Women's mobility to free electricity: Big takeaways from Jammu and Kashmir's first Budget in six years

Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. (File photo: PTI)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday presented the first Budget of his government -- also the first in the union territory in six years. Among the key measures announced in the Budget are a boost to mobility for women, free electricity for the poorest and improving the state of press freedom in the former state.

This was the first Budget presented by an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and stripping of the special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Major announcements:

- Free rides for women: In the first-of-its-kind initiative in the UT, the government announced that all women in Jammu and Kashmir will be granted free ridership on government-owned public transport, including e-buses. The measure is aimed at easing financial burdens by removing transport costs.

- The government said in the Budget that it will support 40,000 women in launching micro-startups, ensuring a sustainable annual income of Rs 1 lakh and further advancing economic independence across the UT under the Centre's flagship 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme.

- The government has also announced 200 units of free electricity per month to Antyodaya families in the UT. Integrated with the PM Suryaghar Bijli Yojana, the initiative will enable installation of grid-connected solar systems, generating the required power and eliminating electricity bills. This was one of the key promises made by Omar Abdullah in the run up to the elections.

- In a landmark measure aimed at reducing legal disputes over property transfers, the government has made the stamp duty for gift transactions among blood relatives free. Announcing the measure, the CM said that the current stamp duty ranging from 3 to 7 percent acted as a deterrent to formal registrations.

"To address this, I propose reducing the stamp duty on property gifted to blood relatives to zero, benefiting families by encouraging legal documentation and reducing inheritance disputes. This initiative will provide financial relief, ensure transparency, and streamline property transfers in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

- Keeping another poll promise, CM Abdullah announced that the government will provide free ration of 10 kg per person to all Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries starting April 1, "ensuring enhanced nutritional support for the most vulnerable". The Chief Minister further said that the government will assess and upgrade fair price shops in a bid to further improve accessibility and streamline distribution.

- The Chief Minister further said that his government was committed to ensuring press freedom and ensuring that facilitating a secure and transparent manner for them to operate. “The media plays a vital role in shaping public opinion, strengthening democratic institutions, and keeping citizens informed. In this spirit, we are committed to strengthening press infrastructure, facilitating greater access to information, and protecting the rights of journalists,” Abdullah said.

He also promised to make efforts to revive and support the Press Club in Jammu and Srinagar. This, he said, would provide journalists a dedicated space to "engage, collaborate, and contribute meaningfully to public discourse".