J&K witnessing financial transparency, GST up by 26 pc despite COVID: LG

5 times more works completed with 30% less expenditure

Sanjeev Pargal

JAMMU, Apr 6: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said today that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed financial transparency after major changes were brought in. He added that even when entire country including the Union Territory were hit by pandemic and Goods and Services Tax (GST) of many States recorded decline, it went up by 26 percent in J&K.
He was addressing a function after inaugurating Golf Training Academy for students of Government schools in Jammu Tawi Golf Course.
“From many better States across the country, Jammu and Kashmir has shown extraordinary financial transparency,” Sinha said. Click here to watch video
He added that despite prolonged impact of COVID-19 pandemic, GST collections of many States across India went down while Jammu and Kashmir recorded 26 percent increase in the collections as compared to last year.
It may be mentioned here that Jammu and Kashmir has introduced series of financial reforms leading to fiscal discipline in the Union Territory. It was result of these reforms that the Union Territory was granted 1.12 lakh crore worth budget for 2022-23 financial year as compared to 1.8 lakh crore in last fiscal year of 2021-22.
“The financial transparency is result of the changes introduced in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said without referring to abrogation of special status of erstwhile State and its bifurcation into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Citing figures of financial discipline, Sinha said in 2018-19, Rs 67,000 crore were spent on execution of 9229 developmental works while in 2020-21, 21943 projects were completed by spending Rs 63,000 crore only.
“The works done were more than double while the cost incurred was Rs 4000 crore less,” he asserted and attributed this to new changes introduced in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also referred to inclusive development in Jammu and Kashmir post new changes.
While exact figures of just ended financial year of 2021-22 are just to come, the Lieutenant Governor said there has been 30 percent less expenditure as compared to earlier while works completed were five times more.
Also, the projects are now being completed within the given timelines, he added.
Referring to recruitment drive, Sinha said, 11,000 Government jobs have been given recently while 8000 more will be finalized within next six months.
“We have made efforts to give jobs to poor talented youth without any discrimination. The poor couldn’t even dream of the jobs in such a transparent manner. All this has been possible due to changes brought in,” he asserted.