Jammu: Two years after the National Conference-led government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assumed office, unemployment, unfulfilled electoral promises and the rising cost of living have emerged as major concerns among Jammu residents, with several people questioning what the government has delivered since October 16, 2024.
In a public review conducted by The News Now to assess the government’s performance, residents raised questions over the promised 200 units of free electricity, LPG assistance, employment opportunities for local youth and the regularisation of daily wagers.
While several respondents expressed disappointment, others acknowledged the government’s efforts and argued that its powers as a Union Territory administration remained limited.
For many residents, the main question was whether the promises made during the Assembly election campaign had translated into relief for ordinary households.
Raspal Singh, one of the respondents, accused the government of neglecting Jammu and failing to address public concerns. He questioned the implementation of electoral commitments, particularly those relating to electricity, and called for greater accountability.
Other residents raised concerns over unemployment and the lack of visible progress on issues affecting ordinary people.
One respondent said the government was performing reasonably well in some areas but needed to do much more to address the lack of employment opportunities, particularly for Jammu’s youth.
Another resident questioned the government’s repeated argument that it still had three years left in its five-year term, saying work on key promises should have begun during the first two years.
Electricity relief figured prominently in the discussions. Residents questioned the status of the promised 200 units of free power, while LPG assistance and the commitment to create one lakh jobs also came up repeatedly.
For daily wagers, the delay in regularisation remained a longstanding grievance. One respondent said the issue had persisted across successive governments and urged Omar Abdullah to prioritise a resolution instead of allowing workers to continue waiting for assurances to be fulfilled.
Unemployment emerged as one of the strongest concerns in the public review, with respondents saying educated young people continued to struggle for opportunities.
Social activist Sahil said the government had not delivered adequately on its commitments to young people, pointing to the lack of progress on employment and promised relief measures. He also raised concerns over regional disparities in access to educational institutions and referred to demands for a National Law University in Jammu.
Other respondents questioned whether local youth were benefiting sufficiently from industrial investment in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kartik Sharma, a youth representative, said the government should ensure better employment opportunities for local residents in industries coming up in the Union Territory.
Sharma also raised concerns over the division of responsibilities between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, saying clarity over administrative powers and business rules was necessary for the government to function effectively and take decisions on public issues.
Restoration of statehood also featured in the discussion, with some respondents arguing that an elected government should have greater authority to address employment and development concerns.
Several respondents felt Jammu’s concerns were not receiving adequate attention, citing unemployment, roads, drainage, public infrastructure and delays in development works.
One resident alleged that Jammu’s youth continued to face disadvantages in access to opportunities and urged the government to adopt a more balanced approach towards both regions.
Others criticised the condition of roads and drains and questioned delays in completing civic projects. Concerns over healthcare facilities, hospital staffing and employment opportunities for small traders were also raised.
However, the review did not reflect a uniformly negative assessment. Some respondents acknowledged that the government was attempting to address public issues but said more concrete action was needed.
One resident from the Jammu region said the elected government had at least restored a platform for people to raise their grievances, while noting that its authority remained constrained under the Union Territory arrangement.
A National Conference youth representative said the administration had regularised sanitation workers and expressed confidence that the remaining daily wagers would also be addressed. He cited measures concerning women’s free bus travel and electricity benefits, while maintaining that the government needed more time to fulfil its broader commitments.
On Friday, the BJP accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of failing to fulfil its electoral promises and falling short on governance and development during its first two years.
Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma alleged that the government’s performance had largely been confined to transfers, promotions and elevations, despite funds being available from the Centre for development and welfare schemes. He also questioned shortages of electricity and drinking water during the summer.
BJP spokespersons Tahir Chowdhary, G L Raina and Rajni Sethi separately demanded accountability over employment, free electricity, women’s welfare and delays in grassroots elections.
Sethi sought clarity on the status of promises concerning monthly assistance of Rs 5,000 for female heads of poor families, 12 free LPG cylinders, free education for girls up to university level and support for women entrepreneurs.
The BJP leaders called for a verifiable report card detailing the status of manifesto commitments, the number of beneficiaries covered and timelines for pending promises.
