The Union Territory Cabinet will meet here on Thursday morning to consider several key policy decisions, including approval of a policy for allotment of five marlas of land to people affected by monsoon floods, and infusion of Rs 118 crore into two cooperative sector banks for their revival.
“The Cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held at the Civil Secretariat at 10.30 AM,” official sources told Excelsior.
The meeting will be chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and attended by five Cabinet Ministers along with senior officers.
Land for Flood-Hit Families
Sources said one of the major agenda items is approval of the policy for allotment of five marlas of land to families whose houses were damaged or destroyed due to flash floods and landslides triggered by cloudbursts and torrential rains during the monsoon this year.
“The policy has been finalised after an extensive exercise. Once approved by the Cabinet, it will be sent to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for final approval,” the sources said.
Large-scale damage was reported across Jammu and Kashmir during intense rainfall events, particularly on August 14 and 26, affecting residential houses, agricultural land, crops and public infrastructure. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had earlier announced that the Government would provide five marlas of land to families whose houses were extensively damaged.
Rs 118 Cr Infusion in Cooperative Banks
Another important agenda item is the proposal to infuse Rs 118 crore into Jammu Central Cooperative Bank and Anantnag Central Cooperative Bank to revive their operations.
Both banks have been facing financial and operational difficulties, but are considered vital to the cooperative banking sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The proposed funding aims to stabilise and strengthen their functioning.
VLWs Salary Revision, Post Re-designation
The Cabinet will also consider revision of salary levels of Village Level Workers (VLWs) in the Rural Development Department, an issue that has been under discussion for some time.
Additionally, the Cabinet is expected to approve the re-designation of around 20 posts of District Panchayat Officers (DPOs) as Block Development Officers (BDOs).
Finance-Related Discussions
Sources said the Cabinet may also hold preliminary discussions on financial matters, including central funding and budget-related issues, though the 2026–27 budget, to be presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in his capacity as Finance Minister, is still some months away.
The previous Cabinet meeting, held on December 3, approved the new Reservation Policy for Jammu and Kashmir based on recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee. The Chief Minister has since stated that the policy is pending approval with the Lieutenant Governor.
It is pertinent to note that all UT Cabinet decisions require approval of the Lieutenant Governor before implementation.
