Plan in works for better deal for tribes in J&K

NEW DELHI: With full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Indian mainland after scrapping of Article 370, the security and Intelligence agencies have now set their eyes on securing lasting peace in the restive state by working on a number of possible measures, including a better deal for tribes.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 6

With full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Indian mainland after scrapping of Article 370, the security and Intelligence agencies have now set their eyes on securing lasting peace in the restive state by working on a number of possible measures, including a better deal for tribes. The state has been reorganised into two Union Territories (UTs) — J&K and Ladakh — which will come into being on October 31. Sources in the security establishment say besides structural and administrative changes, which will set in once the two UTs come into existence, work is in progress to look for possible ways of “re-densification” of the population.

A senior Intelligence Bureau (IB) official said the idea was presently being worked out at the security agencies’ level and “once the plan is finalised, a report will be shared with the higher-ups in the government”. Sources say the agencies are presently weighing two models — Pakistani and Chinese. Pakistani authorities undertook measures like settling Punjabis in PoK with active support from the country’s army, whereas Chinese did the same in Tibet’s Xinjiang by incentivising new settlers, they say. They, however, contend despite J&K being fully integrated with mainland India, directly copying and implementing either of the two models will not work in the prevailing situation at least for a few initial years. “Therefore, we are working on evolving a model of our own for re-densification of population in the state,” said a senior official.

The plan, as being worked out, is to first “instil confidence” among the local tribes, who are currently living on the margins, the sources say, adding the aim will be to mainstream them.

“The nationalistic streaks in them are of high value and they have always been good source of information in our efforts in gathering intelligence and military operations,” an IB official said.

Sources say after October 31, there will be a free flow of people in and out of the UT of J&K for business and employment. A comprehensive policy framework will be required for safe, steady and sustainable movement of people.