Jammu, January 29, 2026 : Asserting that unemployment cannot be addressed through government jobs alone, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Union Territory is expecting a substantial industrial incentives package in the forthcoming Union Budget to boost industrial growth.
“Our expectation from the Union Budget is that we receive a good industrial package. Jammu and Kashmir has not received any central incentives package for industry since 1990,” Abdullah said while speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Startup Mela at the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) in Samba district.
He said the government is working closely with the Centre to secure a “substantial and effective” package aimed at strengthening the industrial sector and generating sustainable employment.
The Startup Mela featured disbursement of seed funds to startups, release of capital grants to incubators, and felicitation of winners of the idea challenge. Emphasising the need for a robust startup ecosystem, the Chief Minister said unemployment cannot be solved through public sector recruitment alone.
“Unlike some other states, I cannot simply ask our people to leave Jammu and Kashmir in search of jobs elsewhere,” Abdullah said, referring to recent incidents of harassment of Kashmiri shawl sellers in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He noted that such incidents have led people to look inward for livelihood opportunities.
On reviving sick industrial units, Abdullah said the government would extend all possible support to units capable of restarting operations. “If they cannot be revived, we will assist them in setting up new businesses. If that is also not possible, the land allotted to them will be taken back and reassigned to ensure industrial activity is established,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, the Chief Minister said failure should be viewed as a learning process, citing global entrepreneurs who consider setbacks as “successful failures.” He added that entrepreneurship is not limited to manufacturing, pointing to service and technology-driven platforms as examples of innovation.
“The government alone cannot identify startups or provide fearless funding. Educational institutions and JKEDI must be empowered. The seed capital provision of EDI should be expanded so it can function effectively, as it was established to foster an entrepreneurship culture,” he said.
Abdullah also said efforts are underway to ensure the single-window clearance system becomes fully functional over the next two to three years, which would reduce red tape and save entrepreneurs valuable time.
Responding to queries on demands for a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, Abdullah said Sharad Pawar had already clarified it was an accident and that there was no need to politicise the tragedy.
