An internationally known strategic analyst and academician has advocated a "5 R Approach" for a peaceful J&K where there is no scope for violence and there is education for all. The "5 R Approach" is part of the vision of Jammu and Kashmir’s first Padam Shree awardee in the field of education Professor Amitabh Mattoo which he unfolded here recently.
Entitled "A More Perfect Union-Jammu and Kashmir-Vision 2020, Building a "Naya" J&K," the Vision includes tackling various issues and problems confronting J&K including terrorism, social and educational backwardness, growing extremism, poor governance etc. The Vision 2020 sees ‘A Naya J&K’ as a violence-free, tolerant, plural, skilled and prosperous state, a state where there is education for all and all educated youth have jobs and thus contributing their bit to nation-building.
"Reconciliation between all stakeholders, Revival of the composite culture of pluralism, Rehabilitation of IDPs, Reconstruction of the economy and Restoration of faith in the systems of governance can help in re-building peaceful Jammu and Kashmir," suggests Professor Amitabh Mattoo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jammu who is one of India’s leading thinkers and writers on international relations, while unfolding his "5 R Approach". His "Vision 2020" dwells on issues like low literacy level, high educated unemployment and J&K being low on Human Development Index.
"There has to have multiple reconciliations, that is, within the valley, within the state, between the state and the centre, across the LoC and IB and between India and Pakistan. While the reconciliation within the valley could include dialogue between civil society leaders for revival of Kashmiryat, pluralism and return and rehabilitation of KPs, reconciliation within the state could include political and civil-society dialogue between Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh, devolution and regional balance," says the academician who is the youngest Vice Chancellor of the University of Jammu and was recently conferred one of India’s highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, in recognition of his services to the field of education by the President of India .
He adds the reconciliation between the state and the centre involves dialogue (round tables, working groups), devolution and institution building while reconciliation across the LoC/IB would see more civil society interactions, movement of goods, ideas, people and services and converting Line of Control as Line of Peace.
"A More perfect Union" is possible in J&K through comprehensive security. Mattoo’s vision of comprehensive security means freedom from fear in every sense. It also includes physical, political, cultural and economic security. Physical security could mean end of violence and terrorism comprehensively, end of abuses, law and order primarily a state police responsibility, return of Army to pre-1989 position and may be setting up of a Truth Commission.
Political Security could mean devolution and decentralization of power, ensuring power flows to the grassroots and participatory governance. Cultural security may include all cultures, languages, arts, religions, traditions, religions find space and strength, pluralism and tolerance guiding mantras while economic security would mean new opportunities in tune with the demands of the global economy and creating a Knowledge Society: making education the master key.
Professor Mattoo, Member, National Knowledge Commission feels that as there are weak institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, Local Bodies (Panchayati Raj) are stunted, civil society is still not booming, educational Institutions are still catching up and other democratic institutions are still not strong. J&K, he believes, is a centre of multiple conflicts and violence and there are weak institutions, poor governance, social and educational backwardness, continuing extremist tendencies/ polarization, parasite economy.
Besides, the poor governance is really eating into the vitals of the state as Jammu and Kashmir is the second most corrupt state in whole of the India. Public Delivery Systems is inadequate and public lack faith in the system.
But what also bothers Professor Mattoo who has been on the Governing Council of the Nuclear Science Centre; a member of the Standing Committee of the Association of Indian Universities is growing extremism in Jammu and Kashmir. To him, it is one of the major challenges in J&K as there is an erosion of traditional Sufi Islam in Kashmir valley and regionalism is growing stronger and harder in Jammu and Ladakh.
However, the man who till recently was a member of India’s National Security Council’s Advisory Board, remains quite sanguine about the future of J&K. What inspires him is the fact that there are signs of hope amongst a section of the valley. He says that question are being raised on the illegitimacy of violence, there is civil society support for return of KPs and for Kashmiryat; new Generation is seeking new opportunities in India’s knowledge economy, there is growing attractiveness of India’s soft power, disillusionment with Pakistan is very strong and the disenchantment with extremists and willingness to work towards creating peace with dignity is quite visible.
Posing a question that whether Pakistan be trusted or would she be willing to confront the Frankenstein it has created, he says there were many signs of hope in our neighbouring country including return of democracy, strong civil society, growing constituency for peace, Pakistan’s internal problems, erosion of Army and ISI’s legitimacy, international (US) pressure India’s growing power and stature especially its soft power. However, he adds that there were still signs of despair in Pakistan as Army was still the most powerful institution, ISI was also still extremely influential, politicians still hadn’t got their act together, there was an enlarged space for terrorists/ extremists (LeT), signs of revival of militancy in Kashmir were strong and there were conflicting signals to Kashmiri separatists
India and Pakistan reconciliation, he says is important as both the countries need to end violence and terrorism, there has to be greater people-to-people contact, LoC has to be converted into a Line of Peace, devolution of power on both sides is important besides creating consultative mechanisms in common areas.
For "A More Perfect Union" for Jammu and Kashmir by 2020, he strongly recommends a dialogue, creating stakeholders within the state who will work for a Naya Jammu and Kashmir, isolating perpetuators of violence, reviving the strong traditional culture of pluralism and tolerance and building strong institutions and devolving power to the regions, sub-regions and the finally the villages.
The final step for a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir, he says, would be to move towards making J&K into a Knowledge Economy and a Knowledge Society.
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