People’s welfare at core of pre-budget consultations: CM

Jammu, Jan 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday concluded the pre-budget consultation process with public representatives from eight districts of the Jammu division, reiterating the government’s commitment to inclusive and participatory approach in budget formulation aimed at the overall development of Jammu and Kashmir.
Thanking all the Members of the Legislative Assembly for their valuable inputs and feedback regarding developmental works in their respective constituencies, the Chief Minister said that these consultations were not a mere formality but an essential exercise to understand needs of people at the grassroots level and their priorities.
“There was no doubt in this. These consultations are not meant to be a formality. If it were just a formality, I would not have called you,” the Chief Minister said. He added that listening to elected representatives often brings forward ideas and perspectives that the government may not have otherwise considered.
“After listening to you, we get some ideas that we had not thought about. If you benefit from the budget, Jammu and Kashmir will benefit. If Jammu and Kashmir benefits, then your and my work will be accomplished,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister emphasized that all stakeholders shared a common objective. “We are all on one page—that Jammu and Kashmir and the people of Jammu and Kashmir should benefit. This is the purpose of these meetings,” he said.
CM Omar Abdullah further thanked the MLAs for actively participating in the consultation process and placing their demands and suggestions before the government. “What you have spoken, what you have written, and what you have submitted has all been noted. I thank you for that and participating in these meetings ” he said.
He noted that the pre-budget consultation process was initiated last year and has been continued this year to strengthen participatory governance. He explained that the primary objective of these meetings is to listen to public representatives and incorporate feasible suggestions during budget preparation.
“Every honourable minister receives a report of these consultations so that while setting departmental priorities, the suggestions that can be accommodated are included. The remaining issues are discussed during budget debates, grants, and cut motions,” he explained, while assuring the MLAs that all constituency-specific demands had been duly recorded.
The Chief Minister said that efforts would be made to adjust priorities across various funding avenues, including UT Capex, district plans, SASCI, and centrally sponsored schemes. “The list of priorities that we started a year ago will be taken forward this year as well. We may not be able to include every demand due to budget constraints but your priority works initiated since last year shall be completed and handed over,” he said.
Referring to losses suffered due to snow, floods, and heavy rains, CM Omar Abdullah said that the Rs. 1430 crore relief package needs to be utilized judiciously to repair and restore affected areas.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Rana, Satish Sharma, and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani.
The consultative sessions were attended by Members of the Legislative Assembly from the districts of Udhampur, Kathua, Reasi, Ramban, Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, and Doda. The MLAs present included Pawan Gupta (Udhampur West), R.S. Pathania (Udhampur East), Balwant Singh Mankotia (Chenani), Sunil Bharadwaj (Ramnagar), Dr. Rameshwar Singh (Bani), Satish Kumar Sharma (Billawar), Darshan Kumar (Basohli), Rajeev Jasrotia (Jasrota), Bharat Bhushan (Kathua), Vijay Kumar (Hiranagar), Kuldeep Dubey (Reasi), Baldev Raj Sharma (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi), Er. Khursheed Ahmed (Gulabgarh), Sajjad Shaheen (Banihal), Arjan Singh Raju (Ramban), Javed Iqbal (Budhal), Muzaffar Iqbal (Thanamandi), Iftikhar Ahmed (Rajouri), Randhir Singh (Kalakote–Sunderbani), Aijaz Ahmed Jan (Poonch–Haveli), Choudhary Akram (Surankote), Pyare Lal Sharma (Inderwal), Shagun Parihar (Kishtwar), Shakti Parihar (Doda West), and Daleep Singh Parihar (Bhaderwah).
The meeting was also attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary PWD Anil Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya, Commissioner Secretary Social Welfare, Commissioner Secretary Education/Higher Education, Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts, Director General Budget, and other senior officers of the Finance Department and allied departments. Officers posted outside Jammu participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
Earlier, the MLAs highlighted a range of issues and projects requiring priority attention in the forthcoming budget. These included road widening and construction of new roads, upgradation of health and educational institutions, enhancement of sports infrastructure, provision of potable drinking water, development of tourist destinations, strengthening healthcare facilities with adequate staffing, and establishment of new colleges and schools in their constituencies.
The elected representatives also emphasized the need for focused interventions to improve basic amenities and accelerate socio-economic development across both urban and rural areas.
The MLAs expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for initiating and continuing the pre-budget consultation process, appreciating the government’s effort to incorporate grassroots perspectives and elected representatives’ inputs into the budgetary framework.