Introduction to KashmirForum.org Blog

I launched the website and the Blog after having spoken to government officials, political analysts and security experts specializing in South Asian affairs from three continents. The feedback was uniformly consistent. The bottom line is that when Kashmiris are suffering and the world has its own set of priorities, we need to find ways to help each other. We must be realistic, go beyond polemics and demagoguery, and propose innovative ideas that will bring peace, justice and prosperity in all of Jammu and Kashmir.

The author had two reasons to create this blog. First, it was to address the question that was being asked repeatedly, especially, by journalists and other observers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada, inquiring whether the Kashmiri society was concerned about social, cultural and environmental challenges in the valley given that only political upheaval and violence were reported or highlighted by media.

Second, the author has covered the entire spectrum of societal issues and challenges facing Kashmiri people over an 8-year period with the exception of politics given that politics gets all the exposure at the expense of REAL CHALLENGES that will likely result in irreversible degradation in the quality of life and the standard of living for future generations of Kashmiris to come.

The author stopped adding additional material to the Blog once it was felt that most, if not all, concerns, challenges and issues facing the Kashmiri society are cataloged in the Blog. There are over 1900 entries in the Blog and most commentaries include short biographical sketches of authors to bring readers close to the essence of Kashmir. Unfortunately, the 8-year assessment also indicates that neither Kashmiri civil society, nor intellectuals or political leadership have any inclination or enthusiasm in pursuing issues that do not coincide with their vested political agendas. What it means for the future of Kashmiri children and their children is unfathomable. But the evidence is all laid out.

This Blog is a reality check on Kashmir. It is a historical record of how Kashmir lost its way.

Vijay Sazawal, Ph.D.
www.kashmirforum.org

Friday, March 30, 2012

Kashmir Abounds in Materialism, Census 2011 Proves It

In a decade, J&K has seen the number of automobiles increase by 210 percent, televisions by 51 percent, and homes by 30 percent. But how about human development?


Census 2011: 30.16 % increase in houses in J&K in 10 years

Zaheer Khan (Kashmir Times)


Srinagar: There has been an increase of 30.16 per cent in the total number of houses in Jammu and Kashmir during 10 years.

This has been revealed in statistical data of census 2011 regarding housing and household amenities. The data was released by Director Census Operations, Chander Shakher Sapru at a press conference here today.

The state had 2, 68,552 houses in 2001. The number has gone up to 36,03,632 by 2011 registering an increase of. 8,35,080 houses during the period.

In 2001, the number of occupied houses was 25,28,549 and this rose to 32,99,219 in 2011. Similarly, the number of vacant houses was 2,40,003 in 2001 which later went up to 3,04413 in 2011.

Interestingly, the rural areas have shown an increase of 31.10 per cent in houses during the 10 years, while the urban areas recorded an increase of 27.57 per cent.

Similarly, the total number of vacant urban houses in 2001 was 1,11,974, against the total number of rural vacant houses as 1,92,439 in 2011, showing an increase of 47,652 in urban and 16,758 in rural vacant houses respectively.

The average increase of total number of urban vacant houses in 10 years rose to 74.08 per cent against the total number of rural vacant houses as 9.54 per cent.

The total number of urban occupied houses has increased from 6,72,662 to 8,28,198 during the 10 years, showing a variation of 1,55,536 in 2011. So, the increase in percentage rose to 23.12 per cent in the last 10 years.

Similarly, the total number of rural occupied houses in 2001 was recorded as 18,55,887 against 24,71,021 in 2011, which shows an increase of 6,15,134 in the 10 years at 33.15 per cent.

The occupied census houses used as residence in 2001 was 13,17,925, while it rose to 18,27,285 in 2011, showing a variation of 509,360 in 10 years at 38.65 per cent.

The shops/offices have shown an increase of 46.35 per cent in 10 years. While the number of shops/offices was 2,31,779 in 2001 and 3,39,197 in 2011 registering an increase of 1,07,418.

Similarly, the number of school/colleges was 19,378 in 2001 while it increased to 31,843 in 2011 by 64.33 per cent, which shows an increase variation of 12,465.

The number of hotel/lodge/guest houses etc was 6,130 in 2001 while in 2011 the number increased to 7,473 which show an increase of 1,343 by 21.91 per cent.

Likewise the number of hospitals recorded in 2011 is 6,278.

The number of factory/workshop/work shed has increased to 32,913 in 2011 against 29,783 in 2001. Which shows an increase variation of 3,130 by 10.51 per cent.

Similarly the number of places of worship was 32,025 in 2001 while in 2011 it increased by 17,110 at an increase percentage of 53.43.

Similarly the total number of households (excluding inst. households) in 2001 was 15,51,768 while it increased to 20,15,088 in 2011 by the increased variation of 463,320 in the last 10 years at the variation percentage of 29.86 per cent.

The number of households (Good) was 6,28478 in 2001, while in 2001 it increased to 10,90,386, up by 73.5 per cent.

The number of households (Livable) was 8,83,909 in 2001, which decreased to 8,46,388 in 2011 showing a decreased variation by -4.24 per cent.

The total number of households using tap water is 63.9 per cent, showing an increase variation of 29.86 percent in 10 years.

The percentage using well water in Jammu and Kashmir is 6.5 per cent, while population using hand pump/tube well/bore well is 11.4 per cent. The population using spring water is 6.2 per cent, while river/canal water is 6.7 per cent.

The total number of households with availability of drinking water was 15,51,768 in 2001 while it increased to 20,15,088 in 2011 with an average increase of 463,320 by 29.86 per cent. The drinking water facility is now available to 60 percent population of the state.

“Of 20,15,088 households in Jammu and Kashmir, 9,70,643 households have water taps available within their premises, 5,78,386 have water taps near the households while 4,66,059 households have water tap availability away from the households. Around 63.9 percent of the state’s households have access to safe drinking water,” the joint chief principal census officer informed.

The total number of households with latrine facility was 15,51,768 in 2001. In 2011 it rose to 20,15,088 by increased variation of 4,63,320 by 29.86 per cent in 10 years. However, almost half the population still remain deprived of toilet facilities.

The total number of households lacking availability of latrine facility was 7,27,166 in 2001 and this has decreased to 9,83,791 with the decreased variation of 2,56,625 by 35.29 per cent.

The total number of households having drainage connectivity was 15,51,768, while in 2001 it rose to 20,15,088 with the increased variation of 4,63,320 by 29.86 per cent.

The total number of households using fire-wood was 8,66,496 in 2001 while in 2001 it rose to 11,87,122, which shows an increase variation of 3,20,626 by 37 per cent.

Similarly the total number of households using LPG was 3,43,052 in 2001 which rose to 6,35,867 in 2011, showing an increased variation of 292,815 by 85.36 per cent in 10 years.

The total number of households availing banking services was 5,66,133 in 2001 ,while it increased to 14,10,565 in 2011. The increased variation in 10 years went by 844,432 at 149.16 per cent.

Where the total number of mobile subscribers in 2011 was recorded as 11,94,854 against landline users ranging to 72,820.

Interestingly, the number of television/computer/laptop increased by 51.02 per cent which was 6,31,256 in 2001 while in 2011 it went to 10,28,155.

Similarly the number of households having scooter/motorcycle was 121,188 while it rose to 2,60,306 in 2011 at an increased variation of 139,118 by 114.8 per cent.

The number of households using car/jeep/van facility rose from 48,444 to 2,60,306 in 10 years with an increased variation of 102,021at increasing variation of 210.6 per cent.

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