Addressing audience infront of LG Manoj Sinha at 8th UT Foundation Day in Srinagar on Saturday, Amar Singh College’s student Ayesha Rahim highlights changes in education, security, railway connectivity and infrastructure; says reforms have strengthened students’ opportunities and sense of integration
Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Nov 1 (JKNS): Describing the post-2019 transformation in Jammu and Kashmir as multidimensional, Ayesha Rahim, a student of Amar Singh College Srinagar, on Saturday highlighted developments in education, security, tourism, infrastructure and other sectors, saying the changes have influenced different aspects of life in the Union Territory.
Sharing her views to audience infront of Lieutenant Governor of J&K Manoj Sinha on the emergence of Naya Jammu and Kashmir during the 8th UT Foundation Day celebrations at SKICC Srinagar, as per news agency JKNS, Ayesha said the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir had brought changes across multiple sectors rather than being limited to any particular sphere.
Speaking about security and law and order, she referred to a decline in violence and said official reports indicate a 70 to 80 per cent reduction in violence-related incidents compared to the pre-2019 period. She said various measures were also being undertaken to address drug abuse under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan.
Highlighting infrastructure development, Ayesha referred to the completion of major railway connectivity projects, particularly the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), saying improved connectivity had made Kashmir more accessible to the rest of the country.
She also mentioned developments in power infrastructure, hydropower capacity and the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, stating that rural areas were increasingly gaining access to tap water facilities.
Focusing on education, she said significant changes had taken place in the academic sector, particularly in the duration and completion of degree programmes. Drawing from her experience as a student, she said courses that earlier took students five to six years to complete could now be completed within the prescribed three-year period.
Ayesha said students were also gradually overcoming psychological barriers and feelings of isolation that had existed in the past, adding that the implementation of a common constitutional framework had strengthened their sense of integration and belonging with the rest of the country.
She also referred to the establishment and presence of premier educational institutions, including IIT Jammu, IIM Jammu and AIIMS, saying these institutions were expanding educational opportunities in the region.
Referring to the security environment, she said the emphasis on ensuring that innocent people are not targeted while those involved in wrongdoing are held accountable had strengthened the sense of security among people.
She further appreciated the ongoing developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir, expressing hope that the initiatives currently underway would be completed in the coming years and create further opportunities for the younger generation.
Ayesha said development in the contemporary era was particularly important for students, adding that progress in education, infrastructure and other sectors would play a significant role in shaping the future of Jammu and Kashmir. (JKNS)
