Jammu and Kashmir’s budget for 2019-2020, which is set to get the approval of the State Administrative Council on Saturday evening, will focus on good governance, inclusive development and strengthening of panchayati raj institutions, officials said Friday.
The SAC headed by governor Satya Pal Malik and comprising his advisors Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Kewal Kumar Sharma and K Vijay Kumar will meet in Raj Bhavan Jammu at 6 pm on Saturday to clear the budget estimates for next fiscal as well as the revised estimates for the ongoing fiscal.
This is the first time in recent years when the budget is being presented during the governor’s rule.
“The size of the budget is expected to be around Rs 85000 crore,” an official, privy to the financial plan, told Greater Kashmir.
He said the budget would focus on streamlining administration to “improve governance” in the state.
“It will also focus on equitable development of all three regions of the state,” he said, adding that empowerment of panchayati raj institutions would be a part of the financial statement.
The governor’s administration recently concluded the nine-phased panchayat elections in the state which were pending for the last two years.
The official disclosed that funding for infrastructure sector would also be one of the key points in the budget.
“The roadmap worked out by the SAC to delink the salaries of SSA teachers with the central assistance would also find a mention in it,” he said.
As already reported, the governor’s administration is keen to clear the budget before the imposition of president’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir on December 19 as powers to pass laws, including the appropriation bill, are vested with the governor till then.
After the imposition of the president’s rule, the state would require the approval of the parliament for the budget.
In the nineties, when Jammu and Kashmir was under president’s rule for six years, the parliament approved the budget for the state.