KD NEWS SERVICE
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: Prof. Geeta Singh, President of Vishwa Gram, on Saturday stressed that the foundation of a peaceful and prosperous Kashmir lies in dialogue, reconciliation, and the revival of the Valley’s age-old traditions of harmony.
Prof. Singh said that creating platforms where diverse communities, faiths, and ideologies can freely interact is vital for healing the wounds of decades of conflict. “Non-violence and coexistence must become the guiding principles of this journey, inspired by Kashmir’s rich Sufi and Rishi traditions that have long embodied unity and mutual respect,” she remarked.
Highlighting the role of youth, she observed that young people, who have often fallen victim to cycles of violence, need to be engaged in more constructive pathways. Education, skill development, entrepreneurship, sports, and cultural activities, she said, should be prioritized to channel their energies positively. At the same time, conflict resolution strategies must not be confined to a security framework but should expand to include social, cultural, and humanitarian dimensions.
Prof. Singh emphasized that people of Kashmir must remain at the heart of any vision for peace. Public participation, she said, is essential to ensure that communities are equal partners in decision-making. She underlined the need for women’s empowerment through access to education, entrepreneurship opportunities, leadership roles, and a guarantee of safety. Similarly, she called for new avenues for youth in startups, technology, tourism, and sports, to enable them to become active contributors to progress.
Preserving Kashmir’s unique cultural identity, according to Prof. Singh, is equally important. Promotion of local languages, arts, crafts, music, and traditions will strengthen social cohesion and instill pride in heritage.
Linking peace with development, Prof. Singh said that prosperity can only follow stability. She advocated modernization of tourism, agriculture, and horticulture using advanced technology to create sustainable livelihoods. Job creation in IT, handicrafts, horticulture, and tourism, she argued, could stabilize the economy while ensuring youth engagement. Infrastructure development—from roads and healthcare facilities to education and digital connectivity—must be expanded to connect every corner of the Valley with modern progress.
She also outlined the need for a green vision for Kashmir. Protecting fragile ecosystems, glaciers, and rivers while promoting clean and renewable energy projects, she said, should be an integral part of the development roadmap.
On the global stage, Prof. Singh stressed that Kashmir’s progress should not remain isolated. Building cooperation with international and national stakeholders through platforms like the United Nations, SAARC, and SCO could open new opportunities. She suggested that investors’ summits and global outreach can showcase Kashmir’s vast potential in tourism, agriculture, handicrafts, and technology to the world.
Prof. Singh concluded by presenting the idea of a “Kashmir Model”—a global example of peace, coexistence, and human dignity blended with development. She proposed that a joint declaration based on this vision could serve as a long-term guarantee of peace, empowerment, and prosperity for future generations.
