JAMMU, Feb 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah reaffirmed his government’s
commitment to presenting a people-centric budget for Jammu & Kashmir,
underscoring that active participation of public representatives in
the budget formulation process ensures that the aspirations and needs
of the people are truly reflected.
Chairing a series of pre-budget consultation meetings at the Civil
Secretariat in Jammu, the Chief Minister was joined via video
conferencing by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from
Anantnag, Budgam, Kathua, and Samba districts, as well as District
Development Council (DDC) Chairpersons. The discussions, he said, were
a vital step toward fostering participatory governance.
Advocate Abdul Rahim Rather, Speaker of the J&K Legislative Assembly
and representative of the Charar-i-Sharief constituency, also
participated virtually from his office.
“The primary aim of these consultations is to gather valuable
suggestions from key stakeholders before finalizing the budget,” Omar
Abdullah said in his address. “We want to ensure this is not just a
government budget, but one shaped by the people, for the people. Your
voices will be represented, as you are the direct link to the
aspirations of Jammu & Kashmir’s citizens.”
He emphasized that the upcoming budget would not be confined to
bureaucratic corridors. “You have been elected because people trust
you. Their expectations are tied to your leadership, and through this
dialogue, we aim to align budget priorities with the aspirations of
those who voted and placed their faith in the democratic process,” he
told the MLAs and DDC Chairpersons.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to inclusive governance, the
Chief Minister assured the elected representatives that their inputs
would play a crucial role in shaping the budget. “These consultations
are not a one-time exercise. We are institutionalizing regular
coordination with public representatives to ensure transparency and
inclusiveness in governance,” he said.
“This process will continue. We will engage with you consistently to
address concerns and provide all possible support,” he assured.
Expressing confidence in the upcoming budget session of the J&K
Assembly, Omar Abdullah said, “Together, we will work to uplift the
socio-economic conditions of our people and drive sustainable
development across the Union Territory.”
During the discussions, DDC Chairpersons and MLAs highlighted key
demands for inclusion in the budget, ranging from road widening and
new infrastructure projects to the enhancement of sports facilities,
upgradation of health and educational institutions, provision of
potable drinking water, and the development of tourist destinations.
Strengthening healthcare facilities with adequate staffing and the
establishment of new colleges and schools also featured prominently in
their appeals.
The elected representatives expressed their gratitude to the Chief
Minister for initiating these consultations, hailing the government’s
efforts to integrate grassroots perspectives into the budgetary
framework.
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, as well as senior
officials, MLAs, and DDC Chairpersons, both in person and virtually.
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