Cong criticises Dhami Government’s budget for FY 2026-27 as regressive
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 9 Mar: Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee President Ganesh Godiyal has termed the budget presented by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for the financial year 2025–26 as directionless, regressive, anti-development and one that will further aggravate inflation and unemployment in the state. Reacting to the budget tabled by the Dhami government in the State Assembly in Gairsain today, Godiyal said it appears to be a bundle of election-year announcements and does not offer any clear roadmap to resolve the fundamental issues being faced by the people of the state.
Expressing his views on the budget, Ganesh Godiyal said the BJP led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has failed to present a meaningful financial plan that addresses the core concerns of the public. He said unemployment continues to be the most pressing challenge in Uttarakhand, with many educated youths struggling to find stable employment, but the budget does not include any concrete and effective plan to create permanent job opportunities. He further pointed out that migration from the hill districts has become a serious issue for the state, yet the government has failed to present any comprehensive strategy in the budget to curb the growing problem of migration from rural and mountainous areas.
Godiyal also expressed concern over the condition of healthcare services in the state. He said health infrastructure in the hill districts remains inadequate and many hospitals in remote areas continue to face an acute shortage of doctors and essential medical resources. Despite this situation, he alleged that the government has not made sufficient budgetary provisions to strengthen healthcare services in these regions. Similarly, he said the budget lacks meaningful measures for improving the education system, strengthening government schools and addressing the shortage of teachers, particularly in rural and mountainous areas.
The Congress leader further claimed that the farmers in the state have also been neglected in the budget. He stated that there is no major scheme aimed at increasing farmers’ income, making agriculture more profitable or promoting agriculture-based industries in Uttarakhand. In addition, he said the budget fails to provide any tangible relief to common people who are struggling with rising inflation. According to him, the government has not taken concrete steps to promote industries, encourage self-employment or strengthen local economic activities, and instead the budget seems limited to election-year announcements rather than presenting a comprehensive roadmap for development.
Godiyal further stated that the budget presented in the Assembly today is directionless and regressive and is likely to increase inflation and unemployment while affecting the economic growth of the state. Describing it as an election-oriented budget, he said that with the Assembly elections due next year, several announcements have been made without explaining how the required financial resources will be arranged. According to him, the CM attempted to present a vision of a “developed Uttarakhand”, but most schemes appear to be existing programmes presented in a new form.
Godiyal also alleged that although the government has referred to focus areas such as the poor, women, unemployed youth and farmers, the budget does not contain concrete provisions to address key issues like inflation, unemployment, women’s safety, job creation or prevention of migration. He said the government speaks of increasing employment opportunities and farmers’ incomes but has not made adequate financial provisions in the budget to achieve these goals.
He also refuted the government’s claim that the budget maintains balance across sectors, stating that most sectors have received disappointing allocations. According to him, although the size of the budget is increased every year, the government has failed to identify new sources of revenue. Departments that directly benefit villages, the poor and weaker sections, including agriculture, social welfare, health, education, roads, electricity and water supply, have not received significant support and the allocations appear largely to be adjustments in figures rather than genuine expansion.
Referring to the financial situation of the state, Godiyal said that when the Congress government left office in 2017 the state’s debt stood at around Rs 40,000 crore, whereas it has now crossed Rs 1 lakh crore. According to him, the BJP government has been continuously increasing the debt burden without creating sustainable revenue sources.
The PCC Chief also questioned the short duration of the ongoing budget session of the Assembly, stating that the House has been convened for only four days. According to him, this indicates that the government is attempting to avoid detailed discussion and questions from the opposition. Godiyal said the budget is filled with unrealistic announcements and fails to address the real economic and social challenges facing Uttarakhand.
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