As part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ - celebrating India’s 75 years of glorious Independence, DD News is organising a series of conclaves on themes reflecting policy initiatives taken to better the life of the common man and build a new vibrant India. The DD News Conclave is a platform, bringing together eminent dignitaries, policymakers and domain experts to provide insights and their perspective on the execution and impact of policy initiatives as well as the way forward. The Conclave is expected to emerge as a major thought platform, and offer a blueprint of key ideas guiding major Government initiatives across the country via Doordarshan’s pan-India presence.

The second Conclave in this series was held on the topic ‘Imaginative Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Outreach’ with the keynote address delivered by Dr Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space. Hon. Lieutenant Governor to the UT of Ladakh, Shri R.K. Mathur also shared his message at the Conclave.

Ladakh MP Shri Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Mayor of Srinagar Shri Junaid Azim Mattu, and Mayor of Jammu Shri Chander Mohan Gupta, were the other experts present on the panel. A learned studio audience comprising of academicians, distinguished individuals and youngsters belonging to the region, interacted with the dignitaries during the session.

In his keynote address, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the abrogation of Article 370 and suspension of 35A had brought in not just Constitutional reforms, but legal, security- related and societal reforms at the grassroots level. He said that until the Government under Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken this step, there was a miscarriage of justice and human rights in the region as several progressive legislations were not applicable here. This includes The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, Dowry Prohibition Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, reservations for marginalized sections, inheritance laws for women among others. He said that due  to vested interests, several development projects like roads, dams, health facilities etc took years to implement and that now, these are being fast-tracked. Expressing satisfaction at the shift in mindsets, he said that, in the new scenario, it is the terrorists that are being alienated while the people, especially youth, are being integrated into the mainstream in a big way. He remembered the contributions of Shyama Prasad Mookherjee for the region and said that had he been alive today, he would be proud of the decision by Hon’ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

In his message, Lieutenant Governor to the UT of Ladakh, Shri R. K Mathur said that he was grateful that a long-standing demand of the people had been met, which has empowered them to set their own developmental goals. Further, under the Reorganization Act, a corpus of 6000 crores has been made available and a slew of infrastructure initiatives have been announced for the region. The Zoji La Tunnel, new airport terminal, SAI centre and border-area infrastructure are a few among these. At the same time, Hon. Prime Minister has also emphasized the need for carbon neutrality and sustainable development, he said.

Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, MP of Ladakh joined the panel from Leh. Speaking on the occasion, he said that Ladakh is one of the fastest growing UTs and has a bright future ahead. The reforms being brought about are not just infrastructure related but also an acknowledgement of the uniqueness of the region, whether it is the National Institute of Sua Ripa, promotion of organic agriculture or establishment of Central University.

Junaid Azim Mattu, Mayor of Srinagar said that implementation of the 73^rd and 74^th Amendment Acts have proved to be a boon for the region. Earlier decentralisation was not allowed as it was considered a dilution of powers and local body elections were boycotted to prevent accountability. He said that people in the Valley now more than ever believe in the ‘Idea of India’ as it is progressive and empowering. He affirmed that Jammu and Kashmir has a beautiful syncretic culture that was subverted by vested interests and it is imperative that it be recreated so that the next generation can see harmonic ties among all communities. However, this can only be possible with bold, unambiguous and transformative leadership to redress legacy grievances, he said.

Chander Mohan Gupta, Mayor of Jammu said that the region has seen increased access to opportunities and employment, thanks to development projects and that it is fully prepared to benefit from a new wave of domestic tourism.

The Conclave was telecast on 1^st October, 2021 at 9pm IST on DD News.

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Saurabh Singh