Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has announced two major initiatives aimed at providing relief to the region’s most vulnerable populations. As part of the region’s first full-fledged budget since the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah declared that families under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) category will receive 200 units of free electricity. This move is designed to address the basic needs of the region’s poorest citizens, who continue to struggle with rising living costs and erratic power supply.
Additionally, Abdullah announced that women in Jammu and Kashmir will be entitled to free bus rides on government-owned transport services and electric buses. This initiative aims to promote women’s mobility and empowerment by easing travel expenses and encouraging greater use of public transport.
The Antyodaya Anna Yojana is a central government scheme launched in 2000 to identify and support the “poorest of the poor” households across India. In Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of families rely on this scheme to meet their basic needs.
These welfare initiatives mark a significant step towards addressing the region’s economic and social challenges. Abdullah’s party had campaigned heavily on promises of relief from high electricity bills and inflation, and these announcements are seen as a key fulfillment of those promises. Further details on the rollout of these schemes are expected to be shared in the coming days.
