Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: Though the ruling alliance shows total satisfaction over the budget 2015-16 presented by Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu in State Assembly today after terming it people friendly, the Opposition as well as trading community is totally dis-satisfied saying that budget is devoid of any relief to common man.
Reacting to budget, Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed termed it people friendly budget.
In a statement issued here, today he described the budget as all inclusive that takes care of core sectors of development, the Chief Minister hoped that the policies and programmes adopted in the budget 2015-16 shall take care of internal revenue generation and cater to the needs of all stakeholders in the State, particularly farmers and small and tiny traders, who have suffered tremendously in the worst-ever floods that took place in the State in September last year.
However the NC senior leader and MLA, Mohammed Shafi Uri showed his total dis-satisfaction over the budgetary figures saying that there was much media hype one week back that the coalition will take State on the path of progress but the same has not been reflected in the budget.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly Hall soon after the presentation of budget in Assembly by Mr Drabu, he said the budget was nothing except the reflection of 14th Finance Commission report. The assistance provided by 14th Finance Commission to the State was reflected in this budget, he added.
Terming it a normal budget, he said there is nothing except change of figures and the small tax rebate given in the budget is nothing remarkable. Criticizing the budget he said there is nothing innovative in it and let us wait as it is the first budget of the coalition.
The Congress Legislature Party Leader Rigzin Jora calls the budget a damp squib. Terming it nothing new except for change in idiom and jargons, Jora said where Haseeb Drabu’s so called expertise as an economist has gone? Mere playing words does n’t make the budget great. There is nothing new in this budget, he added.
Budget should have been a holistic exercise for greater good which it is not, he said.
It lacks a general sense of direction. The states economy will continue to depend on the public spending for economic growth whereas the idea should have been to catalyze the private sector and the entrepreneurial spirit of the citizens to ensure economic growth. None of the progressive states in India have seen economic growth on the strength of public spending alone, he added.
He said tourism which has been singled for focussed attention by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed gets next to nothing says Jora . The budget does not mention anything about the scheme of incentives in tourism, he added.
Similarly what this thing about Jammu being eve loped as an independent destination? It has never been an appendage of Kashmir. It has always been an independent destination. “If I can remind Finance Minister Jammu receives one crore tourist, thanks to Mata Vaishno Devi’’, he added. What should have been spelt out instead was how to tap this captive market and disperse them in other areas and regions of Jammu so that dispersal of revenue from tourism takes place.
CPI (M) State Secretary and MLA, M Y Tarigami said the 2015-16 budget presented by Mr Drabu reflects rosy figures and is devoid of any relief for the common man. This budget has nothing significant to offer and instead has furthered desperation and disappointment for different sections of society, be it employed educated youth, people associated with business, agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, casual laborers, daily wagers, Anganwari workers/ helpers, ASHA workers, contractual employees, SPOs, Old aged persons, handicapped, Namberdars and Chowkidars, Chopans, Gujjar and Bakerwal community.
He said the people are dismayed over the response to the alarming unemployment crisis in the State as the present budget lacks comprehensive plan to address the issue.
Turning tables on Finance Minister, he said there is no concrete respite for the people whose property including residential houses and agriculture lands got damaged due to the devastating floods in September 2014 across the State. The Government has once again shown its in-sensitivity towards the basic issues confronting the common man and consequently the budget does not carry any mention of food security, universalisation of public distribution system, solving unemployment and making social security scheme people friendly.
BJP MLA Ravinder Raina while expressing his satisfaction over the budget however said that a comprehensive road map still needs to be framed to give a proper direction to State economy. The State is at cross roads due to financial mismanagement made by the previous Government and inspite of that the Finance Minister has tried his level best to put the State economy back on rails, he added.
He said for the daily wagers, adhoc employees, SPOs and need based workers a time bound policy needs to be framed. The return and rehabilitation policy for KPs be framed in a specified manner and special funds needed to be allocated for PoJK and West Pak refugees. It was expected that the Government will frame Refugees Development Board which it failed to do, he added.
Senior Congress leader and former Minister, Dr Manohar Lal has termed the budget directionless, anti-poor and anti working class. He said privatization of corporations and outsourcing of Toll Plaza will lead to exploitation of unemployed youth. The people had many expectations from this Government as they had promised sky during elections but now they feel totally betrayed.
Dr Lal said there is no concrete commitment for daily wagers regularization, the employees’ arrears of DA will go the GP Fund and nothing was said to provide succor to the farmers whose crop was damaged by hailstorm recently. Besides, Entry Tax increase will lead to further price rise, he added.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) has also shown its dis-satisfaction over budget. The president of Chamber, Rakesh Gupta while talking to Excelsior termed the budget totally disappointing. He said during pre-budget discussions with Chamber team we found the Government positive as they termed the demands put forth by us genuine. But while going through the budget it seems the same thing has been done as was done by previous regimes, he added.
However differing with the views of CCI chief, Anil Suri president Bari -Brahmana Industrial Association termed it a positive budget. He said though it will be too early to make the comments as every thing will be known after the budget is passed by Assembly, but it seems that the aspirations of industry have been touched and to some extent acknowledged also.
J&K Lower Grade Employees Union has welcomed the budget especially release of DA installments. The release of DA installments have also been hailed by
Jammu West Assembly Movement chief Sunil Dimple also termed it a disappointing budget saying that there is noting to offer to common man. He said nothing was said about the development of Jammu like construction of fly-overs, roads, improving water supply and electricity, taking back power projects and construction of new power projects. Jammu and Kashmir Civil Secretariat Non Gazetted Employees Union has also welcomed release of 17 percent DA.
NC Minority Cell leader M K Yogi also termed the budget disappointing. He said no mention of KPs return, enhancement of cash relief and solving their long pending problems was made in budget.
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