J&K CM stresses practical, outcome-based planning in pre-budget consultations

For the third consecutive day on Wednesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a series of pre-budget consultation meetings with key departments, including Jal Shakti, Agriculture, Rural Development, Forest, Food and Civil Supplies, Youth Services and Sports, to finalise priorities and development plans ahead of the forthcoming Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.

The meetings were attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary; Ministers Javid Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma; Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary (Jal Shakti) Shaleen Kabra; Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta; Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Shailendra Kumar; administrative secretaries of concerned departments, and senior officers of the Finance Department.

During the deliberations, the CM reviewed sector-wise proposals, ongoing projects and emerging challenges, while seeking focused inputs aimed at strengthening service delivery and development outcomes.

“Budgetary allocations must move beyond routine exercises and should be firmly rooted in practicality, efficiency and measurable impact on the ground,” Omar Abdullah said.

He underscored the need for realistic planning, stating that proposals included in the budget should be implementable within defined timelines and capable of delivering tangible benefits to the people. “Budgetary proposals should be practicable and capable of being translated on the ground,” he added.

The Chief Minister also stressed the need for convergence among departments to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure optimal utilisation of resources.

Highlighting the importance of key sectors such as water supply, agriculture, rural livelihoods and environmental conservation, Omar directed officials to prioritise initiatives that enhance service delivery, improve infrastructure, generate employment and directly address the needs of farmers and rural communities.

He further emphasised accountability and outcome-based budgeting, instructing departments to align their proposals with clear performance indicators.