When Kashmir Will Return To Routine

The lockdown, now into fourth week, offers no idea about when Kashmir will return to routine

Almost three weeks after the parliament unilaterally withdrew the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and reorganised the state into two federally governed Union Territories (UT), Kashmir is still closed. With no alteration in the unprecedented deployments, nobody actually knows where the “reasonable restrictions” start or end. In certain areas, the security apparatus manning the concertina barricading are discouraging people to move around. At the same time, in some belts within and outside Srinagar the movement is being encouraged.

Barring Fridays, the uptown Srinagar witnesses impressive movement of the private transport during mornings and evenings. The movement to peripheral towns is also possible during wee hours and after sunset. But the schools, business establishments, public transport and most of the government offices continue to remain locked.

Authorities, last week, announced the phase-wise opening of the schools but it did not take off. Now the focus is to get the employees to the offices so that their movement adds to the street footfall. Last week, various government agencies approached a few sections of the trade, suggesting them to resume the routine. So, far it has not led to a breakthrough. Seemingly, the immediate priority is to get Lal Chowk crowded so that the camera frame gets a better view.

People are spending their days shuttling between the local markets and mosques as most of the time is spent before the TV. Some of the markets do open later in the evenings for quick provision sales. Unlike routine, the vegetable sellers push their carts into the localities and help people get their supplies. Right now, most of the vegetables consumed by the market are locally grown. Owing to the halt in tourism and return of the seasonal labour, the local produce is able to manage the local requirements, the people in the trade say.