Budget fails to fulfil needs, aspirations of stakeholders in Jammu & Kashmir: NC
The Jammu and Kashmir The National Conference on Tuesday said that the budget allocation for the old state for the year 2023-2024 has failed to meet the needs of the people. The party said that there is nothing important in the budget for the business, industry and commerce of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reacting to the budget allocation for Jammu and Kashmir, party spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said it was all provocation and wordplay. “There is nothing for the unemployed youth. No blueprint for youth employment. We have lakhs of unemployed youth in J&K. There was not a word to address the plight of contractual, daily wage and need-based workers,” he added, adding, “There is no ray of hope for our unemployed and skilled youth. They have been abandoned.”
Imran said that this is the fifth budget budget which was not passed by the elected assembly of Jammu and Kashmir. “This exercise itself raises a question as to why the entire population of around 1.40 crore people remains without a representative assembly. An elected assembly could have discussed and ascertained the needs and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir before presenting the annual budget allocation and estimates. This is the fifth time that the relevant stakeholders were not consulted before presenting the budget,” he said.
“Nothing is more important for the horticulture sector of Jammu and Kashmir. We expected them to announce a waiver on KCC loans and reduce GST rates on packaging items. Their claims to boost horticulture and other ancillary industries have been limited to mere statements. No steps have also been taken to enhance fruit processing infrastructure,” he said.
Artisans, marginal traders, transporters, hawkers and start-ups have no hand, he said, adding that the budget has failed to meet the needs and aspirations of all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ignoring the government’s failure to upgrade Kashmir’s connectivity with the rest of the country, he said there is nothing concrete to upgrade and expand the Mughal Road, Kishtwar-Sinthan Road, Sadna Top and other road projects.
