CM Omar Abdullah promises people-friendly budget

Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday promised a people-friendly Budget and said the the yearly outlay will not be confined to government offices alone. Abdullah, who began pre-budget consultations with legislators and chairpersons of district development councils (DDCs) on Wednesday, stressed that the budget would be shaped by public aspirations and not limited to bureaucratic decisions.

Chairing a series of pre-budget consultation meetings at the Civil Secretariat in Jammu and joined from districts through video conferencing by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from Anantnag, Budgam, Kathua and Samba districts and District Development Council chairpersons, the Chief Minister highlighted the significance of such engagements in fostering participatory governance.

Abdul Rahim Rather, Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly and representative of the Charar-i-Sharief constituency, also participated in the meeting virtually from his office.

The meeting was attended by Advisor to the CM, Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D Vaidya, Director General Budget, J&K, Deputy Commissioners of Kathua, Samba, Anantnag and Budgam districts, DDC chairpersons, MLAs along with other senior officials, both in person and through virtual mode.

Speaking at the meeting, Abdullah stated, “The primary aim of these consultations is to gather valuable suggestions from prime stakeholders before finalising the Budget. We want to make sure that this budget is not just by the government, but by the people, for the people. Your voices will be represented, as you represent people of Jammu & Kashmir.”

He emphasised that the upcoming budget will not be confined to government offices alone. “You all have won your elections because people have placed their trust in you. Their expectations are linked to your leadership, and through this meeting, we aim to align the budget priorities with the hopes of those who voted and participated in the democratic process,” he told elected representatives including DDCs chairperson and MLAs.

The Chief Minister assured the MLAs and DDC chairpersons that their inputs would play a crucial role in shaping the upcoming budget, reinforcing the government’s dedication to involving elected representatives in significant decision-making processes.

“These consultations are not a one-off event. We aim to establish consistent coordination with the people’s representatives, ensuring transparency and inclusiveness in governance,” he said.

Reassuring the participants, he said “This consultation process will continue, and we will consult with you regularly to address your concerns and provide all possible support.” Addressing the participants, Omar Abdullah expressed confidence that the forthcoming Budget session in the J&K Assembly would reflect a collective commitment to serving the people with dedication and sincerity. “Together, we will work to uplift the socio-economic conditions of our people and ensure sustainable development across J&K,” the chief minister added.