AN

ASPIRATIONAL
AGENDA
Assembly
Elections

2014

Message from
The President
The J&KPDP seeks participation of
people in the elections to strengthen the
democratic
process
so
that
the
institutions
of
democracy
create
conditions that will facilitate resolution of
the J&K issue and bring about self
sustaining development across all the
three regions of the state.
Mehbooba Mufti

Our Aspiration
To make Jammu and Kashmir
Politically empowered
Economically self reliant

Environmentally safe
Socially cohesive
Culturally vibrant
3

5 key Agendas
1.
2.

3.
4.

5.

Remodel the Political Structure: Pursue Self Rule as the

Framework of Resolution.
Reconstruct the Economy: Rebuild and Rehabilitate.
Reform the Government: Effective Governance.
Revive the Civil Society: Create a harmonious
environment.
Rally the Youth: Provide opportunity and support.
4

REMODELING THE
POLITICAL STRUCTURE

Special Status: Need

The special status enshrined in Article 370 is required to empower

the people of J&K and help deal with the issues of identity,
borders and governance.
Use Article 370 itself to restore the original special status of the
state.
Article 370 impacts everything from political discourse to
personal responses, from economy to emotions, from society to
sensibilities and from institutions to ideologies.
6

Self Rule: The Basics

The Self Rule document will be the guiding framework for Resolution.
Closer ties across the Line of Control
Make borders irrelevant
Complete Connectivity

Economic & Social Integration of the region

Regional Free Trade Area

Common Economic Market

Self Rule: Institutional Setup

Innovative Institutional Arrangements
Joint Coordination mechanism for projects
Joint Regulatory Commission on trade and tariffs
Constitutional Restructuring
Restore powers of the state assembly.
Empowering sub-regions.
8

RECONSTRUCTING THE
ECONOMY

Economic Strategy
Economic Policy and Reforms will promote Self Rule
through:
Extensive Import substitution.

Intensive Export orientation.

Globalization of Skills & Standards.

International benchmarking of Products and Processes.

Regional Trade Integration with SAARC economies.
10

Economic Policy
The overall economic policy will align the economic structure of J&K with its own

resources, skills and society.

Economic policy will not be formulated for governments activities but for private
businesses and enterprises.
Ensure that along with economic transition, there will be upward social mobility.
Addressing the twin problem of:
Skill deficit: Not having the skills that are needed.

Skill mismatch: The skills we impart in our colleges and universities are not the ones

that the J&K economy requires.

11

Financial Policy
Liquidity Management: Make J&K Bank once again the Banker of

last resort for the Government of J&K.

Debt Financing: Access domestic and international debt markets
for:
Structural Adjustment and Stabilization Assistance from DFIs and Multi lateral

institutions.
J&K Development Fund: A professionally managed debt offering.
Issuance of Dal Development Bonds.
12

Diversifying Personal Finance Options

Set up a Non Bank Finance Company that will:
Channelize local domestic household savings into local

enterprises with lower risk and higher return.

Offer nationally accepted financial products which are Sharia

compliant.
Issue Land Bonds: An indexed bond which will be linked to land

prices, like a Gold bond.

13

Diversifying Trade
Taking the Cross Line of Control trade to the next level

Monetization of Cross-LoC Trade.

Opening more trade routes.
Increasing trade items.
Establishment of a dispute resolution forum.
Set up dedicated communication network.
Make the trade bankable.
14

Fostering Rural Growth

To create self sustaining centers of growth and employment, Model Business
Village will be created.
These will include

Model Apple Village.

Model Saffron Village.
Model Walnut/Almond Village.
Model craft village.

Each MBV will have

*
*
*
*

A high density orchard/production unit.

A storage facility/designing facility.
A picking and grading line/grinding unit.
A packaging and processing unit/marketing setup.

15

Development: Urban
Develop Mega cities
Greater Srinagar
Greater Jammu

New Cities: All towns with population size-class of 50,000 to

99,999 will be upgraded in infrastructure and made into cities.

Satellite Town: All towns with size class of 20,000 to 49,999; will
be planned as satellite towns.
16

Internationalizing Education
Make a Special Educational Zone in J&K
Institutions like Oxford, Stanford, Harvard cant set up shop in India

because of regulatory hassles. To enable them to operate here, a

geographical zone in the state which is free from these regulations
will be demarcated.
Such a zone can harness the potential of the international education

business by bringing high profile Universities to J&K.

17

Organic Valleys
Create three organic valleys in the state; one each in Chenab,

Jehlum and Nubra Valley.

To produce globally accepted organic fruit and food products free

from any chemical exposure.

Add value to and modernize the traditional foods and cuisine.

Preserve the cultural practices of these areas.

18

Health and Herbal Centre

Make J&K a Health and Herbal tourist destination by combining the:
Herbal wealth of the state.

Unani and Ayurveda specialist systems.

Super specialization in Lifestyle disorders like anxiety, depression,

insomnia, or memory loss.

Build Herb Gardens across the state and make them as unique
yoga centers.

19

Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of the flood affected and flood impacted will be the

first priority.
The floods have not only destroyed assets but severely impaired the

process of income generation.

As such post-flood rehabilitation program will be restoration of

livelihoods and rebuilding of the economy.

20

Rehabilitation
The recovery and rehabilitation will focus on asset loss in:

Housing & public buildings.

Roads and bridges.
Irrigation
Energy
Environment

Trade
Tourism
Horticulture
Handicrafts

And income loss and liability commitments in:

21

Rehabilitation
Provide default insurance for uninsured assets of small traders and

businesses from Calamity Relief Fund & Disaster Relief Fund.

Provide financial assistance for construction of temporary shelter

sheds till rebuilding starts.

Debt Relief package for Kisan Credit Card and Artisan Credit Card

holders.

22

Flood Protection
Flood protection master plan for all major rivers and their tributaries.
De-silting and dredging of all rivers and nalahs.
Protection and Strengthening of existing bunds.

Building of new protection bunds on river Jehlum, Tawi and

tributaries.

23

REFORMING THE
GOVERNMENT

Reform The Government

State Government will be transformed into Smart
Government, which will be:
Proactive, Transparent & Accountable.

Generating employment, rather than give government jobs.

A strategic partner for long term private sector growth.

An enabler for business.

Fiscally responsible.
25

Simplifying Doing Business

Reducing Regulatory Complexity and cost.

Easing bureaucratic barriers to business.

Cutting red tape; multiplicity of permissions and approvals.
Simplifying registration processes and clearances.

Enabling smooth flow of transport through Lakhanpur.

Single entry point for all toll/excise/checking etc.
26

Decentralization & Devolution

Devolution of powers and Decentralization of decision making in

practice to Panchayats and Municipalities is a key reform.

Local areas, led by local authorities, delivering locally led solutions.
Local Authorities will be given incentives and powers to deliver locally

led solutions to improve prosperity.

27

Governance: Decentralization
Hold elections to local bodies with deliberate speed.
Revisit the relevant statutes relating to Panchayats and local bodies

with a view to remove deficiencies, incongruities, and to empower

them to discharge their statutory functions effectively and efficiently.
All three levels of governance will have:
Functional roles
Fiscal responsibilities
Financial authority

28

e-panchayats
Introduce Digital Panchayat, dynamic platform in every Panchayat in
J&K which will:
Facilitate and improve Panchayat functioning through two way flow of

information and content.

Improve development and governance public service delivery at Panchayat
level through information on policy programs and implementation.

Facilitate growth of Panchayat economy through promotion of:

Panchayat tourism.
e-commerce of local produce

29

Reforms: Government
Consolidate state government ownership holdings in all non-financial

enterprises into one holding company.

Leverage the holding company ownership for financing development
through:
Public Private Participation
Improve Corporate Governance
Creation of a Supervisory and regulatory structure

Make an Initial Public Offering for J&K Power Development Corporation

30

Empowering Institutions
Genuine autonomy will be given to institutions of probity, which
include:
State Accountability Commission
Vigilance commission

Organization that deal with the Right to Information

31

Centre State Resource Sharing

To renegotiate all natural resource sharing agreements with Centre,

in particular water resources and the hydro-power projects.

Seek a share in the profits of NHPC emanating from J&K waters.
Pursue that natural resources, other than water, are made a part of

the divisible pool of the Finance Commission.

Revise royalty agreements.
Adapt national schemes to local conditions.

32

REVIVING
THE CIVIL SOCIETY

Civil Society Institutions

Major reason for the uneven pace of development is the relative weakness of civil society.
The traditional society has broken down and the new order has not fully emerged. In this
transition period, there is a lack of societal vision, political direction and independent
economic thinking.
There is need to support the budding civil society which has recently begun to manifest and is
now competing with other social forces for a share of the public space.
There is need for an independent institution for applied social-science research and
sophisticated policy advocacy in the service of positive social change which explores the
relationship between civil society, democratization and development.

34

Involving & Engaging the NRJK

To channelizes the energy, emotion and resources of the non-resident
state subjects of J&K and make them participate in the development
of J&K by:
Seeking knowledge inputs.
Time volunteering.

Subscriptions to J&K Development Fund & Dal Development

Bonds.
35

RALLYING
THE YOUTH

Year of the Youth

Make youth the most important resource in rebuilding J&K.

As a tribute to their role during the recent floods, we will dedicate year 2015 to the Youth.
Our mission is to Educate, Employ and Empower the youth.
Will prepare young people to meet the challenges of future through a series of coordinated,
progressive programs and activities.
Democratization of Student Politics: Allow conduct of elections to student bodies in Colleges and
University.

These will help the youth to become:

Politically empowered.
Socially responsible.
Ethically aware.
Economically independent citizens.

37

Youth: Respect & Safety

De novo examination of the issues relating to notifying of Disturbed Areas thereby

paving the way for withdrawal of AFSPA.

Review all the cases against youth & withdraw them after scrutiny.
Review the use of inhuman crowd control methods like the pellet guns.
Introduce a prescriptive drug regime: Ban on OTC sale of those medicines that are
being used for drug abuse.
Prevent the harassment of Kashmir youth outside the state. A special toll free hotline
to the Chief Ministers office for young state subjects who are in distress outside the
state.

38

Youth: Facilitations
Passport Clearances: Have a dedicated state government cell

headed by a senior state government officer to help youth and their

families facing difficulties in getting passport.

Department of Youth Services and Sports will be upgraded to a

independent Ministry with:
Youth Advisory Council.
Higher Budgetary Allocations.

39

SPECIFIC INITIATIVES

Regional Specializations
Crafts & Tourism: JEHLUM VALLEY

Hydro-power: CHENAB VALLEY

Non Conventional Energy: INDUS VALLEY
Biotechnology: PIR PANCHAL

Manufacturing & Trade: JAMMU

41

Regional Initiatives: Jammu

Develop Jammu as a independent tourism circuit with specific plans for:

Suchetgarh border tourism.

Parmandal-Utterbeni-Mansar sector.
Chaneni-Sudh Mahadev-Mantalai sector
Katra-Patni Top-Badarwah sector.
Construction of an Artificial Lake.
One time settlement for refugees from Pakistan Administered Kashmir (PaK)

Ropeway projects:

Mubarak Mandi to Bahu

Chaneni to Patni Top
Allow open tariff policy for hotels.

42

Regional Initiatives:
Chenab Valley

Earmarking 2 per cent of revenues from hydro-power for development of the region.

Specialized ITI for skill development to provide trained manpower for hydro power projects.

Mining and mineral development with focus on sapphire; set up local processing units.

Revise the law on minor forest produce to legalize cultivation and trade of medicinal and
aromatic plants.

Construct the Chatroo-Vailoo tunnel.

Road safety initiatives in view of the extra ordinary high rate of accidents and mortality.

43

Regional Initiatives: Pir Panjal

Setting up of specialized IT and bio tech parks.
Formation of Mugal Road Tourism Development Authority.
Building of a Tunnel on Mugal Road.
Extension of Railway line.
Opening of new cross LoC roads.

Expanding scope of travel and trade on Poonch Rawlakote Road.

Veterinary Campus for promoting live stock economy.

44

Regional Initiatives: Indus Valley

Opening of the Ladakh route to Mansarovar.

Extension of tourist access to more forward areas, especially the Siachin glacier.

Converting Siachin into a Peace Park.

Opening of Turtuk-Khaplu route to re-unite divided families.

Establishment of a Silk Route Interpretation Centre at Panamic/ Taksha area.

Establishment of a Cultural Centre in Turtuk area.

Developing Suru valley and Rock Buddhas of Mulbek, Karsekhar as tourist attractions.

Constructing Nubra house in Srinagar.

45

Regional Initiatives: Jehlum

Valley

Developing Greater Gulmarg and making it an all weather destination.

Water Tourism Circuit around Jehlum, Wullar and Manasbal Lakes.

Developing Bungus valley as a biosphere and promoting it as an eco tourism destination.

Dry fruit mandi.

Mega fruit mandi.

Planning and planting high density orchards.

Expressways from Srinagar to district headquarters.

46

Specific Initiatives: Srinagar City

Srinagar to be made into a Smart City.
Traffic Decongestion through better traffic management.
Multi level parking facilities.
Creation of Pedestrian only Zones.
Street vendor registration and licensing.
Shehr-e-khas development:
Livelihood creation projects by dovetailing craft, heritage and tourism.
Declaring downtown as a heritage zone.
Creating a downtown knowledge hub by rationalizing the use of the premises of MP
School, Gandhi memorial college and Bagh e Dilawar Khan.
Development of Brari nambal lagoon on the pattern of Hussein Sagar, Hyderabad.

47

Specific Initiatives: Jammu City

Resolve the drinking water and sewerage issues which is a major

health hazard.
Ring Road around Jammu city for decongestion of traffic.

Road widening & Flyover projects in Jammu city to be revived.

Multi level parking facilities.
Increase the capacity of electricity transformers.

48

Initiatives: Kashmiri Pandits

Kashmiri pandits will be reintegrated and absorbed in the kashmiri

milieu.
Reintegration has to be a process that must start within the state as
well as the civil society.
Return with dignity will be based on a legal framework of citizenship
and their rights as state subjects.

49

Initiatives: Other Minorities

A legislative framework for empowerment of all minorities including Sikhs and Christians.
Recommend to the Government of India to declare Sikhs as a minority in J&K under the
National Minorities Act.
Ensure equitable distribution of development across all religious and ethnic minorities.
For Sikhs, provide option of Punjabi being taught as an optional language in school.
Instituting a Chair for Punjabi language in the Universities of Jammu and Kashmir.
Create a Schedule Tribe Ministry for the welfare of Gujjars.
Pursue the resolution passed by the State Assembly providing schedule tribe status to
pahadi speaking people.

50

Initiatives For Marginalized

Register all street vendors.

Provide all registered vendor with a license to conduct business.

Provide kiosks and designate cluster for their operation.

Empanel all ITI trained electricians, and plumbers.

Form societies for skilled unemployed and make it mandatory that all

labor from outside the state is registered with these societies

51

Initiatives: Children & Challenged

For enhancing Children rights relating to education, health &

nutrition, state government shall adopt the UN Convention on

Rights of the Children
Provide special access to physically challenged in
All government offices
Public building

Public transport

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THE POWER OF

6 Big Initiatives
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

Devolution and Decentralization

Governance Reforms
Skill Development
Public-Private partnership
Import substitution
Branding and benchmarking of products

54

6 Focus Stakeholders
1.

YOUTH: Skill Development.

2.

WOMEN: Financial safety net.

3.

ENTREPRENEURS: Enabling environment

4.

TRADERS: Enhanced credit availability.

5.

HORTICULTURISTS: Apple Insurance.

6.

PROFESSIONALS: Better working condition for doctors and

engineers.
55

6 Big Steps In Focus Business Sectors

Power:

Increasing generation.

Privatizing distribution.

Horticulture

High Density orchards.

Pesticide Regulation Authority.

Manufacturing

Trade:

GST with protection of status and

exemptions.

Trade to be covered brought under

Enterprises policy.

Tax rationalization.

Preserve, Propagate and

Professionalize.

Declare as culture Industry.

Turnover based incentive policy

Tourism infrastructure financing facility

Crafts:

Tourism:

Extension of Industrial Package.

56

6 Critical Issues & Initiatives

Corruption: Governance reforms.
Unemployment: Employment through enterprise.
Flood affected: Rehabilitation and restoration of livelihood.
Power shortage: Reduce T&D losses.
Horticulture profitability: Regulate transport tariffs.

City Traffic: A new traffic management system.

57

Lets build a better

J&K together!
An Aspirational Agenda
by
J&K Peoples Democratic Party

J&K Election 2014