Jammu and Kashmir on the Path of Empowering Grassroots Democracy

Abstract

The de-operationalisation of Article 370 has given a new lease of life to grassroots democracy in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Union government has made it clear that the main priority is to strengthen grassroots democracy there. At present, the erstwhile State which was once battered by militancy, insurgency as well economic and political instability has embarked on the path of democracy. Though there have been criticisms that the eagerness and interest taken by the Union government to foster local democracy in Kashmir is an attempt to whitewash the absence of democratically elected State government, the recent developments in the erstwhile State including the completion of delimitation exercise at a quick pace to form democratically elected governments in the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir implies that there is some hope at end of the tunnel.