NEWDELHI: The Center is once again toying with the idea of a “Kashmir Package” now that it is comparatively relaxed on the Punjab front following the installation of an elected government there.
According to informed sources informal discussions have started about evolving the package which would include both economic and political content have been on for some time. Essentially this exercise involves review of the measures taken in the past.
On the political front the government is examining how best to start a process under which political parties and their workers are involved in day-to-day functioning of the system. Essentially it meant revival of political activates almost totally absent in the valley now.
The exercise was started in right earnest at the highest level when the Prime Minister Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao convened a meeting of the state Congress (I) leaders for a few days. The message that went to the PCC (I) was that it should immediately end its differences and stand working as a cohesive team. Only then it was felt the party fight to the militants.
“Although the authorities are not happy with the outcome of the meeting in Delhi attempts have “not been given up. The Prime Minister has entrusted the task of bringing about a pact among the warring groups in PCC (I) to his ministerial colleagues.
Efforts are also on to persuade the National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah to go back to the valley and start political activates slowly. Dr. Abdullah has been out of the valley ever since a militant stepped up activates demanding “azaasi” (freedom) for the state. According to reports the government has lately received some encourage responses from NC leader including Dr. Abdulla.
On the economic front the package is likely to go further from what the government had given in the past. Simultaneously some of the measures currently being implemented will be reviewed to plug loopholes.
The government had during the past two years announced a number of schemes for the people of Kashmir. Land to the prospective entrepreneurs was being allotted on 90 years lease on a nominal premium and rent. Interest subsidy of 3 to 5 per cent was being given to entrepreneurs for construction of sheds.
Apart from giving concessions to small scale units the government had also declared assistance: of various forms to large units in the state There was an arrangement for payment of general sales tax and central states tax on finished goods for a period of five years There was total exemption from payment of toll ax for export of finished goods outside the state
In the new package under consideration the emphasis reportedly would be on plugging loopholes noticed in the implementation of the earlier measures announced in course of last two years.
While talks for the package were on the Center was simultaneously keeping pressure on the militants through increased vigilance of security forces both inside the valley and on the border The security forces were keeping a strict watch over the incursion of trained militants from across the border now that snow would start melting in the higher reaches providing them passage.
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