Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 10: There has been mixed reaction to Union Budget for year 2014-15 presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Lok Sabha today.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry welcomes the Union Budget. In a statement issued here today the Chamber said “We welcome the establishment of IIT College in Jammu region which we feel is a dream for the young generation towards having promising carrier. Chamber also welcomed maintenance the highway roads to the National Highway Authority of India which is a great step towards saving the precious human lives.
Sanction of Rs 200 crore for the Sports Stadium is a leap forward for the unemployed youth in the State who will get better facilities so that that can perform at National and International level. Rs. 50 crore sanctioned for Pashmina products is a big boost both to the producers of Pashmina as well as for the economy of the J&K State. Rs. 500 crore for bettering facilities for Kashmiri migrants is a historic and welcome decision. As through one time settlement the community who was shattered due to turmoil in the valley can decide the future of their next generation. The development of Jammu Airport through public private partnership is again a big boost to the tourism sector as more flights and bigger aero planes will bring more tourists to the J&K State. Solar Energy production plant in Ladakh proposed by the Union Government is again a welcome step as the State government is already reeling under power crises which are deterrent to the economy of the State. The decision to make CRT TV’s cheaper and reduction of custom duty on LCD below 19 inch to 0% is again a historic step which shall enable 68% of the rural population in India to be updated and stay connected with the happenings in the world. The Chamber also welcomed the increase in Income Tax exemption from Rs. 2 lacs to Rs. 2.50 lacs, exemption under section 80C from Rs. 1 lacs to Rs. 1.5 lacs, 10 year Tax Holiday for the power generation companies, Rs. 500 crores for stabilizing prices of agriculture production, Rs. 3600 crores for the rural drinking water, AIMS in every state , 5 more IIMS , e-Visa at seven Airports. Rs. 100 crores for Beti Bachao under Beti Padhao Yojana.
Chamber of Commerce & Industry Jammu is of the view that the budget presented today shall benefit and take care of the rural as well as urban populations and shall contribute towards putting brakes on the rising prices of essential commodities, Healthy drinking water, better health care facilities, more opportunities in education center and also a big boost to in-bound tourism.
Yash Paul, Gupta president, ACTF congratulated the new Government for giving a visionary budget which attends to the needs and aspirations of almost every section of the community.
The raising of the Income Tax exemption limit from 2 lac to 2.50 lac for people below 60 and from 2.5 lac to 3 lac for senior citizens will definitely come as a big relief. Similarly raising the limit of exemption under 80 C from 1.00 lac to 1.5 lac and raising the exemption for house loan from 1.5 lac to 2 lacs will come as a big relief to the people and also sanctioning of IIT for Jammu is a welcome step.
The funds allocated for Ganga Cleanliness Project, Gramin Vikas Fund, Special Welfare Fund for the Safety and Development of Women, Special Fund to check the increasing inflation of the food items, special incentives for agriculture and infrastructure like roads, airports etc, special attention to the development of North-East region and defence, special stress to improve the education and health care sectors, opening AIIMS in more states, providing affordable houses to all, resolving to give electric power round the clock throughout the country are factors which speak loudly about the commitment of the new Government to take the country on the path of inclusive growth in all sectors.
ACTF also welcomed the projections of the budget about the formation of Kisan Mandies, Cheap housing for all, developing more new cities and towns, sanitation provisions like toilets, connecting rivers and other welfare scheme.
Terming the union budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as states-centric and gender-friendly, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today welcomed the special funding for various initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir. The party however demanded funding for the development of the State on the pattern of northeast.
In a joint statement issued here today, PDP MPs Mehbooba Mufti and Tariq Hameed Karra while welcoming the proposal to set up IIT in Jammu demanded that an IIM be established in Kashmir so that the youth in the Valley don’t feel a sense of neglect.
Welcoming the government’s announcement to establish new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in various states, PDP demanded that one such institution should be established in both the regions of the State.
Hailing the initiatives like dedicated funding for sports and Pashmina development in Jammu and Kashmir and allocation of funds for rehabilitation of migrants, the PDP MPs said that if put together with the annual plan allocation of Rs 7000 crore, J&K will be getting not more than Rs 7800 crore allocation while on the other hand the allocation for Northeastern states is a whopping Rs 53000 crore. “There is a huge mismatch between funding for J&K and Northeastern states and the gap needs to be bridged over,” they said and reiterated the Party’s demand for having a separate J&K Affairs Ministry in the government of India to lay focused development of the state.
PDP has also demanded due share of funds from around Rs 1000 crore allocation proposed for border area development. “As J&K has a huge population living along the borders, the state should get due share in the border area development fund,” they said.
The PDP MPs said that unfortunately during the past FIVE years, Omar Abdullah-led NC-Congress coalition government has never bothered to officially raise critical issues concerning the development of JK with the centre.
Congress has described the Budgetary Proposal of the Union Government as a cosmetic exercise without any new initiative, as were being claimed by BJP during campaign to give new direction to the economy of the country.
Reacting to the Budgetary Proposal PCC Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma (MLC) has said that there is nothing new in the Budget for the common man and only cosmetic approach to the existing economic system. The BJP’s claim to give new direction to the economy of the country is missing from the Budgetary Proposal, rather their appears thrust on FDI of which BJP had been opposing in one or the other form.
In the context of Jammu and Kashmir, the announcement of IIT and upgradation of Sports Stadiums, as pleaded by the State Government are welcome steps but UPA-I and II had taken major initiatives like two Central universities, Supper Specialty Hospitals besides new Medical Colleges and Cancer Institute in different parts of the State.
The Rehabilitation package for Kashmiri migrants is right step and an extension of the past initiatives in this regard but other suffering sections like West Pakistan Refugees of 1947, displaced persons of 1965 and 1971 have been left and border residents have not received attention of the NDA government who were extended a lot of assurances during election campaign.
Prof.Bhim Singh, Chief Patron of National Panthers Party & Member of Integration Council described the ‘Modi sarkar budget’ presented in the Parliament today as highly discriminatory with the wretched of earth, particularly, the rural folk, unemployed youth, farmers and the working class in India.
He said that the government has failed to redress the problems of educated youth and the lack of adequate judicial infrastructure. The Panthers Party leader said that scope and effects of investment and subsidies in the budget has caused tremendous anger among the rural youth in particular. The budget has earmarked 70.6 billion rupees to create 100 ‘smart cities’. Cities for whom? What about the plight of nearly 95% of the population in the country, he asked?.
What shall be the message of 100 ‘smart cities’? Does it mean that these cities shall be raised for the benefit and promotion of the corporate sector alone and the benefit of the business class only? Similarly 40 billion shall be afforded for housing purposes. For whom? Where is the budget for the rural people and their welfare, jobs and education, he asked?
All Jammu and Kashmir Kissan Union (AJKKU) chairman Ashok Sharma while hailing the establishment of IIT at Jammu has demanded that immediate decision be taken on Jammu Rajouri-Poonch rail line. He also urged on development of an international airport at Jammu.
All Migrants Camp Coordination Committee (AMCCC) also welcomed the budged proposals. In a statement AMCCC president, Desh Rattan said some revolutionary steps were taken in the budget for the betterment of the people. He welcomed the IIT for Jammu, tax relief to people up to income of 2.5 lakh and earmarking of Rs 500 crore for bettering facilities for migrants.
J&K Minority Forum president, J L Koul has also welcomed the budget proposals especially establishment of IIT for Jammu a long standing demand of the people and earmarking of Rs 500 crore for bettering facilities for migrants.
Chairman FOI and President BBIA Annil Suri while commenting on the Union Budget said that the industrial sector of J&K was quite hopeful that the package of incentives that were withdrawn partially by the previous UPA Govt. would be re-instated during the budget presentation. But nothing on that front was taken up by the Union Finance Minister. Although he said that we welcome the establishment of an IIT in the Jammu region as it would not only help in promoting the economy of the State but also quite helpful for the younger generation to enhance their technical skills. Rs. 50 crores sanctioned for Pashmina products is a big boost both to the producers of Pashmina as well as for the economy of the J&K State.
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