J&K CM Omar Abdullah Unveils Key Welfare Measures in 2025-26 Budget: Free Electricity and Transport Promises Fulfilled
J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, On March 7, 2025, presented the J&K Budget 2025-26 in the Legislative Assembly, marking a significant step in fulfilling the promises made by his party, the National Conference (NC), during the recent election campaign. Among the headline announcements were the provision of 200 units of free electricity per month for families under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category and free ridership for all women in government-owned public transport, including e-buses. These measures, timed symbolically on the eve of International Women’s Day, reflect the NC’s commitment to addressing the needs of the economically disadvantaged and empowering women through enhanced mobility. This article summarizes the key points of the announcement and expands on its implications, context, and alignment with the NC’s pre-election manifesto.
Summary of the Announcement
A budget of Rs 1.12 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2025–2026 was presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also in charge of the finance and power ministries. Welfare-oriented programs designed to lessen financial burdens on the most disadvantaged sectors of society are an important part of this budget. AAY households, who are deemed as the poorest of the poor under the national food security system, will get 200 units of free energy, which directly tackles the region’s ongoing power issues and growing cost of living. Along with another historic action, free travel for all women in J&K on government-run buses, including the new e-buses being introduced in towns like Srinagar and Jammu, is scheduled to start on April 1, 2025.
Abdullah highlighted that these actions constitute a fulfillment of the NC’s electoral commitments and not just populist gestures. The provision of free electricity upholds a promise made by Omar Abdullah, the party’s vice president at the time, in the NC’s August 2024 platform, which said that 200 units of free electricity would be given to every family should the NC win power. In a similar vein, the free transport program supports the manifesto’s pledge to grant women the right to travel for free on all public transportation, which is intended to increase women’s access to social, professional, and educational possibilities.
Words of NC's Pre-Election Promises
Before the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in September-October 2024—the first in a decade following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019—the National Conference released a detailed manifesto outlining its vision for the Union Territory. The document was a blend of ambitious governance goals and populist welfare promises, reflecting the party’s strategy to reconnect with voters after years of political upheaval. Below are some of the key promises made by the NC, with specific focus on the words related to electricity and women’s transport:
- Free Electricity Commitment: The NC manifesto explicitly stated, “We will provide 200 units of free electricity to each household.” This promise was a response to the region’s perennial power shortages and the high electricity tariffs that burden ordinary citizens. During the campaign, Omar Abdullah frequently highlighted the financial strain caused by power bills, noting that J&K incurs an annual loss of over Rs 5,000 crore due to the need to purchase power from outside. The manifesto framed this pledge as a step toward economic relief and self-reliance in energy, with Abdullah vowing to leverage hydroelectric projects to reduce dependency on external sources.
- Free Travel for Women: The NC also committed to enhancing women’s mobility, stating, “Women shall be entitled to travel free in all public transport.” This promise was positioned as a transformative measure to empower women, particularly in rural areas where transportation costs can limit access to education and jobs. Abdullah underscored this as part of a broader agenda to promote gender equity and economic independence, aligning it with schemes like the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, which aims to support women in starting micro-businesses.
Other notable promises included providing Rs 5,000 per month to women from economically weaker sections (EWS), 10 kg of free rice per person to households, and the restoration of J&K’s statehood—a deeply emotive issue for the NC and its supporters. These pledges were designed to resonate with the electorate’s immediate needs while addressing long-term aspirations, positioning the NC as a party of both welfare and political restoration.
Expanding on the Budget Measures
Free Electricity for AAY Families: A Step Toward Equity
The decision to provide 200 units of free electricity to AAY families is a targeted intervention aimed at the most marginalized segment of J&K’s population. The AAY scheme, part of the National Food Security Act, identifies households facing extreme poverty, often including single-parent families, the elderly, or those with no stable income. By limiting this benefit to AAY families rather than all households—as initially promised in the manifesto—the government appears to be balancing fiscal responsibility with its welfare agenda.
This move comes against the backdrop of J&K’s complex energy landscape. The region, despite its vast hydroelectric potential, relies heavily on power imports, leading to significant financial losses. On March 5, 2025, just days before the budget presentation, Abdullah reiterated his government’s goal of achieving self-sufficiency in power generation within two years. He highlighted ongoing collaborations with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) to implement projects like those under the Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) and Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL). The free electricity scheme, integrated with initiatives like the PM Surya Ghar Bijli Yojana for solar power, signals a dual strategy: immediate relief for the poor and long-term investment in sustainable energy.
Critics, however, may question the feasibility of this promise given J&K’s budgetary constraints. With own tax and non-tax revenues covering only 30% of revenue receipts and 25% of total budgetary needs, as Abdullah noted in his speech, the government will need substantial central assistance or innovative financing to sustain this subsidy. Nonetheless, the measure has been widely welcomed as a lifeline for AAY families struggling with basic necessities.
Free Rides for Women: Empowering Mobility and Independence
The announcement of free ridership for women in government-owned public transport, including e-buses, is a groundbreaking step for J&K. Starting April 1, 2025, this initiative aims to remove financial barriers to mobility, a critical factor in enhancing women’s participation in the workforce and education. The inclusion of e-buses—200 more of which are planned for Srinagar and Jammu this year—also underscores the government’s push toward eco-friendly infrastructure.
This promise directly fulfills the NC’s manifesto pledge and carries symbolic weight, announced on the eve of International Women’s Day. It aligns with global trends of gender-sensitive policymaking, where access to transport is recognized as a catalyst for women’s empowerment. In J&K, where rural women often face isolation due to limited transport options, this measure could have a transformative impact. It also complements other budget proposals, such as the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, which targets economic independence for 40,000 women through micro-startups.
However, challenges remain. The J&K Roadways Transport Corporation (RTC) is already financially strained, with its books reportedly “in the red.” Expanding free services without a clear funding mechanism could exacerbate this situation, raising questions about sustainability. The government will need to outline how it plans to offset these costs—whether through central grants, public-private partnerships, or increased revenue generation elsewhere.
Broader Context and Implications
The J&K Budget 2025-26, presented six years after the last full budget in 2018, is more than a financial document—it’s a political statement. For Omar Abdullah, who returned as Chief Minister after a decade, this budget is an opportunity to prove that the NC can deliver on its promises despite the limitations of governing a Union Territory. Unlike his first term (2009-2014), when J&K was a full-fledged state with greater autonomy, Abdullah now operates under a framework where key domains like law and order fall outside his purview. Yet, his focus on welfare measures suggests a pragmatic approach: addressing immediate public needs while keeping the larger goal of statehood restoration alive.
The timing of these announcements—coinciding with International Women’s Day and early in the NC-led government’s tenure—also reflects a strategic effort to build goodwill and momentum. By prioritizing the poor and women, Abdullah is tapping into constituencies that have historically supported the NC, reinforcing the party’s image as a champion of the common people
Conclusion
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