SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2017 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Zojila Tunnel Teenage: Inevitable Vulnerability Established 1965 Anita Raina Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra Socio-economic impact on Ladakh pimple on the face can have a farfetched impact than demonetization had on the entire economy of our nation. Mukhtar Hussain arrive on time to appear for an exam, for you them their right to remain connected with the ARanbir Kapoor or Katrina Kaif can make your heart skip a are never definite about your flight. world. beat and the anticipation to watch the first day first show of his/her Promoting fiscal discipline ew days ago, the Chief Minister raised However, this is one aspect of the bigger Connecting Ladakh fully with the rest of among other, the issue of Zojila tun- latest flick on the 70mm screen can render you sleepless. You lthough the question of bringing about finan- story. Another aspect of the story is about the the state, besides helping contribute to the experience a terrible sense of discontentment in spite of scoring 90 Fnel with the Union Minister of Trans- difficult and challenging life in the Trans economy of the state would also benefit the cial reforms has been hanging fire in previous percentile. A phase where your washroom becomes the most com- port and Highways.The decision of the lat- Himalayan region bearing an inhospitable State in other ways. For example, increased regimes also yet no reforms worth the name ter to finalize the project and subsequent fortable zone for you and the numerous knocks at the door only A climate in the absence of the link with the contacts with the people of different regions sound futile. There is a sense of ambiguity and self- doubt. An air commencement of the work on the tunnel is were brought in so far. When we get used to a sys- world for almost half the year. Challenges in of the state would serve as a unifying force of defiance brings out a rebellious streak in you and leads to a welcome. Although, the cabinet had given getting essentials concerning living, health, for the state which is otherwise very diverse. series of clashes with the people who matter the most. One feels tem, we are loath to change it even if the change is its approval for constructing the 14.8km and education are difficult to imagine for an Strategic Implications: thrown into a space of oblivion. There is turmoil of emotions positive and more beneficial at the end of the day. Zojila tunnel way back in 2013, the work on outsider. The impact of the severed link on Besides socio-economic implications for engulfing you. That's Adolescence. Financial system in our State administration is essen- the tunnel is yet to commence. The tunnel the local economy is also noteworthy. The the construction of the tunnel, another and Juvenile minds are enormously fragile and get easily drawn tially based on the system that prevailed even before project is stalled due to continous failure of partition of the country has severed the eco- the most significant implication would be towards what appears mysterious and reclusive. Drug addiction the bidding process.The National Highway freedom dawned in our country. A few reforms have nomic link that Ladakh enjoyed with on the strategic and security aspect. In fact and abuse is one the most horrifying and appalling realities of the Development and Corporation Ltd(NHD- present crop of adolescents. It has infected the length and breadth been brought in no doubt, but the fast changing times Baltistan, which had severe implications on ,the elites in New Delhi calculate more or CL) has been entrusted with the work on the the local economy. Kargil-Shardu road less about the tunnel only from a strategic of our society like a parasite. Belts and stretches of families - rural in which we live, and the obvious constraints imposed tunnel. The tunnel, if completed will provide which is an all-weather road is yet to be point of view. In the recent decades both or urban, downtrodden or elite, educated or uneducated are fight- by democratic form of Government, call for radical all weather connectivity to the isolated Kargil and Leh have assumed extraordinary ing their battles with powder, needles and grass every day. Nothing region of Ladakh which would have enor- change in the financial system if the State has to Connecting Ladakh fully strategic significance. India has a shared and can be more excruciating and painful for parents to see their own mous socio-economic and strategic signifi- contested border with both Pakistan and Chi- flesh and blood falling prey to this vicious cycle of drug addiction. keep pace with other States in the country in march cance. The tunnel has remained one of the with the rest of the state, na in Kargil and Leh respectively. Both the The journey from addiction to de-addiction can be the most diffi- towards all round development.The administration foremost and persistent demands of the peo- countries have remained hostile towards cult path to traverse and in some cases doesn't even lead to a des- has to move fast to keep pace with the rising aspira- ple of Ladakh especially of Kargil for past besides helping contribute India in their policies. India has bitter expe- tination. The comfort of home is replaced by the nemesis of the 30-35 years. However the governments of rehabilitation centers. Drug addiction not only devastates families tions of the people and requirements of a democratic rience with both. Given that both these hos- the day remained more or less indifferent to to the economy of the state tile neighbours are close ally of each other, but has a considerable influence on the society as well. governance. this genuine demand of the people of the would also benefit the State adds further to the security dilemma. It is to It is astounding to find teenagers obsessed with the latest gadg- The Government has taken a bold step and region. I would endeavour to explore the be noted that in the 1948 Indo-Pak war Pak- ets and gizmos and the most detrimental being the so called Smart announced a slew of reforms to strengthen and implications of the tunnel on the region as in other ways. For exam- istani invaders seized the Zojila pass and phones. Most of the young boys and girls in the prime of their teens well as for the nation as a whole. have completely surrendered themselves to technology to the streamline fiscal discipline. The conventional practice tried to capture the Ladakh region which was Socio-Economic Implications: ple, increased contacts with later recaptured by the Indian forces. In 1999 extent that they have become slaves of technology. The obsession of dragging the budget to the last quarter and then to Zojila pass is one of the highest passes at as well, Pakistan aimed at severing the link for networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and mobile the last month of the financial year has been a source an elevation of 11575ft, connecting Ladakh the people of different of the region with the valley by continous Apps like WhatsApp, Viber and numerous others is fast becoming with the rest of the world through Kashmir. artillery firing on the National Hihghway a medical condition and in some extreme cases, as surfaces fre- of big corruption and delay in delivery. According to regions of the state would quently in the newspapers and main stream media, fatal too. There new policy of the Government, not more than 30 per It remains closed for almost six months from that connects Kargil with Kashmir. December to May which results in severing serve as a unifying force Furthermore, in the wake of China's is a new wave which has gripped the new generation...The Selfie Mania. It is actually uncanny to see the pouts and the body lan- cent of the total budget has to be spent during the last the connection of Ladakh with the rest of the emerging stature and clout in the internation- guage they display giving inkling that this perhaps may lead to a quarter of the financial year. So far the practice has world thereby resulting in its forced isola- for the state which is al system and its increasing influence in permanent modification in the evolution. been of dragging procurement and tendering process tion every year for the past sixty five years. South Asia through its policies like belt and Due to its forced isolation, Ladakh suffers otherwise very diverse. Another horrifying impact of internet is the availability of inap- to the last month meaning March of the financial year road initiative(OBOR) and its now more propriate content for the consumption of young minds. almost in every aspect, be it socio-econom- opened for trade among others. In the con- close alliance with Pakistan through China Pornographic videos are causing a severe dent and damage to the and then hurrying up and rushing through the ten- ic development or education, health or any text of this isolation in all spheres, the con- Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), makes psyche of young minds. They want to explore this forbidden terri- ders, allocations, payments and clearance of bal- other plausible aspect. The only connecting struction of Zojila tunnel at the earliest India vulnerable in the Ladakh region. Giv- tory and as a result indulge in acts which have got multiple social ances. The net result was that there used to be great link with the rest of the world is by air.