Restrictions to ease in Lockdown 5: What about J&K, its economy?

30 May 2020

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Ziraat Times Web Team

Srinagar: As the Union Government today announced further phase-wise ease in restrictions under the Lockdown 5 in the country; trade, business and industrial communities of Jammu & Kashmir are asking a moot question: what about this erstwhile state, and its people’s jobs and livelihoods?

According to the fresh MHA guidelines, all activities in the country will be relaxed in a phased manner outside of the ‘containment zones.’

So would the restrictions be now eased in Jammu & Kashmir?

The latest MHA order says that states and UTs may impose restrictions/prohibit activities as per their own assessment in containment zones. What does that mean for J&K?

The Government of India vide its Order No. 40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 17.05.2020 has authorized States/ UT Governments to delineate districts into Red, Orange and Green category, after taking into consideration the laid down parameters.

That means Jammu & Kashmir government can decide and designate districts as red, orange and green, based on its own assessment.

Accordingly, on May 20, 2020, in an order issued by State Executive Committee (SEC) headed by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, J&K government announced all the districts of Kashmir province, except Ganderbal and Bandipora; and Kathua, Samba and Ramban districts of Jammu Province as Red zones.

Similarly, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Reasi, Udhampur and Jammu districts have been classified under Orange category. Likewise, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch and Rajouri districts have been put in Green category.

It has been generally understood that Red and Orange zones are “Containment Zones”.

Would J&K government amend classification of red, orange and green zones?

At this moment, it looks very uncertain if there would be any amendment in this classification at all. No senior J&K government official Ziraat Times tried to reach to on Saturday evening was available for comment. While, J&K is among the states where there is no exponential rise in Covid-19 transmission and where the death rate is below the national average and most other states, strict curbs on economic activities – mainly those in services sector – have continued, delivering a severe blow to J&K’s economy.

J&K’s two major hubs of economic activities – Srinagar and Jammu – are at a standstill for about three months now.

Curfews and restrictions put in place in Kashmir valley for several months since August 5, 2019, have particularly crippled business and trade in Srinagar and smaller urban centres like Anantnag, Sopore, Baramulla and Ganderbal.

So what may or may not open in Kashmir during Lockdown 5?

During Phase I religious places and places of worship for public; hotels, restaurants and other hospitality services; and shopping malls will be permitted to open from June 8, 2020.

In theory, all these activities should be allowed in J&K’s green districts. But currently, Srinagar is a red while Jammu district is an orange zone, so, as per that tagging such activities may not be allowed in the twin cities.

What about schools, colleges?

While the latest guidelines say that in Phase II schools, colleges, educational/ training/ coaching institutions will be opened after consultations with States and UTs, it is very uncertain if that would happen in J&K.

Opening of schools, colleges is a probability only if the current classification of districts in Kashmir – where most of the districts are tagged as red – would be changed.

How about international travel?

As per today’s announcement, for Phase III, dates for the opening of international air travel of passengers; operation of Metro Rail; cinema halls, gymnasiums, swimming pools, entertainment parks etc will be decided based on assessment of the situation.

In any case, international air travel shall remain off for all residents of J&K for now.

What the trade, business and industrial communities want in J&K?

Several surveys that Ziraat Times has been conducting among business, trade and industrial communities of Kashmir and Jammu regions makes it clear that stakeholders want the restrictions to be eased on business and trade activities corresponding to the improvement in the general situation of virus transmission and the trend in the rest of the country.

While there is a consensus that any resumption of activities shall have to be done in a safe and responsible manner, there is a serious unease about the continuous loss of jobs, business and rising debts from banks.