Hailing the Budget 2023-24 for the Union Territory of J&K, Basit Hayat Zargar said, “I wholeheartedly welcome the proposed Budget by Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman ji as it furthers PM Modi’s vision of Development of UT of J&K.”
He asserted, ” The budget brings J&K into the realm of Amrit Kaal and is in consonance with the Panch Pran – Goal of Developed India, removing any trace of colonial mindset, taking pride in our roots, unity and sense of duty among citizens. The key areas such as Good Governance, Sustainable Agriculture, Facilitation of Investment & Industrial Growth, Employment Generation, Women Empowerment, Social Inclusion among others have been very well addressed.”
Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman presented ‘The budget 2023-24 for Jammu and Kashmir’ on 13th March 2023 wherein the total budget estimates for the fiscal is Rs. 1,18,500 crores, of which developmental expenditure is of the order of Rs. 41,491 crores. The 35% of the earmarked Budget shall be spent on development and infrastructure projects.
Basit Hayat Zargar said that the budget symbolises BJP Government’s commitment towards progress and development of UT OF J&K.
Hailing the various key highlights of the proposed Budget Basit Hayat Zargar said “The BJP Government’s determination regarding progress and development of Agricultural sector is reflected through ‘The Jammu and Kashmir Holistic Agriculture Development Plan’ under which 29 projects have been approved over a period of next five years. I’m hopeful that as promised, it’ll create additional job opportunities to 2,87,910 people in agriculture and allied sectors.”
He added “J&K needs a rapid transformation in Medical and Health sector for which this budgetary allocation seems hopeful. J&K’s tourism sector needed a major boost for development tourism sector has major prospects for growth and more or less people are dependant on tourism for their living. I wish to see our culture getting promoted, tourism sector getting right resources and growth opportunities in coming times.”
“The BJP Government has made laudable efforts with regards to Youth Empowerment, Employment, Entrepreneurship, skill Development and Sports Activities by allocating about Rs 396.63 crore from the current budget and by implementation of a number of self- employment schemes like Mumkin and Tejaswani under Mission Youth, Rural Livelihood Mission, Himayat, Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), J&K Rural Employment Generation Programme (J&KREGP), J&K Urban Employment Generation Programme (J&KUEGP), Women Entrepreneurship Programme, AVSAR etc,” he further said.
Basit Hayat Zargar also commended the efforts of BJP Government focusing on growth of Industries and Commerce Sector, “The Finance Minister in her speech spoke about the BJP Government’s commitment to provide training, design, technology inputs like GI tag and such other infrastructural support as are required for quality, branding and boosting global demand for handicraft products of Jammu and Kashmir. This is just a start of the growth and development which was long due in J&K’s Industrial sector.”
He said, “J&K has already been witnessing unprecedented development under Prime Ministers Development Package (PMDP) wherein 29 Projects have been completed/ substantially completed like ‘the 8.45 Km Qazigund-Banihal Tunnel at a cost of Rs 3,117 crore has been completed, which has now reduced travel time between Srinagar and Jammu from 10 hours to 5 hours’. Several other projects are at the verge of completion as well, such as ‘The work on 6.5 Km Z-Morh Tunnel on Srinagar- Sonamarg Road is expected to be completed during the current financial year at a cost of Rs. 2,378 crore, which will provide an opportunity for tourists to visit the beautiful place of Sonamarg in winter as well. Additionally, the expansion of Jammu and Srinagar Airports is under progress as well, thus enabling the growth of Tourism sector.”
He concluded by saying, “As per the speech of FM Nirmala Sitharaman, GDP growth for the year 2023-24 has been projected at Rs. 2,30,727 crore which shows a growth of 10 % over the previous year. This projection and proposed Budget make us hopeful for the future of J&K. We must coordinate with and support the BJP government in all such progressive endeavours for the betterment of J&K.”
