Kashmir: Industrial Land Allotments and Economic Reforms Spark Debate Amid Growing Concerns

Srinagar, India-administered Kashmir: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Chaudhary recently announced that the administration has identified 5,000 kanals of land in various districts of Kashmir for the establishment of industrial estates. In Jammu, a total of 9,661 kanals of land has been allocated to the Revenue Department for the same purpose. This is part of an ambitious push to boost industrial development in the region, but the move has raised concerns among critics about its potential impact on the local population and its compliance with international laws regarding the disputed territory.

Aiming to Boost Industrial Development

The Deputy Chief Minister made these statements in response to a question posed by Rajiv Jasrotiya, a Member of the Legislative Assembly, regarding the allocation of land for industrial development. According to Chaudhary, under the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-30, the focus is on boosting a range of industries, including manufacturing, IT and IT-enabled services (ITES), agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and real estate, skill development, tourism, and renewable energy.

In addition, the Industrial Land Allotment Policy and various investment-friendly schemes, including those promoting handloom and handicrafts, have been rolled out as part of an effort to transform the region into a more investor-friendly destination.

Land Allocations and Shifting Demographics

While the announced land allocations are part of an effort to modernize Kashmir’s economy, the policy has raised alarm bells, particularly regarding the growing involvement of non-local entities in the region. Of particular concern is the 5532.19 kanals of land in Kashmir that has been transferred over the past two years, mainly to large corporations from outside the region.

The Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Land Allotment Policy, which has been met with mixed reactions, outlines a framework aimed at incentivizing investment from both Indian and international firms. However, critics argue that the surge in non-local land allotments risks altering the region’s demographic makeup, something that is already a highly sensitive issue due to Kashmir’s disputed status.

Priority Given to Women Entrepreneurs

In an effort to promote gender inclusion, the Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that women would be given priority in land allotments for industrial purposes. He stated that the administration had placed special focus on ensuring that women are able to participate equally in the industrial development process and receive preferential treatment in the allotment of land.

In an important move, the administration also approved the creation of a women-centric industrial estate in Udhampur district. The estate will cover 329 kanals of land out of a total of 1,347 kanals allocated in the region. This initiative is designed to encourage female entrepreneurs to actively participate in the economic transformation of the region.

Legal Concerns and International Scrutiny

Kashmir, under Indian administration, remains a disputed territory according to United Nations resolutions, which recognize the region as subject to a final settlement based on the wishes of its people. The international community has long called for a plebiscite to resolve the Kashmir dispute, but India’s ongoing policies, including large-scale land allocations, continue to violate UN resolutions, according to many critics.

The UN Security Council has made it clear that any unilateral actions taken by India to alter the status of Jammu and Kashmir are illegal under international law. This latest push for industrial expansion is seen by some as an attempt to consolidate India’s control over Kashmir through economic means, which many argue will further marginalize the local Kashmiri population and undermine their rights.

Economic Growth vs. Sovereignty: A Delicate Balance

The current push to transform Kashmir into an industrial hub is welcomed by those who view it as an opportunity for economic prosperity and job creation. However, for many Kashmiris and international observers, it is a reminder of India’s occupation of the region, which has long been contested by local resistance movements and the broader Kashmiri self-determination movement.

The administration’s focus on attracting foreign investment, while promising economic growth, risks exacerbating the already volatile situation in Kashmir. By diverting resources and opportunities to non-local businesses, critics argue, the government is deepening its control over the region, undermining the rights of the indigenous Kashmiri people, and making it harder for them to shape their own future.

With India’s policies in Kashmir continuing to come under scrutiny, the international community is urged to take a more active role in ensuring that international law is respected and that the Kashmiri people’s rights to self-determination are upheld. United Nations bodies and human rights organizations must scrutinize the ongoing developments in the region, particularly the policies surrounding land and economic control.