Jammu: National Anti Terrorism and Peace Front (NATPF) National Chairman Sanjay Manhas today said that the Pakistani agenda in Jammu and Kashmir has been decisively rejected by the younger generation, asserting that the youth of J&K are firmly standing with India and its path of peace, progress, and development.

In a statement issued here, Manhas said, “The Pakistani agenda is now in the coffin, and the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are standing strongly with India.” He added that attempts to spread unrest and misinformation have largely failed as young people are choosing education, entrepreneurship, and nation-building over conflict-driven narratives.

He noted that growing participation of youth in development programs, startups, tourism, and public service reflects a clear shift toward stability and constructive engagement. According to him, this change shows that divisive external propaganda is losing ground on the soil of Jammu and Kashmir.

The NATPF chairman said the organization will continue its outreach campaigns to promote peace, counter radicalization, and strengthen national unity. He urged community leaders and families to keep encouraging youth toward positive and productive opportunities.

Manhas reaffirmed NATPF’s commitment to supporting all initiatives that strengthen harmony, defeat terrorism, and build a secure and prosperous future for Jammu and Kashmir within India.

Jammu & Kashmir BJP president and Rajya Sabha Member Sat Sharma on Monday raised two key public-interest issues concerning the people of the Union Territory in the Upper House, seeking urgent action on urban housing for the poor and relief in genuine Income Tax hardship cases.

Raising the matter during the proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, Sharma highlighted the growing problem of homelessness and inadequate shelter infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in urban areas. He urged the government to prioritise the construction of safe and permanent houses for economically weaker and vulnerable families.

He informed the House that only two shelter homes are currently operational across Jammu and Kashmir, terming the number grossly insufficient for the scale of need. He called for a substantial increase in the number of shelters and a strengthening of housing support systems for the urban homeless.

Citing official data, Sharma said that 19,375 houses have been constructed in J&K over the past three years under various schemes. However, he stressed that the pace must be accelerated to ensure timely relief for poor, landless and homeless families. He also asked the concerned Union Minister to provide detailed information on housing schemes and expedite implementation so that no eligible family remains without housing security.

Apart from housing, Sharma also flagged difficulties arising from recent amendments in the Income-Tax Act affecting taxpayers and TDS stakeholders.

He referred to provisions introduced through the Finance (No. 2) Act, 2024, which set a six-year time limit for filing TDS correction statements, effective April 1, 2025. According to him, the restriction has created serious hardship for both deductors and deductees, especially for financial years prior to 2018–19, where the correction window has effectively closed.

He noted that genuine errors — including incorrect PAN entries and challan mismatches — can now no longer be corrected for those years, resulting in denial of TDS credit in Form 26AS, inflated tax demands, refund delays, penalties, interest burdens and avoidable litigation despite taxes having been properly deducted and deposited.

Sharma urged the Union Government to consider a one-time relief measure or a special condonation window and requested issuance of suitable guidelines under Section 119 of the Income-Tax Act to address genuine cases.

In a major policy move following the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), the Central Government has ordered the start of work on the long-pending Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur and Ramban districts, with an estimated cost of Rs 5,129 crore.

The revival of the project was announced in October 2025, a few months after the IWT was put in abeyance in the aftermath of the April terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives. Environmental clearance for the project was recommended later the same month, clearing a major hurdle for its execution.

Stalled for nearly four decades, Sawalkote is among the largest hydropower projects planned in the Chenab basin and forms a key part of India’s strategy to maximise utilisation of its permitted share of western river waters through run-of-the-river power generation.

Under the 1960 treaty framework, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej were allocated for India’s exclusive use, while Indus, Jhelum and Chenab were designated as western rivers, with India allowed limited non-consumptive uses such as hydropower generation, navigation and fisheries.

The Sawalkote project, with a total planned capacity of 1,856 MW, will be developed in two stages — 1,406 MW in Stage-I and 450 MW in Stage-II. It is designed as a run-of-the-river scheme and will be located between the Baglihar project upstream and the Salal project downstream on the Chenab river.

NHPC Ltd has invited bids for construction works, marking the formal start of the project rollout. Authorities plan to execute the scheme on a fast-track basis, though full completion is expected to take around nine years.

The approval follows clearance by the Environment Ministry’s Expert Committee last year as part of a broader push to accelerate strategically important infrastructure projects after the IWT suspension.

The Centre has also fast-tracked multiple other hydropower projects in the Chenab basin. The 1,000 MW Pakal Dul and 624 MW Kiru projects are targeted for commissioning by December 2026. The Kwar project, featuring a 109-metre dam, is expected to be completed by March 2028, while the 850 MW Ratle project is also scheduled for completion by 2028.

Additionally, Dulhasti Stage-II has received environmental clearance and is moving ahead, further strengthening hydropower capacity in the region.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has prepared a comprehensive Vision Document aimed at overhauling labour welfare and governance across the Union Territory, with a major proposal to make Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) an integral component of minimum wages to protect workers from inflation.

The information was shared in the Legislative Assembly by the Labour and Employment Department in response to a query raised by legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami.

According to the Government, the Vision Document is based on the recommendations of a committee constituted in April 2024 to examine key labour welfare issues. It lays out a strategic framework to strengthen labour administration and worker protection through multiple reforms.

Key proposals include stricter enforcement of labour laws, modernization of inspection systems through a Central Automated Inspection mechanism, and improvements in conciliation and quasi-judicial processes to ensure quicker resolution of labour disputes.

The document also stresses scientific and regular revision of minimum wages, enhanced awareness of labour rights through information and education campaigns, capacity building of departmental staff, elimination of child and bonded labour, and promotion of skill development aligned with emerging employment sectors.

A major highlight is the planned incorporation of VDA into minimum wages to offset inflation and safeguard the real income of workers. The Government said the document is currently under examination and will be aligned with the new Central Labour Codes. The inclusion of VDA will be implemented in a phased and time-bound manner.

Addressing concerns about delays in financial assistance to dependents of deceased registered labourers, the Government said it is sensitive to the hardships faced by such families and remains committed to timely and dignified support. It explained that delays are largely due to statutory requirements, including the mandatory 90 days of employment for registration and verification needed for renewal.

Authorities stated that strict verification is necessary to maintain beneficiary authenticity and protect public funds, even though the process is rigorous.

Following the enforcement of four new Central Labour Codes from November 21, 2025, replacing 29 earlier labour laws, new welfare boards are to be constituted, including National and State Social Security Boards and a Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board. Clarifications have been sought regarding continued disbursements during the transition period.

Despite the transition, the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board continues core functions such as worker registration, labour card issuance, and renewals. A board meeting chaired by the Chief Minister in July 2025 approved major welfare disbursements, with over Rs 6,764 lakh spent on education, health, and other assistance during the 2025–26 financial year up to December.

On wage compliance, the department said regular inspections and enforcement drives are conducted to ensure employers follow notified wage rates. Minimum wages revised in October 2022 remain in force, and revisions are undertaken periodically with intervals not exceeding five years to keep pace with inflation and living costs.