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I was born in Machchal, a small village across the Shamshabari Range near the Line of Control in Kupwara District. The village takes its name from the Machchal Nar, a small rivulet that originates near the village and meanders northwards to join the Neelam River. The Machchal Valley has many villages spread over its six to eight hundred square kilometer area. The year of my birth coincided with the onset of militancy in the state. Being a remote border area, facilities such as electricity, tap water, toilets and the like which people take for granted in the cities were nonexistent. Most areas do not have these facilities even today. An unmetaled road winds over the Shamshabari, through Zamindar Gali, to connect my village with the district. This remains closed for six months in a year due to heavy snowfall, during which time, all movement perforce has to be on foot. When I was born, medical facilities in the Machchal Valley were nonexistent, the nearest hospital being in Kupwara. We had no access to television or even a radio, and the few primary level schools that existed were defunct, with teachers rarely making an appearance. Job opportunities were scarce, and the local people depended on agriculture and forest produce to eke out a living. Because of insurgency, no development took place in the entire area. The little bit of development which was taking place also came to a total standstill due to the fear of terrorists.
Militants would regularly come across the border through the mountain passes into the Machchal Valley to go across to other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. And as the militant movement increased, the Army came in to stop them. We were afraid of the militants because they carried guns but the Army was a source of comfort. The first signs of development also started happening with the arrival of army units in the area. The changes came in slowly, but every small change made a difference. Schools became functional, teacher attendance improved and the mud road from Machchal to Tsuntwari, halfway towards the Line of Control, was repaired. Due to heavy snowfall, this road could be used for only six months in a year but that was an important achievement. Now the road has got extended all the way up to the Line of control which has made life that much more bearable.
By the end of 1994, the local army unit built a hospital in Machchal for the civilians. It was the first time that we had medical care available right in the village itself. An Army doctor was always present to treat the patients, and that too free of cost, with the army supplying medicines too. Over the years, the hospital has grown with tremendous support from the army and the civil administration. This is a welcome departure from earlier times when a sick patient had to be carried on a stretcher over the high mountain pass to Kupwara. Now, even in winters, it is a source of comfort to the people that a hospital is available in Machchal. As critical care is provided immediately, scores of lives have been saved over the years. Medical camps conducted regularly by the Army have brought medical care to even far off villages in the area. This has been extremely helpful as the local people are also made aware of health related issues such as hygiene and sanitation, child development and immunisation programmes.
Today, after almost two and half decades, I am part of the youth power who wants to contribute to the State’s development and future. We too, living in the remote corners of India want to be part of the development effort and contribute our share to the nation. The Army has made it possible for us now by improving schools, connecting villages through roads and bridges and providing medical care. I remember my childhood days and the difficulty we had to just reach our school. Now the Army has also established the ‘Army Good Will School’ in Tsuntwari which provides quality education to local children. It was through the initiatives taken by the Army that I received an education and could get a decent job. There are many like me who have similarly availed of the chance that we were given.
With successful operations against the infiltrating terrorists, peace has been largely restored in the Machchal Valley. To help the youth, the Army has taken to vocational training with emphasis on skilling people in knitting, carpet weaving, computer usage, repair of vehicles and the like in their vocational training centres. Youth Employment Guidance Nodes (YEGN) have also been set up to train youth for various jobs in the Central and State Government. This has resulted in enhancing skill sets and employability of many youth in the area like me. Moreover, equal opportunities for skill development are also provided to the women in the area. Today girls of my village have started contributing towards their home income by weaving carpets. One day a young girl from Machchal told me that with the help of Community Development Centre and Indian Army she has now started earning good money and this has indeed added to her financial independence. Now all parents are proud of their daughters in the village and encourage them to chase their dreams. Local units are not only assisting us in providing suitable qualified instructors for carpet weaving but also assisting in finding quality raw material and helping us to sell our products. Many other have picked up jobs in industries while some are going for self- employment ventures.
There are many such stories of young people like me who have been enabled to become productive citizens and contribute to the community and to the country. We do not need charity: we simply seek a chance to prove our worth. I am thankful that in a remote corner of our great country, the Army has helped to change the lives of so many people. This story too should be told, which is why I have written this article. And through this article I take this opportunity to express on my behalf and on behalf of my friends our sincere gratitude to the brave officers and men of the Indian Army, who helped us in changing our lives.
Mohammad Shaban Lone is a young man from Machchal Village. This article is being published at his request.
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