for the people particularly the younger generation is worrisome and need of the hour is to respond to their socio economic and political needs, he added.
While maintaining that unemployment in the State has assumed an alarming trend and youth are feeling distressed and disillusioned in absence of ample job opportunities, the CPI(M) leader deplored the government’s initiatives for tackling the problem adding that Schemes bereft of pro youth incentives for self-employment have failed to motivate the youth to set up their own ventures. Urging upon both Union and state governments to devise comprehensive youth oriented policies with long lasting employment schemes, he advocated the formation of a state youth commission which can frame a special and result oriented projects and schemes for the harmonious development of the youth in J&K. Referring to corruption in the State, the CPI (M) leader remarked that successive governments have failed to curb the menace of corruption. “Corruption free good governance with accountability has been a long cherished dream of our people and could have proved an effective facilitator in seeking solutions to our current problems”.
Stating that horticulture industry could be an effective alternative to take on the problem of unemployment, the CPI (M) leader lamented that the government has not given adequate attention towards this vital sector. He rued absence of modern and durable horticulture and agriculture infrastructure, saying lack of such infrastructure constitutes a big hurdle in forging market linkages necessary to earn round the year foreign exchange.
Referring to administrative inertia vis-à-vis developmental schemes in South Kashmir particularly in district Shopian, Tarigami said there are hardly any visible changes on ground with regard to development and infrastructure building. He observed that it seems the government apathy in Shopian has crossed the limits as the district being famous for the quality apple production sans the required marketing infrastructure and facilities like cold storage, grading and packing. ‘The dilapidated infrastructure bears testimony to the hallowness of claims of development of the area by the administration”.Senior CPI(M) leaders including Ghulam Nabi Malik, Zahoor Ahmad, Ghulam Rasool and youth leaders Advocate Arshid Hussain and Mohammad Amin Dar also addressed the rally. (KNS)