Jammu, March 3, 2026: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 can only be realised if development reaches every corner of the country, warning that progress limited to a few regions would remain “a dream and a slogan.”
Addressing the National Governance Conference at the Convention Centre in Jammu, the National Conference leader stressed inclusive and region-wide growth.
“A developed India or a Viksit Bharat will not be a reality if that development is confined only to a handful of states or regions… unless Jammu and Kashmir in the very north, to Assam in the east, Gujarat in the west, Tamil Nadu and Kerala — all of us see that development,” he said.
Emphasis on Grassroots Governance
Abdullah highlighted the importance of a ground-up development approach.
“If our districts perform, our states and Union Territories perform. If our states and Union Territories perform, our country performs,” he said.
He noted that conferences such as these help share best practices and prevent governments from “reinventing the wheel,” adding that governance has evolved from working in silos to more cooperative and holistic models.
No One-Size-Fits-All Model
The Chief Minister underlined that governance solutions must be adaptable.
“What works in Jammu and Kashmir may not work in Gujarat or Maharashtra. But we can certainly adapt successful models to suit local conditions,” he said.
Push for Digital Governance
Highlighting administrative reforms, Abdullah said the transition to e-Office and digital systems has significantly improved efficiency and transparency in the Union Territory.
“Today, I very rarely see a paper file. Everything comes digitally, and that has made life much easier,” he remarked.
On streamlining services, he stressed that a “single-window system” must genuinely function as intended, cautioning against bureaucratic hurdles disguised as simplified processes.
Abdullah reiterated that inclusive growth, efficient governance, and grassroots performance are key pillars to achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047,
