Srinagar, Sept 20: As the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly prepares to begin its autumn session on Monday, common people across Kashmir are looking towards the elected house with expectations that issues directly affecting their daily lives will find space in the proceedings.
The Assembly session is scheduled from September 21 to 30, with seven effective sitting days and issues such as employment, regularisation of temporary workers, electricity, development and governance are expected to figure prominently.
For many young people, employment remains among the biggest concerns. Residents said the Assembly should seek clear timelines for filling vacant government posts, address delays in recruitment and discuss opportunities for the private sector.
“Young people are waiting for years for recruitment and many are crossing the age limit while waiting. The Assembly should ask the government for a clear employment roadmap and time-bound recruitment,” said Zaffar Iqbal, a resident of Uri town.
The issue of daily wagers and other temporary workers is another major expectation.
“There are employees who have served for years without job security. Their regularisation and pending wages should be discussed seriously instead of being left to assurances,” a daily wager working in the Animal Husbandry Department in Baramulla said on the condition of anonymity.
Locals want electricity supply and tariff hikes also to be discussed.
“Electricity bills have become a major concern for ordinary families. People want the government to explain the tariff structure and take steps to make power more affordable,” said Faisal Chaku, a local shopkeeper in Srinagar
Residents from rural and remote areas, meanwhile, want the Assembly to focus on roads, healthcare, drinking water, public transport and basic infrastructure. They said development should not remain concentrated around major towns and cities.
“In villages, people still struggle with roads, transport, healthcare and water facilities. MLAs should raise these issues and seek answers from the departments concerned,” said Khushal Ahmad, a local of Kupwara’s Karnah village.
Residents also expect the house to discuss the problems of traders, small businesses, farmers, tourism stakeholders and people living in border and remote areas.
“The Assembly should become a platform where ordinary people’s problems are discussed seriously. People want decisions and follow-up action, not only speeches,” said Tahir Ahmad, a local of Chadoora tehsil of Budgam district.
Locals also want the promotion of border tourism to be taken up during the Assembly session. “The government speaks a lot about promoting tourism in border areas. It should tell the people clearly what steps have been taken so far to promote border tourism and how much progress has been made,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla district.
