Srinagar, Feb. 2 -- Jammu and Kashmir's economy has long been caught between promise and paralysis. For more than three decades, the region has awaited a comprehensive industrial incentives package from the Centre, one that could provide the necessary thrust to revive industries, encourage entrepreneurship, and generate sustainable livelihoods. The absence of such a package since the early 1990s has left the UT dependent on government jobs and small-scale trade, neither of which can absorb the growing aspirations of its youth. As the union budget approaches, the expectation of a substantial industrial package is not merely about financial aid; it is about laying the foundation for long-term growth, stability and dignity.

The Union Govern...