State budget widely welcomed

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: The State budget has been widely welcomed. However, some of the organizations have expressed dismay over it.
Vice President Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mohammad Sartaj Madni has described budget 2018 a welfare document providing relief to one and all. Appreciating the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu for his pro-people initiative, Madni said the budget proposal comes as a “good news” to State’s larger majority. This budget should become a land mark for overall development of the State and its components. He said the glaring past of the budget are the systematic reforms which are bound to bring financial stability and growth to the State.
President Jammu Kashmir Bachao Tehreek and  Former Minister Abdul Gani Vakil today reacting to the budget presented by Finance Minister in the State assembly has termed the budget proposals totally jugglery of figures exposing the total dependence on Central Government and total neglect of curbing rising unemployment in the State.
Hailing the Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu for taking substantial initiatives towards making Jammu and Kashmir a real welfare State, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain Suharwardy, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Secretary today said it is a caring and compassionate budget encompassing the aspirations and protecting the most vulnerable.
Terming the budget presented by the Finance Minister as anti-farmer, General Secretary, J&K Kisan Tehreek Ghulam Nabi Malik said there is nothing in the budget to boost the dying agriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a handout issued by Jammu Kashmir Bank Officers Forum (JKBOF) welcomes the announcements made by the Finance Minister J&K Dr Haseeb Drabu, in State legislature during his budget speech. The steps to be initiated, in year 2018-19 are depiction of a vision to help State public sector to march on the path of a bright future which is heartening in an environment of pursuing privartisation of various public sector units at central level.
Calling Panchayat Budget as cruel joke, President, All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC) Anil Sharma slammed the State Government and the Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu for not making serious efforts to strengthen the Panchayati Raj Institution.
Chairman, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) J&K State Council Rahul Sahai welcomed the budget proposals by terming it as growth oriented and people friendly, which has catered to every section of the society. He also mentioned that the welfare budget, which was presented in the State Legislature yesterday, has the potential of catapulting the growth indices of the State by ensuring holistic and sustained economic growth.
Trade Union Leader Anil Gupta welcomed the budget announcements. He also demanded enhancement of medical allowance from Rs 300 to Rs 3000 and arrears in one go.
All Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh Teachers Federation welcomed the announcement made by the Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu with reference to implementation of 7th pay commission for its employees from April 1 and 1 per cent Dearness Allowance (DA) for Government employees from July 1.
President of All J&K Low Paid Employees federation Abdul Majid Khan termed the budget presented by the Finance Minister as major achievement of persistent and protracted struggle of employees, pensioners and others.
Jammu and Kashmir Accounts Employees Association Secretariat held a meeting under the chairmanship of its President Niyaz Ahmad and welcomed the budget announcements. Kulwant Singh Sambyal, President Jammu Unit, Raghubir, Abdul Qayoom, Mohammad Hussain and many others were present during the meeting.
All J&K Pensioners Welfare Forum held a meeting under the chairmanship of its State President Sampat Prakash and hailed the budget announcements made by Finance Minister for the welfare of the pensioners.
All J&K Electric Department Linemen and Workers Union held a meeting under the chairmanship of its Vice President Tara Chand and welcomed the budget presented by the Finance Minister. Tara Chand termed the budget as employees friendly.
In a joint statement issued by Chairman Jammu Paryatan Vikas Mandal Inderjeet Khajuria, President All Jammu Hotels and Lodges Association Pawan Gupta and Aashiq Hussain Khan President Hotels and Restaurants Bazaar Khatikan termed the budget as traders friendly. They have expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu for treating hotels at par with the industries as far as payment of power tariff is concerned.
Chairman, J&K Intellectuals Civil Society, New Delhi SS Sodhi held a meeting with all the members of the civil society and praised the Finance Minister for pro-people budget.

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