Pahalgam shadow on Omar’s budget: Special hospitals for shelling-prone zones

SRINAGAR/JAMMU: J&K CM Omar Abdullah presented on Friday the National Conference (NC) govt’s second budget, peppered with references to challenges arising out of last year’s Pahalgam attack, Operation Sindoor and devastating floods.

Presenting the Rs 1.27-lakh crore budget for 2026-27 as he also handles finance, Omar proposed two dedicated emergency hospitals and bullet-proof ambulances in frontier areas prone to shelling, cross-border attacks and natural disasters. One hospital will come up in Uri and the other in Poonch. Both had borne the brunt of Pakistani shelling during Operation Sindoor.

“...In J&K, just as our economy was consolidating with renewed vigour, the barbaric terrorist attack at Pahalgam and its aftermath shocked us. The devastating floods in Aug-Sept severely battered Jammu region. All sectors, including tourism, handicrafts and agriculture, are badly affected. There is a substantial loss of jobs and business, leading to financial stress on families,” Omar said.

The CM announced full fee waivers for students of economically weaker families from Class 9 to college, free LPG cylinders for families under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY), monthly sponsorships for orphans, scholarships for tribal students, and free govt transport for those with disabilities.

Plans were also unveiled to increase seats in medical colleges, while Rs 180 crore was allocated for modernisation of Amarnath Yatra infrastructure.

Omar’s rivals were not impressed. “Central funds have effectively been diverted towards party (NC) legislators. There is nothing for common people,” said leader of opposition Sunil Sharma of BJP. PDP MLA Waheed Parra dismissed the budget as “mere repackaging of centrally sponsored schemes”. Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone called it “uninspiring”.
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