What does progress mean for Jammu and Kashmir?More roads? More tourists? More hotels and townships? More industrial investment? Higher horticultural production? More construction?All of these can contribute to economic development. Jammu and Kashmir unquestionably needs investment, jobs, higher household incomes, better infrastructure and improved public services.But recent events across the Himalayas increasingly compel us to ask a deeper question:Are the conventional ways in which we define, plan and measure development adequate for a fragile mountain region facing accelerating climatic and ecological change?

Dr. R. Balasubramaniam, Member of NITI Aayog, raises precisely this question in his recent article, Rethinking Progress. Reflecting on the devastating August disaster in Nepal and other extreme events, he argues that such tragedies should not simply result in stronger bridges, better warning systems and more disaster-response infrastructure. They should make us examine the assumptions underlying the development model itself. His argument moves beyond conventional sustainability towards what he calls regenerative development: instead of asking only how development can do less environmental damage, we should ask how development can strengthen ecosystems, communities and infrastructure together so that the systems upon which society depends become more resilient rather than progressively depleted.For Jammu and Kashmir, this is an important and timely proposition.

From more development to better progressThe challenge before J&K is certainly not to choose between development and environmental protection.That is a false choice.The challenge is to ensure that economic development produces durable progress. A road that improves connectivity but greatly increases landslide or flood exposure cannot be judged only by kilometers constructed.Tourism that increases visitor numbers and revenues but overwhelms water supplies, mobility systems, waste infrastructure and fragile landscapes cannot be judged simply by arrivals.Urban expansion that creates valuable real estate while removing drainage channels, wetlands or flood-storage areas may increase today’s asset values while increasing tomorrow’s public liabilities.

And agricultural intensification that raises production in the short term but depletes soils, water or ecosystem health may not ultimately increase farmer prosperity.Therefore, the question shifts from how much development are we achieving to what kind of progress is that development producing?That distinction should sit at the center of the next generation of planning in Jammu and Kashmir.Our problem is not the absence of plansJ&K does not suffer from a shortage of plans, policies and projects.

Tourism has policies and destination-development programs. Agriculture and horticulture have productivity strategies. Urban areas have master plans. Roads, industry, housing, water supply, flood management,........

© Greater Kashmir