‘We have promised people about meeting their expectations & we stand by our promise’: Omar Abdullah

With J&K Budget Session starting 3rd March, people wishfully hope Omar to deliver Manifesto Promises

DAYA SAGAR

Last Saturday, while talking to media after offering condolences to Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and National Conference MLA Hasnain Masoodi, the UT Chief Minister has been quoted as having said “There is no need for a shadow. We have promised the people about meeting their expectations, and we stand by our promise,” and for common man of the J&K this raises expectations for very wishful events to happen during the Budget session of J&K Legislative Assembly beginning from 3rd March (Monday ). The first session of the Legislative Assembly of UT of J&K commenced had on 4th November 2024.No regular business had been conducted in the Assembly during the this short session except that a resolution as moved by the Dy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhary has been adopted by the legislative assembly on 6th November with a majority vote < ” “This Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and Constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over the unilateral removal.”

“This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of J&K for restoration of special status, Constitutional guarantees and to work out the Constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.” “This Assembly emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of J&K,”>. On the last day some general reference to issues concerning the economy / projects in UT , health , education, employment , / service conditions of government employees and like were referred by some members.But no pointed references were made related to issues of immediate common man interests in relation to promises made in the election manifesto of National Conference where as people were expecting the LG’s address to make specific & time bound mentions to the promises made in National Conference Election Manifesto. The Legislative Assembly’s brief five-day session was over on 8th November with sine die House adjournment by Abdul Rahim Rather, the Speaker.
Addressing the House, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather had said that it has been the success of the House that the Lieutenant Governor mentioned the “restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees” to J&K in his address on November 4. LG Manoj Sinha in his address did say ” Our people now look up to the Government with many hopes and expectations. My Government is fully geared up to realize these hopes and fulfill these expectations. The aspiration for a return to the Statehood remains strong! Prime Minister, on several occasions, has already expressed his commitment to restoring statehood, which has been a source of rekindled hope and reassurance for the people. The Council of Ministers of Jammu and Kashmir has recently passed a unanimous resolution calling for the immediate restoration of statehood. This resolution reflects the collective will of the elected representatives, echoing the aspirations of the people for the reinstatement of full democratic governance. My Government will make all efforts for restoration of full Statehood and Constitutional Guarantees available to the State”, “My government is fully committed to implementing the promises made to the people for further political empowerment and for creating an enabling environment for employment, sustainable development, social inclusiveness and expansion of the economy for enhancing the overall quality of life”. But items of immediate interest to common man in terms of the promises made in NC’s election manifesto of which some could surely be addressed well within the direct reach of the UT Cabinet did not have pointed references in the LG address ( which is to reflect policy of government with council of ministers there to aid & advise the LG), yes LG’s address did have reference of 200 Units of free electric power and free drinking water but the references did not fit well w.r.t to the NC’s election manifesto. First elections to Legislative Assembly of UT of J&K concluded on 1st Oct 2024 , results declared on 8th Oct and Omar Abdullah was sworn as the Chief Minister on 16th Oct 2024. Some people opined / have been opining that Omar Abdullah will not be able to deliver election promises smoothly since some of his some legislative and executive delegations / authorities are under the jurisdictions of LG of J&K. No doubt the UT Chief Minister has some limitations but it is unfair to expect that LG will not go fairly with the proposals from the Chief Minister, rather one should expect that keeping in view the requirement of J&K LG will go an extra mile to endorse the welfare decisions of the elected government. Those who profess that LG may not support the UT Cabinet are wrong since why should LG not side with the UT Cabinet even for the issues where the State cabinet does not have direct jurisdiction, LG will surely endorse every fair action/ proposal. Similarly those who profess that J&K Legislative Assembly and Cabinet have to get approval of LG for every subject are not fair in their thinking . The UT Cabinet has many fields where it can work without any limitation like filling all vacancies in government departments within, regularizing atleast all the casual workers/ contractual employees who have been engaged for more than 3 years on the same assignment / similar assignment of regular nature by authorizing the Head of the Department, undoing any contractual appointments / Academic Arrangement appoints in higher education as well as in professional colleges like Government College of Engineering Jammu and advertising through PSC all vacant posts of Lecturers/ Asstt Professors including where any contractual/ academic arrangement appointments have been made within end of current session (it has been given to understand that in institutions like GCE Jammu academic arrangement appointments are a routine although in appointment orders at occasions it is also mentioned that appointment is for the session or till post is filled by PSC ( enquiry need be ordered to know that where mention of PSC is made had the post been advertised before contractual/ academic arrangement appoint or immedidiately after that or atleast before end of the session, if no then who is responsible. Such appointments are affecting the studies of the students more in addition to the teachers where paid less than the scale of post & have unsafe appointment are surely to remain under stresses which further affects their teaching capacity/ skills/ commitments), to provide 200 units of electricity and drinking water fee to each household,order Rs. 5000 per month to female heads of households to EWS, order 12 cylinders free of cost per year to EWS, enhancing old age and widow pension to Rs.3000/ pm, entitlement of woman for free travel in public transport, nominating the UT level minorities ( religious ), increasing FREE rice allocation to 10 kg per person per month for some and for general public entitlement to 10 kg rice/Atta per person per month, establish Village & Mohalla Clinics for basic healthcare and emergency care, order free education to resident of J&K upto University ( PG) level. Now the Budget Session is starting from 3 Nov 2005 and keeping in view what Omar Abdullah has said to media on 1st March the people of J&K are very hopefully hoping that Omar Abdullah government shall be holding to ‘his’ pledge in Election manifesto and take on first priority the promises made in very clear & specific manner like 200 Units free power every month to all & free drinking water to all (page -13 election manifesto and para -16 LG’s address). Chief minister has also met the LG on 01-03-2025 which would have been surely in relation to the first Budget Session of the Omar Abdullah lead Government.
To be continued
(The writer is Sr Journalist & a known analyst of J&K affairs)