Many will be surprised to learn that the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a front-runner in the third edition of the Sustainable Development Goals India Index as well as the Dashboard 2020-21 report released by Niti Aayog, the Indian government’s public policy think tank, in June. With the strengthening of grassroots democracy, the launch of several new development initiatives, and the extension of progressive and development-oriented central legislation, the union territory has emerged as a lead performer in the index. The region performed well on indicators pertaining to agriculture production, education, renewable energy, civic amenities, forestry and gender equality.
The guiding mantras of Insaniyat (Humanity), Jamhooriyat (Democracy) and Kashmiriyat (Identity of the people of Kashmir) continue to fuel the territory’s progress. In the past two years, government initiatives have included ensuring effective and transparent administration, developmental schemes focused on individual beneficiaries and accelerating the implementation of long-pending projects. The District Development Council (DDC) elections held last November and December marked a new chapter in the political domain. This was the first time people’s representatives were elected at all levels of local self-government in Jammu-Kashmir. All regional parties took part in the election. More than three million registered voters exercised their suffrage. More than 4,000 candidates, including at least 450 women, were in the fray for the 280 DDC seats spread across the 20 districts. A policy to reserve 33 per cent of the seats for women was implemented. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with leaders of the region’s main political parties in New Delhi in June has raised hopes for the continuation of the ongoing political process in Jammu-Kashmir.
The territory, meanwhile, has managed the Covid-19 situation better than other parts of India. Cumulatively, 11.7 million tests have been carried out, thereby leading to a high number of tests per million people being registered every day. About 20,000 beds were set up in Covid Care Centres across the territory. As of August 1, there were 1,121 active Covid-19 cases recorded, with about 6.3 million people vaccinated and 316,000 others having recovered. All its districts are in the Covid-19 green zone, with the test positivity rate dropping to 0.2 per cent. Thirteen districts have achieved 100 per cent vaccination for people over the age of 45, with the overall coverage for the over-45 category across Jammu-Kashmir standing at 99.9 per cent. It is estimated that at least 60 per cent of the population will be vaccinated with the first dose by the end of August. To further strengthen the health infrastructure, two All India Institutes of Medical Sciences are being constructed, as are two cancer institutes, seven medical colleges and 15 nursing colleges.
Over the past year, Jammu-Kashmir has emerged as one of the best regions for developing transportation networks. In the coming year, the government is planning to invest more than $300 million in building and revamping its road and rail networks. One such project is the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link that includes the world’s tallest railway bridge, of 359 metres, over Chenab River. Upon completion, it will connect the Kashmir valley to the plains, making the movement of people and freight much easier. An all-weather tunnel, built at an elevation of 1,790 metres to connect Kashmir with the rest of the country, will be open to the public later this year. With a focus on clean energy, Jammu-Kashmir has begun focusing on hydropower projects using a "run-of-the-river" model, whereby the natural flow and elevation drop of a river are used to generate electricity. The past few months have seen a slew of announcements relating to a gas-pipeline project, the development of the capital Srinagar into a "smart city" and other initiatives.
There are also initiatives in place to help some of the less privileged groups within society.
The tribes of Gujjar and Bakkarwal, for instance, constitute about 15-20 per cent of Jammu-Kashmir's population. Their nomadic lifestyle had, so far, kept them out of various national census exercises. These communities play an important role in the conservation of the region's ecologically sensitive forests, but it was only in 2019 that they were given rights to freely access, independently manage and govern forest lands and other related resources; thereby providing livelihood security and a hope for future generations. Simultaneously, in May, the government launched a survey of all migratory and tribal populations to help nomadic communities access government schemes and development programmes. Another neglected section of society, comprising sanitisation workers from the Valmiki community, has been recognised and given access to education, employment, the right to vote, and other basic rights.
Over the past two years, efforts have been made to create digital infrastructure, expanding usage and simplifying government processes. In 2019, the government began a programme to digitise offices, create public grievance cells and scorecards to evaluate the work of local government institutions. In July, these institutions were integrated into the digital world. To support children’s online education, the government has integrated teachers and students into the knowledge network programme and created IT labs and computer-aided learning centres. Recently, Jammu-Kashmir launched two mobile applications that allow its residents to register and track grievances. A newly introduced digital platform also allows citizens to track public spending and funds allocated for all infrastructure and construction work. Despite its challenges, the territory is firmly on the path of digital disruption.
The Indian government has identified the creation of a local industrial base and a workforce with skills that can be gainfully employed as an important factor to achieve sustainable growth. Apart from announcing its "Industrial Policy 2021-30" to provide incentives to all new industrial units being set up in the region, the government has also introduced a new skill development programme with the purpose of providing training to 10,000 youth to enhance their skills for the job market. Hundreds of new vocational centres and labs have been established. A new single-point clearance system has been established to drastically reduce the number of approvals required. There is also a renewed focus on the agriculture and horticulture sectors, which employ the largest segment of the region's population. Meanwhile, a geographical indication (GI) tag has been given to export-driven agricultural products such as Kashmiri saffron, and efforts are under way to provide GI tags to such products as the Gucchi mushroom, one of the world’s more expensive mushrooms grown in the region.
As such, in 2021, Jammu-Kashmir’s GDP is expected to grow at 7.5 per cent.
Jammu-Kashmir is at an inflection point of development. The progress that has already been achieved indicates a path towards sustainable growth. And the Government of India will continue to strive until the region achieves its fullest potential in line with the ideals of the Indian Constitution.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Indoor cricket World Cup:
Insportz, Dubai, September 16-23
UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final
Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
Tuesday, September 19 – 10.30am, v New Zealand; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The 24-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool), Koen Casteels (VfL Wolfsburg).
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Vermaelen (Barcelona), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham), Dedryck Boyata (Celtic), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion), Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht), Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Youri Tielemans (Monaco), Mousa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea/Dortmund), Yannick Carrasco (Dalian Yifang), Adnan Januzaj (Real Sociedad), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli).
Standby player: Laurent Ciman (Los Angeles FC).
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: N2 Technology
Founded: 2018
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Startups
Size: 14
Funding: $1.7m from HNIs
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Champions parade (UAE timings)
7pm Gates open
8pm Deansgate stage showing starts
9pm Parade starts at Manchester Cathedral
9.45pm Parade ends at Peter Street
10pm City players on stage
11pm event ends
Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
The%20Crown%20season%205
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EImelda%20Staunton%2C%20Jonathan%20Pryce%2C%20Lesley%20Manville%2C%20Jonny%20Lee%20Miller%2C%20Dominic%20West%2C%20Elizabeth%20Debicki%2C%20Salim%20Daw%20and%20Khalid%20Abdalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWritten%20by%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPeter%20Morgan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%20stars%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
