 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Feb 19: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today passed grants amounting to Rs 61,575.88 lakh for the General Administration Department (GAD), Rs 47,648.38 lakh for Planning, Rs 12,408.31 lakh for Information, Rs 12,54,383.63 lakh for the Power Development Department (PDD), Rs 52,37,955.90 lakh for Finance, Rs 7,742.54 lakh for Parliamentary Affairs, Rs 75,028.93 lakh for the Law Department (excluding the Election Department), Rs 78,461.35 lakh for Revenue, Rs 4,22,783.97 lakh for Housing & Urban Development (H&UDD), Rs 66,622.88 lakh for Tourism, Rs 40,749.54 lakh for Hospitality, Protocol & Estates, Rs 17,622.31 lakh for Culture, and Rs 1,46,098.46 lakh for Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction (DMRRR).
The grants were passed following extensive two-day discussions in the House.
The Assembly also passed 19 supplementary grants amounting to Rs 3,52,341.28 lakh.
Replying to the discussion on Demands for Grants, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also Leader of the House, expressed gratitude to the legislators for their active participation, noting that 43 members took part in the debate.
“I would like to thank all the honourable MLAs for taking part in the discussion. By listening to them, we get an opportunity to learn, to understand, and to correct some mistakes,” the Chief Minister said.
He also appreciated the efforts of the administrative machinery, including secretaries, heads of departments, officers and staff, particularly in view of the record number of cut motions.
“As you said, there were more than 500 cut motions. Each and every query was answered. The pile of papers on my table is the result of their hard work,” he remarked.
Focus on GAD, daily wagers regularisation starting this financial year
Speaking department-wise, the Chief Minister said the core purpose of the GAD was to ensure smooth functioning of administration without difficulties.
He noted that almost every MLA had raised concerns regarding Daily Rated Workers, Temporary Workers, Seasonal, Ad Hoc and other categories who have been working for decades.
“These workers have been there continuously for the last 20-30-40 years, but the reality is that no government could solve their problems,” he said.
The Chief Minister stated that his government would not make hollow promises or announce policies that could later get stuck in courts or financial hurdles.
“We don’t want to announce a policy from here so that it gets stuck in court and their work stops there,” he said.
He informed the House that a committee under the supervision of the Chief Secretary had been constituted to work out a legally and financially viable framework for regularisation.
While the committee could not complete its work within the initial six months and sought more time, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment.
“God willing, we will start the regularisation process in a phased manner,” he said, adding that regularisation of daily rated workers would be initiated in a transparent manner once the report is submitted.
Recruitment and filling vacancies
On the issue of vacancies and employment, Omar Abdullah clarified the distinction between creation of posts and appointments.
“We have filled around 6,000-6,500 posts,” he said, reiterating that the government would work to fill around 30,000 vacant posts this year through transparent and time-bound recruitment processes in coordination with the Service Selection Board and Public Service Commission.
He also referred to outsourcing engagements, describing them as additional opportunities, though not counted as formal jobs.
“At least they are earning a living,” he added.
Financial condition and Budget management
Highlighting Jammu and Kashmir’s financial constraints, the Chief Minister noted that tax and non-tax revenue covers only about 25% of expenditure, while 75% comes through central share and assistance.
“This is not a situation created today, it has been inherited,” he said, adding that efforts are underway to improve financial self-reliance.
He explained the new system of centrally sponsored schemes, where each scheme now operates through a separate RBI account, requiring the UT’s matching share before funds can be utilised.
“This has reduced financial flexibility, and many states and UTs have faced similar consequences,” he said, expressing confidence that implementation would improve next year.
He also underlined the importance of SASCI, calling it one of the best schemes for J&K, especially due to the provision of 50-year interest-free loans.
“If we take a loan of Rs 3000 crore today, after 50 years it will be equivalent to about Rs 97 crore,” he said, urging maximum utilisation of such funding for development.
The Chief Minister strongly asserted that the government has ended off-budget borrowing practices.
“Today, in J&K, not a single penny is off-budget borrowing. Whatever debt we take is fully recorded. There is no HUNDI system,” he said.
Employee benefits and pensionary payments
Acknowledging delays in retirement enefits, Omar Abdullah said the government has significantly increased disbursements.
“In 2026, we released Rs 3,173.39 crore in GPF, Rs 1,170.21 crore in gratuity, Rs 838.28 crore in commutation, and Rs 425 crore in leave salary,” he informed the House.
He assured continued efforts to reduce hardships for employees.
Climate budgeting and mitigation fund
The Chief Minister emphasised that climate response is now a compulsion for J&K, especially after the impacts of drought and heavy rains last year.
He said a fund for climate change mitigation has been prepared, and stressed the need to assign departmental responsibility for studying and addressing climate change impacts before undertaking further budgetary measures.
Tourism revival and expansion plans
Calling tourism a vital sector, Omar Abdullah said the government successfully revived the industry despite difficult circumstances following the tragic Pahalgam incident.
“Today, Gulmarg hotels are full. Sonamarg hotels are full,” he said, adding that several destinations have been reopened with the intervention of the central government.
He expressed hope that by May, all remaining closed destinations would be reopened.
The Chief Minister also spoke about projects like the Jammu Riverfront, envisioning its development similar to Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Riverfront.
He emphasised the need to expand tourism into remote areas where industrial scope is limited, particularly in Jammu, which already attracts over one crore pilgrims annually to Mata Vaishnodevi.
“If we can retain even 10% of these tourists for 6-7 days, it can transform Jammu’s economy,” he said.
He also highlighted new initiatives such as Baag-e-Gul-e-Dawood (Chrysanthemum Garden), which drew large crowds this year.
Power Sector: Challenge as well as opportunity
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed power both a challenge and an opportunity, noting that J&K consumes more electricity than it generates.
He said J&K has an 18,000 MW power potential, of which only 3,000-3,500 MW has been developed.
“Our intention is that in the next 2-3 years, we will add another 3,000-3,500 MW,” he said, with a long-term goal of developing the remaining 11,000 MW over the next 10-15 years.
He assured full implementation of the RDSS scheme to improve distribution infrastructure and reiterated that the government has no intention of privatising distribution companies.
Housing, encroachments and waste management
On encroachments, Omar Abdullah assured that action would begin against “big sharks” and land grabbers rather than the poor.
Regarding solid waste management, he said legacy waste is a serious issue across cities and addressing it would bring major benefits.
He announced that 2-3 major vertical housing projects would be launched in Jammu and Srinagar this year, with special focus on Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
Revenue reforms and Mini-Secretariats
The Chief Minister said ongoing incomplete mini-secretariats, including Tangmarg, Srinagar, Poonch and other places, would be completed immediately.
He also assured that issues related to leases and Ghair Mumkin Khads would be resolved during this financial year.
CDF savings and transparency
On issues raised regarding CDF and related matters, the Chief Minister assured MLAs that savings under the scheme belong entirely to them.
“This money is yours. These savings will not go back to the Treasury,” he said, adding that a special order would be issued for clarity.
Information Department and Media transparency
On the Information Department, Omar Abdullah said there would be further rationalisation in advertisements, ensuring transparency based on circulation, readership and reach.
“I don’t believe in media censorship. I never asked any media house to not write against me or in my favour. I will never use advertisement as a pressure point,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister thanked legislators for their valuable contributions and assured that concerns raised would be addressed appropriately. He requested withdrawal of cut motions, which was subsequently agreed upon by the House.
Earlier, Sunil Sharma (Leader of Opposition), Mubarik Gul, Javaid Iqbal Choudhary, Sham Lal Sharma, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, R. S. Pathania, Tanvir Sadiq, Zaffar Ali Khatana, Shagun Parihar, Rafiq Ahmad Naik, Dr. Sajjad Shafi, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Mian Mehar Ali, Baldev Raj Sharma, Irfan Hafiz Lone, Dr. Rameshwar Singh, Arjun Singh Raju, Vikram Randhawa, Shabir Ahmad Kullay, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri, Yudhvir Sethi, Salman Sagar, Shamim Firdous, Darshan Kumar, Dr. Shafi Ahmad Wani, Qaysar Jamshaid Lone, Javid Ahmad Beig, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, Sajad Shaheen, Rajiv Jasrotia, Mohammad Yousuf Rather (Tarigami), Waheed ul Rehman Parra, Payare Lal Sharma, Sajad Gani Lone, Chander Parkash Ganga, Saif-ud-Din Bhat, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Iftikhar Ahmad and Mir Mohammad Fayaz participated in the discussion.
Later, the MLAs withdrew their cut motions after the Chief Minister assured the House that all issues raised would be duly addressed. |
