SRINAGAR, FEB 11: Continuing his engagement with various stakeholders, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a pre-budget consultation meeting today at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
The session aimed to gather the perspectives of representative bodies from various sectors ahead of the upcoming Budget Session of the J&K Assembly.
Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary for Higher Education Shantamanu, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya, Commissioner Secretary Industries & Commerce, Commissioner Secretary Youth Services & Sports, along with heads of departments and senior officers, attended the meeting both in person and virtually.
Stakeholders from diverse sectors including industrialists, traders, hoteliers, travel & tour operators, tourism players, educationists, sportspersons, agriculturists, horticulturists, entrepreneurs, and representatives from industry & trade bodies such as FCIK, KCCI, CII, and PHD Chamber shared their inputs and suggestions for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2025-26.
Key demands raised during the deliberations included the framing of a consolidated industrial policy, upgrading industrial estates, connecting IGC Lassipora with the National Highway, power amnesty for industrial units, crop insurance for horticulture produce, conservation of wetlands, incentivizing cherry, walnut, and apricot plantations, a PPP model in the health sector, preservation of houseboats, granting freehold rights to industrial units, setting up multi-disciplinary institutions, higher education clusters, autonomous degree colleges, establishing a skill development university, creating parking lots in downtown Srinagar and other towns, decongesting tourist places, solid waste management in tourist resorts, maintenance of stadiums & playgrounds, setting up sports academies, and increasing the promotion & publicity budget for tourism.
Addressing the participants, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized that these consultations have become a key part of the government’s pre-budget exercise, aimed at gathering insights from multiple sectors to shape effective policies and allocate resources efficiently.
The Chief Minister patiently listened to all stakeholders, underscoring the importance of these discussions in addressing economic challenges and fostering growth. He reiterated the government’s commitment to presenting a budget that aligns with public needs and aspirations.
To ensure a people-centric budget, the Chief Minister noted that extensive pre-budget consultations had been conducted. So far, he has engaged with public representatives, including Chairpersons of District Development Councils (DDCs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) from ten districts—Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Pulwama, and Kulgam in the Kashmir division, and Udhampur, Ramban, Kathua, Reasi, and Samba in the Jammu division.
Additionally, consultation meetings have already been held with various stakeholders from Jammu, including representatives from industry & trade, tourism, hotel & hospitality, education, social welfare, tribal affairs, youth affairs, and agriculture sectors.
