Elections 2019: Votes for Nothing in Return, Tragedy of Fertile Nowshad

At about seven kilometre from Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, situated is a village called Nowshad [Budgam district] – famous for its production of rice, almonds, walnuts, apples, plums and peaches among other produces. However, the village lacks in basic facilities like proper roads. The nearest hospital is seven kilometre away from Nowshad, while students have to walk four kilometre every day to reach their school due to the absence of transport facility. The situation worsens during the six months of winter. 

From National Conference (NC) to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), every political party has used Nowshad, as a vote bank, fooling people by promising development of the area. 
Owing to its environment, the Centre had launched the Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture (CITH) in the periphery of the area. Every year, hundreds of students from different parts of India come to the institute to finish their research.

The main campus of the institute in Kashmir came into existence in October 1994. An area of 34 hectares was given on lease by the Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology, as per the MOU between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and State Agricultural Universities (SAU).

After this project’s success, due to high quality of fertile soil and weather conditions, Krishi Darshan too started one of its branches in the Nowshad village. Despite these two big projects, why is the village still lacking in infrastructure development? Newsclick spoke to the villagers to look for some answers.

Located in the lap of three karewas (plateaux), Nowshad’s boundaries are connected to the old airport which is now an Indian Air Force (IAF) base and a radar station. Once a village in Srinagar district, Nowshad is home to at least 100 households, and their income depends on their crop fields. 

Locals from Nowshad say that they have approached almost every office to demand basic facilities such as electricity, water, macadamised roads, schools and dispensary. But their requests, in the last 30 years, have fallen on deaf ears. 

Octogenarian Mohammad Ramzan Sofi, who is a retired employee of Krishi Darshan, told Newsclick: “During every election in Kashmir, politicians representing different parties come and give speeches, and promise development. This helps them score votes, but not a single problem has been solved.” 

“Every door is shut in our face, and they call us “backward”. Attitude of the people sitting in the government offices is quite bad towards us,” alleged Ramzan. 

The link road that connects Nowshad village to the main road is being used by the politicians to gain votes and keep the issues unresolved for the next election. 

PDP MLA Javaid Mustafa Mir and NC’s Abdul Rashid of Budgam constituency have visited the village several times. The local members of both the parties ask for votes, as they promise: ‘Is saal road banega (The road will be constructed this year)’. The promise has gone unfulfilled for years.

Ruined Roads Of Nowshad Village (Photo Courtesy:Zubair Sofi)

“Despite the conflict in Kashmir, we go out and vote, taking every possible risk. But what do we get in return nothing,” Ramzan said. 
In 2008, when Javaid Mir was the minister of rural development, villagers say that they had organised many rallies for him in the hope that this time he will put an end to their problems. But to no avail. 

“We never saw him again after the elections,” said Ramzan.“Some of the villagers had gone to Mir’s house, where he would meet people and listen to their problems. However, he kept them waiting for five hours. And after that, they were asked to leave, as Mir was busy with some other work. This kept happening for months,” he added. 

Mir had reportedly also inaugurated a water filtration plant in Nowshad – only after the villagers gave permission to the government to construct the plant on their land on a few conditions. The minister had promised the villagers that the plant will start soon, and will also generate employment for the locals. He had also said that water will be supplied to the villagers, but it was just another unfulfilled promise. 

Ramzan told Newsclick: “The contractor of the plant revealed that we were being fooled. People were already employed at the plant, and water was supposed to be supplied to Srinagar. The project had nothing for our village.” 

For years now, the plant has been lying in ruins. The buildings which were created for the plant are now home to the dogs and a hub for the drunkards. Those who gave their land to this project, have not received a single rupee in the last 11 years, they allege. 
“We don’t vote anymore; we don’t go to any officer anymore. Whenever we face a problem, villagers come forward to help each other,” said Ramzan. 

Photo courtesy Zubair Sofi: Water Plant at Nowshad Village.

Moreover, an electric transformer of one kilowatt capacity provides electricity to Nowshad, which is not sufficient to fulfil the requirement. In winters, when Kashmir faces major electricity cuts, the village remains cut off from electricity for months, as a result of short circuits. “Whenever there in any such issue, we collect money from the locals, and get our problem fixed,” he said. 

Following snowfalls, the village remains disconnected from the rest of the world for weeks, as the roads get blocked. Students can’t go to the school during rains. 

Nowshad doesn’t even have a government ration store. Ramzan said, “Whenever goods such as kerosene, sugar are being distributed, we are the last ones to get these, if we get any at all. Because we have to walk for four kilometre to reach the store.” 

Local transport such as auto rickshaws and cabs refuse to take anyone to Nowshad due to the bad roads, say the locals. 
The youth of the village, who have learnt agricultural skills by working in their own fields and orchards, are now working as daily wage workers in the CITH and Krishi Darshan farms. First salary of these daily wagers is kept as a security, which is released after three, and at times, four months. “They have no other option left. So, they accept whatever comes their way,” said Ramzan. 
“We have reached every office, knocked doors of every politician but we got nothing but humiliation.”

Also read: A Village in South Kashmir Left to Fend for Itself