Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday underscored the importance of financial prudence and directed government departments to prepare carefully structured, requirement-driven proposals that align with the administration’s broader development agenda.

For the second day in a row, the chief minister held a series of meetings with senior officials from key departments to review sectoral priorities and development needs ahead of the upcoming budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly, which is scheduled to commence on February 2.

Abdullah, who also heads the finance department, chaired detailed discussions with officials from the social welfare, health and medical education, school education, higher education, public works (roads and buildings), mining, industries and commerce, and labour departments.

He emphasised that proposals submitted by departments must be realistic, well-planned and rooted in actual requirements, while adhering strictly to fiscal discipline and the government’s long-term development roadmap.

The chief minister highlighted the need for timely execution of projects, transparency in implementation and efficient delivery of public services. He said the forthcoming budget should capture the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, with a strong emphasis on inclusive growth, balanced regional development and sustainable economic advancement.

During the consultations, Abdullah reviewed the progress of ongoing schemes, utilisation of allocated funds and future financial requirements across sectors. He stressed the importance of outcome-oriented budgeting to ensure that public expenditure delivers tangible benefits to citizens.

Calling for a people-focused and performance-based approach, he said the budget should prioritise strengthening healthcare and education infrastructure, widening the reach of social security programmes, enhancing road connectivity, encouraging industrial expansion and creating employment opportunities, particularly for the youth.

The chief minister had initiated the pre-budget consultation process on Tuesday by meeting officials from nine departments. According to an official spokesperson, discussions with the remaining departments will conclude on Thursday.

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The spokesperson said the exercise is aimed at shaping a comprehensive, growth-driven and citizen-centric budget for the Union Territory.