Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 19: Continuing with the discussion on the Budget today in the Legislative Council, eight members including Nurboo Gialchain, Abdul Majeed Bhat, Syed Naeem Akhtar, Vijay Bakaya, Jugal Kishore, Ajatshatru Singh, Naresh Kumar Gupta and B.R.Kundal took part in it.
Gialchan while commenting on the budget said that the figures reflected in the budget proposal are showing that the economy of the state has improved. Suggesting for increasing the share of districts in allocation of funds, he pleaded for establishment of a Committee to rationalize the employees required in the departments and said need is to set up separate Medical College in Ladakh, besides giving due representation to Ladakh in State Public Service Commission.
Abdul Majeed Bhat while taking part in the discussion lauded the efforts made by the Chief Minister and Finance Minister for presenting Tax free and people friendly budget. He said all sectors have been given due consideration while making allocations, adding that the incentives given to farmers are quite encouraging as a major population of the state is associated with the Agriculture sector.
Hailing the decision for providing insurance cover to Sarpanchs and Panchs, Majeed also pleaded for enhancing remuneration of SPOs and Ration Money of Police personnel.
Naeem Akhtar while taking part in the discussion pointed out that State has not been able to utilise its own resources especially it’s Hydel potential. He said Planning Commission has also not released the Special Plan Assistance to the State besides no Plan hike has been approved. He alleged that Government has not been able to generate revenue or create jobs for unemployed youth whose number over the years has substantially increased. He said e-governance plan has also not been implemented properly in the State besides State has failed in utilising funds in full in many Centrally sponsored schemes. This budget indicates that size of Government increased but its capacity to deliver shrinked. 70% of the budget is pre-determined.
Even Govt. has control on just 30% of the budget, but in real sense it is hardly 22%. We lack capacity to utilise central funds. Liabilties worth crores have been created by R&B divisions and Financial discipline should be maintained by Finance Minister.
Vijay Bakaya while speaking during the discussion said that the job done by the Finance Minister for bringing financial reforms and improving financial management in the state is highly appreciable. He said performance of the State on account of VAT implementation has also been appreciated in the country. He, however, urged for minimising revenue expenditure which has been increasing over the years.
Hailing the decision of creation of new administrative units, Mr.Bakaya pointed out that nothing about the new units is mentioned in the budget proposal. He pleaded for enhancement of cash relief to Kashmiri migrants.
Jugal Kishore appreciated tax free budget presented by the Finance Minister besides giving due consideration to employment. He pleaded for delimitation besides, releasing of 3rdinstalment of 6th pay commission arrears. He said need is to work for promotion of tourism sector by way of extending incentives to the people associated with tourism trade including hoteliers for creation of infrastructure. He said though steps taken for improving power sector are encouraging but need is to make adequate standby arrangements for replacement of damaged transformers besides enhancing budgetary allocation for the same.
Describing the budget proposal as comprehensive, futuristic and realistic, Ajatshatru Singh said that need of the hour is to introduce Micro and Macro plans for promotion of tourism sector. He said major companies want to train the youth of the State by running skill development programmes in the State but need is to generate awareness among the youth and evolving a single window system to make it easy. He said a good amount of funds have been earmarked for treatment of Cancer patients but pointed out to the lack of awareness among the needy patients.
Naresh Kumar Gupta appreciated the Finance Minister for presenting people friendly budget. He said Government should focus on exploiting the minerals deposits available in the State, besides suggesting for replacement of BPL word with weaker section. He said no amnesty should be given to tax defaulters, if State wants to improve the economy.
B.R.Kundal while speaking on the budget proposal suggested for introducing power auditing system besides setting up thermal power plants in the state to cater to the power needs during winter when water level in the feeding rivers and streams goes down. He said Government should also focus on creating sports infrastructure in rural areas for rural youth.
Pleading for restructuring of PSUs, Kundal said that need is to curtail non plan expenditure and discouraging re-employing the retired employees.
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