Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 8: Fed up with “discrimination within discrimination’’, the MLA Bani, Master Lal Chand today demanded merger of his Constituency with Himachal Pradesh to get rid of disparity which the people of his area have been constantly facing.
Participating in the discussion on annual budget of 2013-14 in the State Assembly today, he said there is a lot of uprising among the people in his Constituency who constantly have been neglected and they want to join Himachal Pradesh as “J&K is half Pakistan’’.
When the independent MLA, Engineer Rashid sarcastically asked him to join Pakistan, he retorted “no we are Indians and we will go to Hindustan’’.
The MLA said no steps have ever been taken to exploit the power potential of the rivers of the State.
The energy is purchased for Rs 369 crore and sold it on loss.
He stressed that agri research be done in hilly areas to find out which crop will be feasible for these areas.
He said in Kashmir youth took to arms and in Jammu the rising unemployment has forced the youth to migrate to other states and this region has become an old age home. He stressed more attention be paid on industrialization and job avenues.
Questioning the Finance Minister’s claims that the standard of living of people has improved, Abdul Rehman Veeri of PDP said in last year’s economic survey it was stated that four lakh 17 thousand people live below poverty line and in this year’s survey there is no improvement. Though J&K received the best award for poverty alleviation but there is no difference on ground.
He said agriculture and allied sectors, tourism and handicrafts have not been given proper attention in the budget. Pointing towards Finance Minister who was present in the House Veeri said “you know problems of fruit growers but there is no mention of market intervention scheme’’. He said 50,000 metric tones of fruit gets waste due to non processing and demanded setting up of cold chains.
Veeri said Animal Husbandry and diary on which a large section of population is dependent but nothing has been mentioned about the same in the budged, the employment system be institutionalized. There is no mention about G B Pant Hospital where many infants lost their lives, he added.
Expressing concern over price rise BJP Legislative Party leader Ashok Khajuria said that no steps were taken in the budget to tackle this problem despite the fact that in every household the price rise is a bone of contention between husband and wife.
He demanded subsidy on LPG and early start of Mubarak Mandi Gandola Project. While welcoming the Anmol Beti Scheme he demanded free education to girl child.
He demanded relief measures for weaker sections of the society.
Balwant Singh Mankotia said the way steps for appeasement have been taken in this budget, it appears this will be the last budget of Coalition Government.
Making a dig at Government he said nothing has been said how to tackle the growing unemployment which is a grave problem. He questioned what happened to the poll promises that every family will be provided one or two jobs. Many schemes for eradication of unemployment were framed by Government but they failed to provide jobs.
He also expressed dismay over failure of Government in empowering the Panchayats in the State and termed the claims of the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah totally hollow that Sapranchs will be provided powers of MLAs.
Ridiculing the Government claims in this regard he said while a daily wager gets Rs 125 per day a Sarpanch will be paid Rs 70 and demanded Rs 5000 be paid to Sarpanchs and Rs 3000 to Panchs. Moreover nothing has been done for bettering the fate of Nambardars and Chowkidars who are the back bone of the democratic system.
Mankotia said likewise nothing was done for SPOs and added that price hike was major problem after unemployment and no steps have been taken in the budget to tackle it. He demanded total ban on liquor in the State.
Terming that this budget is nothing but “Choroon Thagoon Ka kheel’’, Engineer Rashid said except two measures there is nothing in this budget. He said some Ministers are like white elephants who loot the State.
Rashid said the exgratia for a jawan killed in militancy related incident has been increased from Rs 2 lakh to seven lakh but no such announcement ahs been made for common man who is killed in such incident.
He said Rs 116 crore have been kept for VDCs who are involved in extortions and are engaged in wrong jobs but no such measures for Kashmir. Why VDCs can’t be created there? Is it because the population in Valley is of Muslims, he added.
He said huge sums have been earmarked for migrants but nothing done for the people who were internally displaced in Valley due to the attacks of Ikhwanis.
He said why those people will not be provided concession who fled from one village to another village in Kashmir due to Ikhwanis threat.
He said Kashmir issue will not end till a political package is given to people.
Nizam-ud-Din Bhat of PDP while criticizing the Government for its failure in proper utilization of water resources said has it been done it could have helped in decreasing fiscal deficit. Had the water resources been properly utilized the budget would have been good.
Expressing concern over imposition of oft repeated curfews, he said it also affects economic activity as hotels and other business establishments get closed.
PDP MLA Abdul Haq Khan said that there was nothing for backward areas in this budget. The Jammuites and people of Ladakh cry of discrimination always and total attention is paid to them while the areas which suffered most during 22 year long turmoil have been neglected, he added.
He said the Kupwara district, which was gate way militancy has been neglected and it appears that Government is pushing the people back to militancy.
One hospital in the district is under construction for last 12 years while the bridge has not been completed for eight years in this backward district, he added.
He said during 2010 flood a survey was conducted by him and Ministers of the district and the total loss was estimated over one billion but not even one lakh was paid as relief.
PDP’s Rafi Ahmed Mir stressed on revolutionizing tourism sector and said there is no proper road connectivity. He cautioned that if no proper attention was paid to this industry one day will come when state will be deprived of benefits of tourism.
He demanded lifting ban on CDF for transformers and decreasing of transmission distribution losses. He alleged no proper utilization of PMGSY schemes in Jammu region while the utilization of adult education in district Baramulla is zero. Despite the money Government has failed to spent it, he added.
He said that Kashmir’s economy sustained during turmoil due to horticulture and handicrafts but no attention was paid to these two sectors.
Qamar Ali Akhoon hailed the budget presented by Finance Minister as it fulfills the aspirations the common people by way of giving a boost to all social sectors.
Appreciating ban on Gutka and increase of tax on tobacco items, Akhoon said that this people-friendly initiative would save our future generation from addiction. He hailed the Government for providing Rs. 30, 000/- for marriage of orphan BPL girls and demanded this initiative be extended to SC and ST girls as well. He said that allocation of funds for cancer treatment would help these patients to a large extent and demanded that AIDS patients should also be covered under this scheme. He stressed for taking adequate steps for tapping the water resource potential of J&K.
T. Namgyal demanded allocation of funds for Ladakh division on the basis of area and size. He also demanded helicopter service for Nobra and Zanaksar areas and special incentives for the employees working in Ladakh division.
Aijaz Ahmed Jan supported the budget. He demanded additional funds for power sector in Poonch and Rajouri districts. He also welcomed setting up of toll plaza and suggested introduction of card system in this regard which will help in transparency in collection of revenue. He also demanded enhancement in budget allocation for development and infrastructure of road network in Poonch district.
Aijaz Jan projected establishment of way side facilities on Mughal Road to facilitate tourists.
Ashok Kumar supporting the budget said that opening of 500 livestock centres under Animal Husbandry Department is a big achievement. However, he demanded establishment of these units in remote areas also. He demanded opening and up gradation of more schools under RMSA. He demanded establishment of new health sub-centres in hilly and remote areas and providing critical care ambulances to health centres to accident prone areas like Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and other areas of the State.
Mr. Rachpal Singh described the budget as farmer friendly. He said Mughal Road has bridged the gap between the people of Kashmir and Jammu regions. He praised the Finance Minister for the ‘Anmol Beti’ scheme for marrying orphan girls and instituting a Cancer relief fund. He welcomed VAT reduction in Budget on prayer material and hike in cess on cigarette. He appreciated the decision for enhancement of daily wages to labourers, honorarium to Panchs and Sarpanchs. He demanded upgradation of road connectivity in Kalakot constituency.
Mrs. Indu Powar praised the release of pending pension for old age and widows and launching Anmol Beti scheme. She demanded increase in the financial assistance for the women belonging to BPL category. She also demanded equal distribution of employment among the youth of all the regions of the State. She appreciated the steps taken by the Government for the benefit of Kissans of the State by reducing the cost of the agriculture products.
Nasir Aslam Wani complimented the Chief Minister for regulating the power sector and expediting power generation in the State. He sought additional funding for meeting the energy requirements of winters in Kashmir and summers in Jammu. He suggested widening of roads in Srinagar and Jammu cities and de congestion of old cities. He expressed concern over the conversion agricultural land into non-agricultural use. He also suggested construction of tunnels on Tangdhar, Machil, Lolab Bandipora and Mughal road for making them all weather connectivity.
Gharu Ram demanded irrigation projects for R. S. Pura and introduction of Crop Insurance scheme. He also suggested equal distribution of funds and setting up of agro-based industry in R. S. Pura.
Krishen Chander Bhagat described the budget as farmer friendly and good for all. He appreciated the Finance Minister for timely sanctioning of Dearness Allowance to Government employees and pensioners. He also appreciated the Government for sanctioning 500 livestock centres.
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