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

3

Our Aspiration

To make Jammu and Kashmir • Politically empowered

• Economically self reliant

• Environmentally safe

• Socially cohesive

• Culturally vibrant

4

5 key Agendas

1. Remodel the Political Structure: Pursue Self Rule as the

Framework of Resolution.

2. Reconstruct the Economy: Rebuild and Rehabilitate.

3. Reform the Government: Effective Governance.

4. Revive the Civil Society: Create a harmonious environment.

5. Rally the Youth: Provide opportunity and support.

REMODELING THE

POLITICAL STRUCTURE

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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.

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Self Rule: The BasicsThe 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

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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.

RECONSTRUCTING THE

ECONOMY

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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.

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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 government’s 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.

12

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Internationalizing Education

• Make a “Special Educational Zone” in J&K

• Institutions like Oxford, Stanford, Harvard can’t 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Rehabilitation

The recovery and rehabilitation will focus on asset loss in:• Housing & public buildings.

• Roads and bridges.

• Irrigation

• Energy

• Environment

And income loss and liability commitments in:• Trade

• Tourism

• Horticulture

• Handicrafts

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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.

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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.

REFORMING THE

GOVERNMENT

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

REVIVING

THE CIVIL SOCIETY

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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.

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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.

RALLYING

THE YOUTH

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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.

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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 Minister’s office for young state subjects who are in distress outside the state.

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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.

SPECIFIC INITIATIVES

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Regional Specializations

• Crafts & Tourism: JEHLUM VALLEY

• Hydro-power: CHENAB VALLEY

• Non Conventional Energy: INDUS VALLEY

• Biotechnology: PIR PANCHAL

• Manufacturing & Trade: JAMMU

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 pahadispeaking people.

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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

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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

THE POWER

OF

6

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6 Big Initiatives

1. Devolution and Decentralization

2. Governance Reforms

3. Skill Development

4. Public-Private partnership

5. Import substitution

6. Branding and benchmarking of products

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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.

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6 Big Steps In Focus Business Sectors

Power:

• Increasing generation.

• Privatizing distribution.

Horticulture

• High Density orchards.

• Pesticide Regulation Authority.

Manufacturing

• GST with protection of status and

exemptions.

• Extension of Industrial Package.

Trade:

• Trade to be covered brought under

Enterprises policy.

• Tax rationalization.

Crafts:

• Preserve, Propagate and Professionalize.

• Declare as “culture” Industry.

Tourism:

• Turnover based incentive policy

• Tourism infrastructure financing facility

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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.

Lets build a better

J&K together!

An Aspirational Agenda

by

J&K Peoples Democratic Party

J&K Election 2014