J&K's boatmen struggle to keep their head above waters

The livelihood of Dal Lake's boatsmen, which looked to have revived after the restrictions -- owing to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A -- were eased, has been marred again by the second wave of COVID-19.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir):The livelihood of Dal Lake's boatmen, which looked to have reasonably revived after the restrictions — owing to the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A — were eased, has been marred again by the second wave of COVID-19.

Tourism is the most important source of income for the union territory and its people, and the boatmen are no exception to this. After almost two years, the boatmen found a silver lining as visitors from across the world had begun thronging the union territory to shake off the COVID-imposed restrictions. However, with the governments -- in India and several countries -- imposing travel restrictions to arrest the spread of COVID-19, these boatmen say their future looks grim.

Sources said one of the primary reasons for a surge in COVID-19 cases in the union territory is the previous influx of tourists from all around the world. As the first wave subsided and restrictions eased, tourists and businesses in the Valley took some liberty and failed to exercise caution. This has now left small businesses in the Valley, that are completely dependent on tourism for their survival, are staring at a grave future.