Lok Sabha Question No. 402 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-02-04
Subject: Impact of Abrogation of Article 370
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Anumula Revanth Reddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 402

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 4 TH  FEBRUARY, 2020/ MAGHA 15, 1941 (SAKA) IMPACT OF ABROGATION OF ARTICLE 370

402. SHRI ANUMULA REVANTH REDDY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether abrogation of Article 370 has affected the economy of Jammu & Kashmir negatively;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  details  of  its  impact  on tourism, handicrafts, sericulture, horticulture, food processing and agriculture;
- (c) the details of monthly average employment rate of the last 24 months in the valley;
- (d) the details of losses incurred due to internet shutdown;
- (e) whether there is any plan to bring the affected regions back on track through financial help or otherwise; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (f): Full economic  potential  of  Jammu,  Kashmir  and  Ladakh regions could not be realized for the last 70 years as the people of Jammu and Kashmir  have  suffered from terrorist violence and separatism supported from across the border for the past many decades.  On account

of article 35A and certain other constitutional ambiguities, the people of this region were denied full rights enshrined in the Constitution of India and  other  benefits  of  various  Central  Laws  that  were  being  enjoyed  by other citizens of the country.

Based  on  recommendation  of  the  Parliament,  a  declaration  was issued  by  the  President  on  6th  August,  2019  under  article  370  and  the erstwhile  State  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  was  reorganised  into  the  Union Territory  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  and  the  Union  Territory  of  Ladakh, addressing all such aspects. The people of Jammu and Kashmir can now realize  full  potential  in  all  sectors  of  economy  like  in  other  parts  of  the country.  Due to these recent decisions, certain precautionary measures were taken initially which have been subsequently relaxed.

As  reported  by  the  Government  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir,  the agriculture  operations  are  going  on  smoothly  in  the  valley.    During  FY 2019-20 (upto January, 2020), 18.34 lakh MTs of fresh fruit (apples) have been dispatched. In the horticulture sector, under the Market Intervention Schemes (MIS) launched by the Government of India in September 2019, for the first time, 15769.38 MTs of apples valued at Rs. 70.45 crores have been  procured  up  to  28th  January  2020,  directly  from  the  growers  in Kashmir valley through National Agriculture Marketing Federation of India

(NAFED).  This scheme has been extended up to 31st March, 2020.  The sericulture sector recorded a production of 813 MTs of silk cocoon in the year 2019. During the 1st three quarters of FY 2019-20, handicrafts worth Rs. 688.26 crores were exported. Various tourism promotional campaigns have also been launched.

Government  of  Jammu  and  Kashmir  has  informed  that  as  per  the Periodic  Labour  Force  Survey,  last  conducted  for  FY  2017-18,  by  the Ministry  of  Statistics  and  Programme  Implementation  of  Government  of India, the worker-population ratio for persons  in the age group of 15 years and above for Jammu and Kashmir is 51%.

The Government of India is fully committed to the overall development  of  the  Union  Territory  of  Jammu  &  Kashmir  and  Union Territory  of  Ladakh.  Under  the  Prime  Minister's  Development  Package2015 of  Rs.  80,068  crores,  major  development  projects  in  Road,  Power, Health, Tourism, Agriculture, Horticulture, Skill Development Sectors etc. are  already  under  various  stages  of  implementation.  Many  flagship schemes including the individual beneficiary centric  schemes are being proactively implemented by the Government of India towards development of J&K region.

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