Budget neglects welfare, fails to address pressing issues: NC

Srinagar, July 24: The National Conference on Wednesday termed the Union Budget 2024-25 presented in Parliament by the Union Finance Minister as a “mere jumble of words that neglects to tackle the pressing issues” facing the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here, the party’s chief spokesperson said, “This is the sixth consecutive budget that has not been passed by the elected legislature of Jammu and Kashmir. Why are nearly 1.40 crore people left without a representative assembly? An elected assembly could have addressed the needs and aspirations of the people before finalising budgetary allocations. Once again, stakeholders were not consulted before the budget was tabled.”
Tanvir emphasised that the budget is mute on the focus areas. “The budget fails to address the high unemployment rate, development deficit, and lack of infrastructure. The government has turned a blind eye to contractual employees awaiting their regularisation, cut fertiliser subsidies for farmers, neglected MGNREGA allocations despite inflation and unemployment, reduced funding for higher education by 10,000 crore, and slashed LPG subsidies amidst rising prices. States have also been shortchanged as finance commission allocations have been reduced,” he said.
The NC spokesperson highlighted the “deplorable” state of major roads in J&K and said the budget lacks any substantial measures to improve surface connectivity. “Sectors such as tourism, horticulture, handicrafts, transportation and social welfare have been left neglected, further exacerbating the suffering of the people,” he said. “No new tourism destinations and circuits have come up. Our healthcare sector is working under strain due to the severe staff deficit. No budgetary allocation has been made to enhance electricity generation.”
Tanvir said the government for has “failed” to address the pressing issues faced by the people of J&K and left them high and dry.