JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an economic growth of 14.64%, with the tax revenue going up by 31% in the financial year 2022-23, even as the administration aims to double the GDP in next five years, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday.
The Lieutenant Governor was addressing a press conference on J&K Budget 2023-24 at Convention Centre, with Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta by his side.
The LG said that in the past three years, the union government and the UT administration have been working towards a self-reliant Jammu and Kashmir, which focusses on public welfare.
“This year’s budget will take further this effort. The Rs 1.18 lakh Crore budget for the year 2023-24 will fulfil the dreams of all sections of the society, including farmers, youth, women, industrialists living in villages and cities, besides empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions,” the LG said.
He added that the Jammu and Kashmir which was once limited only to ‘tenders and foundation stones is now changing as can be seen on the ground’.
Recounting the achievements, the LG said, “Last year J&K has witnessed economic growth of 14.64% and tax revenue has shown growth of 31%. The law and order situation has improved appreciably in J&K and this year highest number of 1.88 crore tourists visited J&K.”
The LG said that highest ever investment of Rs 1547.87 crore was received during the last 10 months of this year, adding that500 start-ups have come up during last 3 years.
“Unemployment rate is marginally reduced; 33426 Posts have been referred to recruiting agencies.25450 selections have been made including 2436 selections of J&K Bank Limited. Around 2, 02,749 youth have been covered under various self-employment schemes and target is to cover 2,37,000 by end of current year. Next year around 3 lakh will be covered under all the self-employment schemes,” he said.
“The Jammu and Kashmir has been among top performers in the country for implementation of schemes like Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), Amrit Sarovar, SVAMITVA Scheme, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, Nasha Mukt Abhiyan and Renewable Energy Development. Most of the social security schemes have been saturated in J&K.
Under “My Youth My Pride, Har Din Khel Har Ek Kay Liye Khel” nearly 50 lakh youth have participated in different sports activities this year.
Under Digital J&K initiative, 445 online services are being provided through
e-UNNAT portal.225 e-services have been integrated with Rapid Assessment System for real time feedback on quality of service delivery. All the online services have been linked with Public Service Guarantee Act in J&K.
J&K is the first among States/Union Territories to have District Good Governance Index for assessing the public service delivery at district level.Aspirational Panchayat Development Programme, Aspirational Block Development Programme and Aspirational Town Development Programme are the three new initiatives being implemented in J&K.
“In 2018-19, 9228 works have been completed; in 2019-20, 12637 works have been completed, in 2020-21, 21943 have been completed, In 2021-22, 50627 works have been completed and this year we expect 70,000 works to be completed. This is the paradigm shift in the pace of development in J&K over the last three to four years,” he said, adding that the road construction has nearly doubled to 3200 kilometres against 1500-1600 Km in 2018.
On the budget 2023-24, the LG said that the budget has Revenue Receipts of Rs.1,06,061 Crore and Capital Receipts of Rs.12, 439 Crore, adding to total Receipts of Rs.1,18,500 Crore, while the Revenue Expenditure total to Rs.77, 009 Crore and Capital Expenditure is Rs. 41, 491 Crore, adding to a total Expenditure of Rs. 1,18, 500 Crore.
“The Tax -GDP ratio is 8.82%, the Capital Expenditure Contribution towards GDP is 18%, while Expected Growth in GDP is 10%,” said the LG.
Terming the Budget 2023-24 as a Growth Oriented Budget, the LG said that the budget focuses on doubling GDP in next five years.
“Good Governance, Strengthening Grass-root Democracy, Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Facilitating Investment & Industrial Growth, Employment Generation, Accelerating Development & Inclusive Growth, Women Empowerment and Social Inclusion are some of the key areas of focus in this year’s budget,” he added.