There are moments in history when wrong decisions are taken; the effects of which are felt for ages,” said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at the end of a long peroration on the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Right decisions, however, also ripple through the years. Consolidating the gains of democratic victory with steady investment in infrastructure and governance reform should top UPA-II’s to-do list, given that the PM has repeatedly said he considers J&K one of his biggest priorities.

Inaugurating a new Anantnag-Qazigund rail route (planned for over a century), he spoke of the government’s commitment to improving connectivity and infrastructure, and helping trade flourish. While the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawalkot roads are already open to trade, the Centre will rebuild the heritage Mughal Road to connect Shopian with Poonch and Rajouri. Trade across the LoC has intrinsic and symbolic value. No matter how thin the trickle of commercial activity currently underway, opening up these routes for trade and exchange will make a difference. Throwing cash at J&K has never been a durable solution, but spurring self-sufficiency and prosperity is bound to work. In recent years, J&K has seen a tremendous scaling-up of educational infra-

structure up to the university level, but this process has been largely unregulated, and not geared towards academic excellence or job-market gaps. The state is awash with unemployed, overqualified young people — and addressing their restlessness is an obvious need. The PM announced a “skill development to employment” scheme and promised ITI training to prime the state’s young population for better career prospects. And this employment must not remain confined to growing apples and creating handicrafts, or even the hospitality industry.

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