19 lakh Ayushman beneficiaries
35,000 houses built
Jammu, Mar 15: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Sunday said that development in Jammu and Kashmir had accelerated after the abrogation of Article 370, with increased investment, improved infrastructure and government initiatives contributing to greater employment opportunities and faster growth in the region.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, Athawale said significant improvements had been made in road and rail connectivity under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including enhanced facilities and the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express. The Ministry of Railways, he added, continues to actively work on strengthening the railway network.
The minister outlined several welfare initiatives benefiting people in J&K. As of March 2026, 24.37 lakh bank accounts have been opened in the Union Territory under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, with Rs 1,754.25 crore released from 2014 to 2026, enabling greater financial inclusion. Under Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, 12.79 lakh gas connections have been allotted to improve access to clean cooking fuel.
Under Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, 25.09 lakh loans worth Rs 54,267.91 crore have been provided to beneficiaries from 2015 to 2026. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), 35,000 houses costing Rs 586 crore have been constructed from 2016 to 2026. Under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Rs 3,638 crore has been released from 2018 to 2026, benefiting 19.73 lakh people. Additionally, Rs 94 lakh has been released for 13 old age homes in J&K from 2023 to 2025.
Highlighting India’s economic progress, Athawale stated that the country had moved from being the tenth largest economy to the fourth largest in the world and was expected to become the third largest in due course, with initiatives such as Make in India and continued support for MSMEs contributing to increased production and exports.
The minister also said the government would initiate a caste-based census to better understand the socio-economic conditions of different communities, noting that Scheduled Castes constituted approximately 16.6 per cent of the country’s population.
Athawale further highlighted that persons with disabilities in J&K were now receiving reservation benefits following the abrogation of Article 370, ensuring greater access to opportunities and social justice.
Responding to questions on the global fuel situation, the minister acknowledged that supply could be impacted by the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, but assured that the government had adequate fuel stocks available and was taking all necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted supply.
