Beyond the Capitals |
As the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir stands on the threshold of the 2026 fiscal year, we face a moment. For decades, the economic narrative of our region has suffered from a “Capital-Centric” myopia. Development has often been clustered around the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu, leaving the rich hinterlands from the remote frontiers of Baramulla to the rugged hills of Basohli in an economic shadow.
The Budget 2026 must be the instrument that breaks this binary. It must be a document of Regional Parity and Distributive Justice. It is time to move beyond the “Jammu vs. Kashmir” allocation debates and move toward “North Kashmir and Chenab Valley” development model. We need a budget that recognizes the symbiotic potential of both regions, applying an Inclusivity Lens that ensures the dividends of peace and progress reach Gurez valley and the cumin growers in Kishtwar region.
Here is a roadmap for a balanced, reform-oriented, and visionary Budget 2026.
The inclusivity lens
True inclusivity means shifting the center of gravity away from the oversaturated urban agglomerations.
In Kashmir, the focus must shift from Srinagar to the North (Baramulla, Kupwara, Bandipora) and South (Pulwama, Shopian, Anantnag and Kulgam). In Jammu, the focus must shift from the plains of Jammu-Kathua to the Chenab Valley (Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban) and the Pir Panjal (Rajouri, Poonch) as well as in Raisi and Udhampur.
The 2026 Budget must end the era of “trickle-down” economics where peripheral districts wait for crumbs. It must initiate “bottom-up” growth.
A sector-specific wish list
To achieve this, the administration must commit to specific, high-impact projects that leverage local strengths rather than imposing generic solutions.
Both regions suffer from “destination fatigue” in their primary hubs (Gulmarg/Pahalgam in Kashmir; Katra/Patnitop in Jammu). The budget must allocate a dedicated corpus for developing New Tourist Destinations.........