‘Focus on inclusive growth’: Omar tables ₹1.27-lakh-cr. budget

Highlighting the financial crunch faced by the Union Territory (UT), Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented a budget of Rs 1.27 lakh crore with “special focus on marginalized sections of society and new measures for job creation” in a region with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country.

Presenting his government’s second budget as Finance Minister, Mr. Abdullah said, “The budget carries a wide range of people-oriented initiatives aimed at providing emergency relief, strengthening social protection, promoting inclusive growth and ensuring equitable development in all regions of J&K.”

32 social assistance measures were implemented for marginalized groups, including women, orphans and the disabled. Mr. Abdullah announced six free LPG cylinders for families registered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY); free bus service for disabled women and passengers on smart city buses and other government transportation systems; Direct Benefit Transfer based financial reimbursement for AAY students from Grade 9 to Grade 12 as well as college students; Sponsorship support for 6,000 orphans in non-institutional care.

Oppn. unhappy

However, opposition parties expressed their dissatisfaction with the budget. “The budget is a hopeless and vague document. It does not offer any improvement or hope. Youth, who constitute 60-65% of our population, have been ignored,” said Peoples Democratic Party MLA Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra. BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma called it a “budget for National Conference MLAs”. “There’s nothing in this for ordinary people,” he added. “The budget includes a number of focused measures that will directly touch the lives of citizens, especially the most vulnerable,” Mr. Abdullah said.