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The level of violence and tension in Jammu & Kashmir during the year 2004 was significantly lower as compared to the year 2003. The annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs tabled in the Parliament says that the number of violent incidents reported in 2004 was 707, while in 2003 was 3041. Fairly encouraging polling percent of 35.21 in the Lok Sabha elections and increase in the number of tourists to the Kashmir valley were indicators suggesting improvement in the security situation, the report says.
In the North East, insurgency and militant activities have been taking place in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. The strategy adopted by the government – accelerate infrastructure development, generate employment, improve tries with neighbouring countries and discuss legitimate grievances of the people – has started to pay dividend. The report says that there has been a decline in the trend of violence in the North Eastern regions. NSCN(IM), NSCN(K), UPDS,, DND, NLFT(NB) & ANVC have entered into agreements with the government.
Referring to natural calamities, the annual report says that conscious and painstaking efforts have been made to shift the focus of disaster management from response and relief to ‘prevention, preparedness, response and relief’. A National Policy on Disaster Management has been formulated to give proper institutional structure for tackling disasters.
The annual report says that the communal situation in the country remained under control, with 640 incidents being reported in 2004 as compared to 711 incidents in the previous year. The report says the government is drafting a model comprehensive law to deal with the menace of communal violence.
OK/AD/SK
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