Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 9: With Centre’s huge grants and liberal funding to the State, the J&K Budget 2018-19 was expected to dispel the general perception of budgets being seen as mere statements of income and expenditure by addressing the aspirations of diverse sections and regions of the State.
“The people have pinned high hopes on the present dispensation regarding creation of suitable economic environment propelling economic growth with proportionate improvement in human development resulting in higher levels of well being which is the ultimate objective of a sound and buoyant budget,” NPP chairman Harsh Dev Singh said.
Emphasizing the need for a people friendly budget, Singh said that the Govt must give priority attention to removal of regional imbalances besides investing adequately in social sector, infrastructure creation, health , agriculture besides enhancing per capita income, attaining high standards of social development (Human Development Index) and creation of employment opportunities. He said that with the State Govt having been assured of a higher plan size by Govt, it should not be difficult for it to honour the aspirations of different sections of society. He said that in addition a higher ceiling assured by Central Govt, the PM’s package of Rs 80,000 crore with further additions made to it during the last year should be able to steer the state out of the of parroted slogans of fiscal crisis.
He further added that the GoI’s announcement of 14th Finance Commission had marked another silver lining with the State Govt assured to get Rs 60,000 crore during the five years under the scheme. He said the Govt’s further recommendation for provision of Rs 6177 crore for the State’s Local Bodies and SDRF was a further boon to State’s finances, a substantial part of which was however, lost due to Govt’s reluctance to hold urban local bodies polls.
Singh said that Govt must be persuaded to increase the States’ share of Central taxes after the State switching over to the GST regime as it would also go a long way in mitigating the financial woes of the State. He said that the people anxiously wasted for a Budget announcement for abolition of Lakhanpur Toll Plaza so as fully implement the concept of one nation one tax.
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