Jammu and Kashmir wanting to be the first Himalayan territory with a Mountain Development Policy is a good idea. And the Chief Minister saying it should not be made in isolation is even better. Because policies made in closed rooms usually fail on the ground. What he said about tourism is worth thinking about. Many outsiders think Kashmir runs only on tourism. But the truth is agriculture and horticulture are much bigger. Tourism comes third or fourth. This is something we ourselves forget sometimes. The Chief Minister also spoke honestly about a problem we all see but rarely admit. We cannot suddenly stop tourists from coming. Too many families depend on them. But yes, some places like Gulmarg and Pahalgam are getting too crowded. The answer is not to close these places. The answer is to open new ones. And to build them properly, with waste disposal and other facilities ready before visitors arrive. Another thing he said should make us stop and think. We blame tourists for pollution. But what about ourselves? How many plastic bags do we use every day? Before pointing fingers at others, we should look at our own habits. The point about road construction is also important. Cutting hills carelessly may save money in the beginning. But then landslides come, roads get damaged, and we spend again to repair them. That money could have built new roads instead. The big message here is balance. Development is needed. Jobs are needed. But if we damage the mountains, we damage our own future. The mountains are not just scenery. They are our home, our water, our food, our life. A Mountain Development Policy is a good start. But it will only work if farmers, engineers, forest officers, tourists and ordinary citizens all become part of it. The government cannot do this alone. And it should not try to.
Too many young people in Kashmir are educated but unemployed. They have degrees. They have certificates. But they don't have jobs. And this gap is slowly turning into something worse - frustration,...
Read moreDetails
