Although normal life is paralysed in Kashmir for the last six weeks, with shutdowns choking government functioning, the government looks very busy, on papers at least. Khursheed Wani reports.
If the circulars and orders issued from the General Administrative Department are any indicator of the vibrancy of a government, the Omar Abdullah led coalition government deserves to be adjudged as the most dynamic. In a matter of 15 days, the government has issued as many as 20 orders and circulars on better governance, encouraging interface of bureaucracy with the common people, “healing-touch” to victims of violence and evaporating disconnect between people (aam aadmi) and the government. On the ground, however, the orders have little impact as it is virtually occupied by the separatists whose anti-India protest calls have brought the Valley to a standstill. The writ of the government generally works in strategically enforcing curfews and prohibitory orders.
Omar Abdullah is trying to make course corrections. During the last one month, he has visited New Delhi just once resisting his habit of packing to the capital on every weekend. He has held at least four meetings with the Governor N N Vohra to seek his guidance and to make him abreast of prevailing situation. Chief Minister is religiously following advice of the Cabinet Committee on Security to initiate political intervention and reach out to the areas badly hit by the recent spate of violence. Understandably, he held first three meetings at Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag with bureaucrats and party workers belonging to ruling coalition. Of late, two meetings were held at Kangan and Handwara, which are represented in the assembly by National Conference. The two towns have remained untouched by violence ghost this time.
The latest circular issued by the government is to constitute Citizen’s Advisory Councils (CAC) at divisional and district levels to promote “people’s participation in governance” involving representatives from politics, trade and business organizations besides prominent members of the civil society. Interestingly, the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues are busy with holding District Development Board meetings where funds are allocated for various developmental projects and schemes. The meetings are held mostly at district headquarters, which are deserted due to shutdowns or curfew. The opposition People’s Democratic Party legislators have boycotted the DDB meetings on the plea that amid prevailing human rights violations, it is futile to discuss development and economy.
Chief Minister has realized that there is disconnect between bureaucracy and the public. Therefore, in Circular 13, the GAD announced, “Chief Minister has been pleased to direct that all administrative secretaries and Heads of Departments should be accessible to people and reserve one hour each day from 2 pm to 3 pm to hear their problems for re-dressal in time-bound manner. The HoD’s and administrative secretaries will not convene any official meeting during this period so that this time is exclusively reserved for hearing public grievances”. Ironically, there are no long queues of people outside the civil secretariat jostling to go inside. The secretariat premises wear a deserted look.
If the bad patch in governance can be traversed through cabinet meetings, Omar Abdullah is also ready to try the option. On June 27, he decided, “The cabinet shall henceforth meet regularly on every Tuesday at 10 am. In case, Tuesday happens to be a public holiday, the cabinet meeting will be held on the following day”.
And, there is also a mechanism to ensure that all decisions taken in sundry meetings are implemented. The Government Order 803 dated July 15 reads, “The Monitoring Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office directly under charge of Principal Secretary to Chief Minister will also monitor implementation of decisions taken in all meetings held under the Chairmanship of the CM including District Development Board meetings”. The Monitoring Cell was also constituted recently.
The government has also issued a series of orders to inquire recent killings. The killing that took place at Dana Mazar was entrusted to be probed by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Naseem Lankar. The Sopore killings were to be probed by State Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice (retd) Bashiruddin and Islamabad killing by Additional Deputy Commissioner. The probes could not begin and meanwhile number of civilian casualties increased. The latest cabinet meeting took cognizance of the matter and decided to constitute a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) to probe all 17 deaths since June 11 and offer Rs 5 lacs each to next of kin of slain civilians. The CoI will override all previous inquiries.
And, the government issues transfer orders almost daily, even though a recent circular reminded the HoD’s to follow the transfer policy of the government in letter and spirit. To tide over the situation, the government created separate posts of Special inspector General of Police and Special Commissioner to oversee north Kashmir’s situation. Some officers even declined to join at new postings and were subsequently attached. On each incident of violence, there is a minor or major reshuffle in the administration.
The Chief Minister and Governor together held a meeting with Vice Chancellors of various universities to devise strategy for opening the premier educational institutions. The Kashmir University even announced to cancel all holidays to save the academic calendar. However, the curfew and hartal does not allow the students to venture out of the homes to attend classes. The Education Minister Peerzada Sayeed is also asking the teachers to resume duties but the outside atmosphere is not conducive for the students and teachers to report. However, if the official handouts are to be believed, the Kashmir Valley is normal.
