The recently presented budget in Jammu and Kashmir has sparked widespread debate, particularly due to the glaring disconnect between the promises made during election campaigning and the actual provisions outlined in the financial plan. While the government made confident commitments to address public concerns, the budget appears to fall short of expectations. The limitations imposed by J&K’s Union Territory (UT) status are evident, but so is the growing public disappointment with certain policy decisions.
Welfare Schemes; A Case Of Conditional Benefits: One of the primary concerns revolves around welfare schemes that were initially projected as universal benefits but are now being subjected to restrictive conditions. For instance, the government’s promise of 10 kg of free ration has been categorized in a manner that limits its accessibility, leading to dissatisfaction among many families who had expected it to be universally available. The categorization has created confusion, with many questioning why essential food support is being selectively granted. Similarly, the much-publicized 200 units of free electricity for Below Poverty Line (BPL) households has been tied to the complete installation of smart meters. The reality, however, is that only 25% of smart metering has been completed in Kashmir, meaning the majority of eligible households may not receive the benefit anytime soon. Many residents have voiced their concerns that such conditionalities turn these schemes into hollow promises rather than real relief measures.
Regularisation Of Daily Wagers: A Long-Standing Demand Ignored : One of the most pressing issues in J&K has been the demand for regularizing thousands of daily-wage workers who have been serving in various government departments for years. These workers, who often perform crucial roles in public services such as electricity, water supply, and health departments, have been left in a precarious situation. The budget, however, fails to provide a clear roadmap for their regularization. This omission has led to widespread frustration among these workers, many of whom had hoped for a permanent solution to their employment instability. Several protests have already taken place, with workers demanding clarity on their future. The government’s failure to address this issue in the budget raises serious concerns about its commitment to labor rights and job security.
Infrastructure Development: Are Existing Facilities Being Utilized? While the budget does propose some infrastructure improvements, it lacks any major new projects that could significantly impact J&K’s economic and social landscape. More importantly, the real challenge lies not just in announcing new infrastructure but in ensuring that existing infrastructure is fully utilized and maintained.
Hospitals And Schools: Built But Not Fully Utilised? J&K has seen significant investment in building new hospitals and schools, but their functionality remains questionable. Several hospitals, particularly in rural areas, lack essential medical staff and equipment, making them ineffective for public healthcare. Patients often have to travel long distances to well-equipped hospitals, negating the purpose of setting up local healthcare centers. Similarly, many newly constructed schools are struggling due to inadequate teaching staff and poor facilities. In remote areas, schools exist on paper but lack teachers, books, and digital resources, leading to a decline in educational standards. Instead of announcing new institutions, the government must first ensure that existing ones function efficiently.
Water Supply Schemes: Do They Reach The Public? Water supply remains a major challenge in J&K. Despite claims of investing in water infrastructure, several areas continue to face severe shortages, raising doubts about whether these schemes are truly benefiting people. Many villages and even urban areas report irregular supply, highlighting the gap between announcements and on-ground reality.
“Unless the government takes concrete steps to ensure proper implementation of welfare schemes, address governance shortcomings and prioritize genuine development over symbolic announcements the gap between promises and delivery will only widen, leading to further public frustration and disillusionment. J&K needs a budget that not only makes promises but delivers tangible results. The government must recognize that true progress lies not in announcements but in action—in ensuring that every welfare scheme, every infrastructure project, and every job creation initiative translates into real benefits for the people”.
Industrial Development: Expanding Without Strengthening? The budget places significant emphasis on setting up new industrial estates as a means of boosting economic growth and employment generation. However, a crucial question remains: Are the existing industrial estates fully functional and serving their intended purpose? Several industrial zones in J&K remain underutilized due to Poor Infrastructure and Connectivity, Unreliable Power Supply and Lack of government support and incentives. Instead of merely announcing new industrial projects, the focus should be on revitalizing existing industrial areas and ensuring they operate at full capacity before expanding further.
Land Mafia And Industrial Land Allotments: Another issue of concern is the misuse of industrial land. There are growing allegations that land meant for industrial use is being allocated to individuals with strong political or bureaucratic connections rather than genuine entrepreneurs. Reports suggest that retired officials from the Industries Department have been given preferential treatment in land allotment, raising suspicions about corruption and favoritism. If industrial land is being misused, the government’s claims of promoting industrial growth become questionable.
Key Areas Where The Budget Fails To Deliver: Beyond the specific concerns related to welfare schemes, infrastructure, and industrial development, the budget reflects a wider gap between promises and delivery. The public had expected decisive steps toward addressing unemployment, improving public services, and ensuring economic growth, but many of these expectations remain unmet.
- Employment Generation; Lack of Concrete Measures: The budget mentions self-employment initiatives, but there is no clear roadmap for creating stable, long-term jobs in the public and private sectors. Unemployment remains one of the biggest challenges in J&K, and merely offering credit-based self-employment schemes is not enough. People need secure jobs with proper wages and benefits.
- Power Supply; An Unaddressed Crisis: While the government promises free electricity for BPL households, the broader issue of power cuts and unreliable supply remains unresolved. Businesses and industries continue to suffer from erratic electricity, affecting productivity. Even urban households face prolonged power outages, highlighting the need for a more reliable power infrastructure.
- Urban Infra: Srinagar And Jammu’s Growing Challenges: J&K’s two major cities—Srinagar and Jammu—face severe urban infrastructure problems, including Traffic congestion, Poor drainage systems and Inadequate Public Transport. Yet, the budget does not outline any significant measures to address these growing issues.
- Corruption, Governance; No Reforms in Sight: There is a widespread perception that inefficiency and corruption continue to hinder development in J&K. However, the budget offers little in terms of governance reforms or accountability mechanisms. Without tackling corruption, even the best-planned policies will fail in execution.
Conclusion: Promises Vs. Reality: Rather than inspiring confidence, the budget has left many questioning whether the government is truly committed to fulfilling its election promises. While challenges due to J&K’s UT status are acknowledged, the lack of decisive action on crucial issues—such as daily wager regularization, effective infrastructure utilization, and industrial transparency—remains a major disappointment. Public expectations were high, but the budget appears to have failed in delivering on its commitments. Unless the government takes concrete steps to ensure proper implementation of welfare schemes, address governance shortcomings and prioritize genuine development over symbolic announcements the gap between promises and delivery will only widen, leading to further public frustration and disillusionment. J&K needs a budget that not only makes promises but delivers tangible results. The government must recognize that true progress lies not in announcements but in action—in ensuring that every welfare scheme, every infrastructure project, and every job creation initiative translates into real benefits for the people.
(The author is a freelancer . The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
