Unrest, following scrapping of Article 370 and Article 35 A, has been a blessing in disguise for local skilled and unskilled workers — including barbers, painters and Kashmiri snack sellers — as the non-natives, who dominated a section of the unorganised sector, have fled the Valley.
Official sources said that over four lakh skilled and unskilled non-local workers were either asked to leave or proactively left Kashmir, fearing retaliation after the Centre abrogated the special status of the state earlier this month.
The Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government on August 5 scrapped Article 370 and Article 35 A, triggering outrage among people in the Valley, where life remained crippled for the 19th successive day on Friday due to restrictions, strike and gag on all means of communication.
The non-locals, who had come from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Punjab, had over the years taken over a majority of jobs in the unorganised sector, ranging from hair cutting to construction business. Most of them used to come to the Valley with the arrival of spring and leave for their respective states at the end of summer. Some, including barbers and Kashmiri snack sellers, have permanently settled in the Valley from many years.
However, post August 5, the non-local workers — some of whom withstood the unrest in 2008, 2010 and 2016 — left the Valley with very little hope of returning back. Some non-locals said that the Mohalla committee of the areas, where they lived, asked them to leave while a few alleged that they left following directions by the police. Suspension of communication networks this time was another reason for these non-local workers to leave as they could not contact their families, who were concerned.
(UNI)
