The administration proceeded with a plan to collect property taxes across the Union Territory as if the people of J&K weren’t already dealing with a lot. This was a stunner and another method to make people fear the future and wonder how they will manage it. There are questions about the motivation behind such a decision because the action is unquestionably harsh and was decided in the absence of a popularly elected government also without consultation. Despite being aware of the troubles the public is suffering, the current administration is still moving through with the plan, which shows a lack of comprehension of the situation on the ground and the problems that the public is facing.
After 2019, J&K has been dealing with a variety of problems, including unemployment and the COVID-19 pandemic’s destruction of its economy. People’s lives and livelihoods have been impacted by a wide range of issues, and the truth is that they are facing issues they were previously unaware of. For example, the ratio of earnings to dependent people in J&K is much higher than average, which should be able to illustrate the region’s current economic health. Furthermore, in a democratic system, such policy choices are made by elected representatives who have the support of the general populace. The people are literally in a bind, and implementing the property tax would be like pushing them over the edge, adding to the financial load being placed on the people of J&K, who are already dealing with several economic difficulties.
It appears that the administration is moving too quickly; it needs to wait a little while to give people time to catch their breath and adjust to the many changes that have occurred. In particular, it needs to wait until after the election of the people’s representatives. Only then, if the administration moves forward with the property tax, which, until recently, was just a proposal under consideration by the administration, can we say that the decision has the support of the general public. To proceed with it now, though, would only serve to aggravate the situation. It is essential to have an elected government because, as things stand, the lack of one simply means that no one is in place to represent the needs of the populace and make sure that their voices are heard.
There are always ways to implement changes and reforms, and the same cannot be done by acting indifferent to the issues of the people who will ultimately be impacted by such moves—in this case, the imposition of property tax. Such actions are always undertaken after carefully assessing their viability, particularly their acceptance. People are currently frightened and perplexed by the administration’s most recent action rather than accepting it because it may be the final straw which leaves the people with no locus in a democracy. Instead of enacting property tax, the administration should concentrate on resolving the urgent problems the people confront, beginning with economic growth by working to help local businesses, create jobs, and promote tourism. Property taxes are harsh and unnecessary.
