Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired pre-budget consultations with public representatives from Jammu district at a meeting held at the Civil Secretariat.

The session was attended by Minister Satish Sharma, Chairman District Development Council (DDC), Members of Legislative Assembly from District Jammu, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta and Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D Vaidya; with some of the MLA’s attending the meeting virtually through video conference.

Addressing the participants, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of engaging with elected representatives in the budget-making process to ensure that the aspirations and needs of the people are adequately reflected.

 “We could have drafted the budget in our offices, but we are consulting elected representatives so that the people’s needs and aspirations are taken into account,” the Chief Minister stated.

He acknowledged that public representatives are aware of the ground realities and they have interacted closely with the people during election campaigns.

 “During your electioneering, you traveled across your constituencies and met people. You understand their issues and demands because you are directly connected to them. That is why I decided to hold these consultations with you,” he added.

He expressed confidence that these discussions would play a crucial role in shaping the budget and addressing key concerns of the people. During the consultation, the Chairman of DDC Jammu and MLAs put forward various demands and concerns affecting their constituencies. They stressed the need for improving irrigation systems and ensuring access to clean drinking water in several areas.

Many representatives raised concern about the poor condition of roads, need for construction of bridges and the overall upgradation of infrastructure to facilitate better connectivity. The discussions also covered healthcare improvements, construction of new educational institutions among other things.

Additionally, representatives voiced concerns regarding drainage and sewerage management, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, calling for modernized drainage network to prevent waterlogging and sanitation issues.

The alarming rise in drug abuse was another key issue, with requests for establishing de-addiction centers, awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement measures. Several members also called for the development of sports infrastructure, including the construction of stadiums, playgrounds, and training centers to encourage youth participation in sports.

Tourism development was another key focus, with suggestions to promote local attractions, improve tourist amenities, and create new tourism circuits to boost the local economy.

The public representatives thanked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for initiating the pre-budget consultations, stating that it was for the first time that they were being actively involved in the budget formulation process.

They expressed appreciation for the government’s inclusive approach, which allowed them to voice their constituency needs directly. They also expressed optimism that their concerns and demands would be taken into account while drafting the budget.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Jammu presented a detailed sector-wise proposal based on inputs from MLAs. The proposals covered various development sectors, including rural and urban development, public works, irrigation, healthcare, education, and social welfare.

Special attention was given to flood protection measures, groundwater conservation, and strengthening the Jal Shakti department to address water scarcity.