Also discusses strategy for rest of Assembly session
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: The Union Territory Cabinet met here today under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and approved implementation of key budget announcements made in the speech of the CM, who also holds charge of the Finance Department.
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Omar presented the budget in the Legislature on March 7. This was first budget of Omar as he was holding charge of the Finance Department for the first time. Also, this was first budget of Jammu and Kashmir as the Union Territory.
The budget was to the tune of over Rs 1.12 lakh crore and carried several pro-people welfare measures including the women.
Sources told the Excelsior that the Cabinet meeting lasted over one and a half hours from 3 PM to 4.30 PM in the Civil Secretariat here.
“The Cabinet gave its nod to modalities worked-out by different departments for implementation of announcements of free power and free ration to AAY beneficiaries and enhancement of pension and marriage assistance scheme,” the sources said.
The key budget announcement include 200 units of free electricity for all Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households under the PM’s Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana and 10 kilograms of free ration per person for the families falling in this category.
In his budget speech, the CM also announced increasing pensions for over 10 lakh elderly, widows, divorcees and specially-abled individuals.
As per CM’s budget speech announcement, monthly pensions will now be Rs 1,250 for those below 60 years, Rs 1,500 for those aged 60-80, and Rs 2,000 for individuals above 80 years.
The Marriage Assistance Scheme for AAY category girls has also seen an increase, with financial aid enhancing to Rs 75000 from Rs 50000.
The budgetary proposals got the Cabinet nod, the sources said.
Further, as per the sources, the Cabinet also discussed the agenda for three remaining days of the budget session from April7-9 when private member’s resolution and bills are scheduled to be taken up.
The National Conference MLAs have also listed resolutions for restoration of Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and the party is expected to put the resolutions to vote and get them passed to send another message to the Central Government.
Since the daily wagers called off their strike in the morning in a meeting with Jal Shakti Minister Javed Rana, the Cabinet expressed confidence that the water supply position will be restored at all places.
The Government has already formed a high-level committee to discuss the issues of daily wagers and submit report in six months. The Government will make it sure that the report comes in time-bound manner so that further necessary action can be taken on their issues.
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