Dr Satwant Singh Rissam
ssrissam84@gmail.com
In past few years, significant progress has been made in exposing and fighting corrupt practices, showing clearly the ongoing vigilance and reform to unlock the region’s full growth potential. Yet, corruption remains a major obstacle to development in Jammu and Kashmir’s rural areas. This is especially important because about 80 percent of J&K’s population lives in rural communities where livelihoods mainly depend on agriculture, horticulture, and allied sectors.Although, the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable, inclusive growth and wider social transformation. However, despite these department’s efforts, corruption continues to hinder progress on the ground.
The recent convictions highlight how deep rooted this problem is for rural communities. For instance, in September 2025, two engineers from the Public Works Department in Doda were convicted for diverting development funds and manipulating records to favor contractors, thereby compromising infrastructure quality. Similarly, in August this year, a Junior Assistant in the Tourism Department was caught manipulating payment records and illegally redirecting funds. These fraudulent activities directly deprive communities of vital resources for essential projects such as water supply, rural connectivity, and livelihood schemes.The consequences of such corruption are far-reaching. It erodes public trust, stalls infrastructure projects, and hampers welfare services. When funds meant for rural development are embezzled, essential services remain underdeveloped, which in turn perpetuates poverty and inequality. In addition, corruption discourages investment and weakens the empowerment of marginalized groups, thereby deepening economic and social divides across rural J&K.
Nevertheless, the landscape has started to shift since the revocation of Article 370. The introduction of central laws, the digitization of land and revenue records, and the growing empowerment of Panchayats have brought new tools of transparency into local governance. Further, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has intensified its efforts, with several FIRs and convictions signaling that immunity is on the decline. Still, challenges remain, particularly in terms of judicial delays and low conviction rates in some cases, which reinforce the urgent need for speedier court proceedings as well as stronger protections for whistleblowers. Clearly, a multifaceted approach is required to address these challenges while promoting sustainable rural development. Expanding digital platforms for record-keeping and fund tracking, for example, can sharply reduce human discretion while boosting transparency and accountability.
Additionally, empowering village committees and Panchayats to closely monitor projects and verify progress would help ensure that development aligns with local needs and that funds are being used as intended. Equally important is the strengthening of anti-corruption laws, the speeding up of judicial trials, and the protection of whistleblowers-measures that together could provide a strong deterrent against fraudulent activities.Training citizens in ethics, transparency, and digital literacy will build awareness and encourage reporting of corruption.
Ultimately, rural development remains fundamental to Jammu and Kashmir’s overall progress. For a region where most people still depend heavily on agriculture and local industries, tackling corruption through stronger governance, greater transparency, and deeper community participation is essential. Only then can development funds be translated into tangible improvements in people’s lives. By combining good governance with sustainable strategies rural J&K can be transformed into a resilient and prosperous region.If implemented earnestly, this vision has the potential to reduce poverty, generate jobs, and foster self-reliant communities-thereby reshaping the socio-economic landscape of Jammu and Kashmir for generations to come.
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