Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: Flaying the National Conference for steeling out vital economic interests of the State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President, Mehbooba Mufti today said it was because of Government’s policies that even most sections of its employees were unable to receive salaries. Taking part in the budget discussion in Assembly today she took up the cause of employees and unemployed educated youth and castigated Government for its casual approach towards this larger section of society.
Mehbooba pointed out that those engaged on the basis of contract, consolidated pay and on adhoc basis are against paltry wages have been completely ignored in the last budget of the Government with budget statement making no mention of their regularization or required hike in their wages and salary. She recalled services of SPOs, home guards and daily wagers but lamented that the Government had let them down again. She expressed concern about large chunk of labour and government’s flip flop about them. She also sought the attention of Finance Minister towards the rural and tribal youth who were promised employment and labour but even have not been accommodated in construction of hydel power projects despite guarantees in MoUs signed by the Government with various corporations including NHPC.
Mehbooba Mufti said that such is the state of affairs that even the ration money is not paid to police personnel and the Government functionaries. She said that Finance Minister has belied the hopes of the people of the State who were earlier fed on promises and assurances on fair deal.
She vehemently pleaded the case of re-employment of NYC’s who have been protesting for this since their disengagement.
Mehbooba pointed out that Government has been selective and resorts to pick and choose, be it regularization, engagement or re-employment. She said that budget has as such failed to inspire the people in general and temporary employees in particular. The unemployed are simply disgusted and ignored, she added.
She also raised the issue of Anganwari workers, skilled labour and PHE daily wagers saying that no serious approach has been adopted to redress their grievances.
Pointing out budgetary allocations made by the finance Minister she these were totally in violation of the Planning Commission’s directions which has put the hike ceiling at 5% only. Mehbooba said that escalated budget was only to befool people on election eve and in total disregard of the available resources and money.
Maintaining that the States economy is totally dependent M Y Tarigami of CPI (M) said nothing was done in the budget to heal wounds of the people. There is no mention about the price hike and inflation in the budget and had it been mentioned the people would have come to know that Finance Minister was concerned about them, he added.
He said there is no mention about food security and right to health. The Government has itself admitted that there is no reliable lab for tests. He said till the unemployment problem is not addressed and those areas are identified you can’t give justice to people.
Stressing on changing of policies, he said J&K needs alternative policy direction that ensures universal rights and entitlements. To food security, health care, universal free education, right to employment or adequate unemployment allowance and universal scheme for the care of elderly and differently abled, at least, must form the care of such an alternative.
He said Kissan cards have been given to four lakh people while there are 14 lakh house holds and he wanted to know what about the rest families. There is distress sale in fruit market as growers are unable to pay loan interest. He demanded that the loan interests be waived off as it would give a big relief to them.
Criticizing the budget Harshdev Singh of NPP made a sarcastic remark saying Aamdani Chuani Kharcah rupayaa. (Income is 25 paisa and expenditure one rupee is the condition of State’s economy). He termed the budget as poppers balance sheet. In US six months prior discussions on budget are held and only Federal Government can impose taxes and make reforms.
He said the Government has many fields where taxes can be imposed and revenue generated. Liquor and Tobaco are two such items on which tax can be imposed and no one will oppose, he added.
The State has a capacity of generating 20,000 mws of power and nothing was done to exploit the same. Only 20 percent of this total capacity of power is being generated in the State. There is lot of potential for tourism in the State but Government has failed to exploit this potential. This could have helped in improving the economy of the State, he added.
He demanded that there should be no CDF for MLCs as it is for Constituency and MLCs have no Constituency. He warned that not meeting of budget target and proposals will be contemptuous. Stressing thrust on bad pockets he said they need immediate attention.
Harshdev said the youth are on volcanic situation and no mention about generating employment for them has been made in budget. The unemployed youth have rejected all the schemes announced earlier, he added.
He said nothing was said how to address regional imbalances in the budget.
Rs 1100 crore were given to Dal and Rs 300 crore to Wullar lakes in Kashmir and tourism of Jammu ignored. The Government could not even submit a proposal of Rs 500 crore for tourism projects of Mansar and Surinsar.
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta termed the budget as balance sheet of a commission agent who has little to invest of his own.
He said of the total receipts of Rs 43543 crore, the own tax and non tax revenue has been estimated at Rs 11057 crore, which forms hardly about 22 percent of the total receipts, thus indicating that after 75 percent transactions would be from the Centre.
He said against the revenue of Rs 11000 crores the pay bill of the staff and that of the pensioners would be over Rs 18000 crore. This indicated that sad financial health of the State, which is dependent at the Centre to the extent of 75 percent support.
He said if there would be a hostile Government at Centre tomorrow what would be the result. It is ridiculous that still the ruling leaders talk about autonomy and try to distance from the Centre, he added.
This generated a heat in the House and the Congress MLA M S Niaz protested against the same.
Prof Gupta suggested curtailment of VAT on some essential items. He also talked about working towards self sufficiency of the State through its own resources.
Mohammad Sharief Niaz, appreciated the budget and described it as balanced budget. He said J&K has a huge potential of water resources but need is to tap it properly and its optimum use for construction of power projects, so that we can sell power to other states of the county.
He said need of the hour is to focus on productive areas like agriculture and allied sectors as these are key for the economic development of the State.
While praising the budget, Niaz stressed for progressive development in the sectors of Tourism and Industries, adding that these sectors provide for increased job opportunities for educated un-employed youth leading to development of the State. He also demanded setting up of new banks and treasury units in Bhaderwah constituency.
Javid Ahmed Dar appreciated the budget. He demanded focused approach during the post-harvest period wherein maximum challenges like storage and transportation of produce are faced by the fruit growers.
He also demanded enhancement in honorarium of Numberdars and Chowkidars from Rs. 750 to Rs. 1500.
Hakim Mohammad Yasin while participating in budget discussion suggested enhancement in district and state sector funds.
He called for improvement in LT/HT system besides repairs of transformers in Khan Sahib Constituency. He also stressed to speed up construction of receiving stations in district Budgam.
Mr. Baldev Raj while participating in Budget discussion called for adequate allocation of funds for the development of bad pockets and demanded cleaning of heaps of garbage in Katra township which has been due to the result of highhandedness of Shrine Board.
Abdul Gani Malik appreciated the budget in maintaining continuity in brining reforms. He said better economic development of the State requires more focused attention in areas like water, horticulture, tourism etc. He also called for increase in investment by the private sector so as to lead to an overall development of the State.
Indu Pawar in her address hailed the budget and sought concessions for women, rationalization of Power Development Department for increase in revenue and enhancement in CDF.
She also suggested provision of more funds for revival of sick industrial units besides development of tourism circuits and hailed exemption of VAT on chemical fertilizers, farm machinery and cattle feed.
Er. Rashid suggested curtailment in official expenses besides more funds for improvement of basic amenities in rural areas. He also demanded provision of adequate funds for improvement of High Transmission and Low Transmission lines besides completion of road projects especially remote and hilly areas.
Stressing on bringing back power projects from NHPC he said this is only possible after Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mufti Mohamed Sayeed or Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti approaches jointly to Centre for the same the problem will not be solved.
Aijaz Jan describe the budget people-friendly and stressed provision of sufficient funds for development of back pockets and border areas besides enhancement in remuneration of SPOs.
He also suggested for providing free electricity to BPL families besides privatization of Lakhanpur toll post enhancing revenue generation in the state.
Sukh Nandan demanded toll exemption on Basmati, provision of adequate funds for upgradation of irrigation facilities, establishment of vegetable mandies besides regularization of daily wagers and casual workers in Agriculture Department.
Peerzada Mansoor Hussain demanded funds for already sanctioned veterinary mobile vans, state share for execution of Central developmental projects besides adequate funds for transformer banks set up in the districts.
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