Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today wrapped up the pre-budget consultations with public representatives, engaging in separate discussions with elected officials from the Kishtwar and Doda districts of the Jammu division at the Civil Secretariat here.
During the Kishtwar district session, the Chief Minister interacted with various public representatives, including Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma from Padder-Nagseni in the J&K Assembly, the Chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC) Kishtwar, and local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
The representatives voiced their demands and concerns, to which the Chief Minister assured them that their suggestions would be thoroughly taken into account during the budget planning process.
Chief Minister Abdullah emphasized that the series of consultations with representatives from all 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir had concluded, yielding crucial insights into the issues faced by the local populace.
“These discussions enable us to understand the public’s priorities. Your direct connection with the community makes your insights invaluable for effective policy-making,” he remarked to the elected representatives. A similar dialogue took place with representatives from the Doda district, focusing on their specific development needs and challenges.
Key concerns highlighted by the representatives from both districts included shortages of staff in educational and healthcare facilities, issues related to drinking water supply, road connectivity and expansion, tunnel construction, and enhancing mobile service in remote locales.
In their presentations, the Deputy Commissioners of Kishtwar and Doda provided a detailed breakdown of the demands prioritized by the MLAs for their respective constituencies.
The DDC Chairpersons and MLAs expressed their appreciation to the Chief Minister for including them in the budget formulation process, noting this as a significant first step. They urged that this collaborative approach be maintained as a regular practice going forward.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the CM Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya, Director General of Budget M.S. Malik, Director General of Expenditure Division-I Sajad Hussain Ganai, and other relevant officials.
