Tag: Union Budget 2016

Tapas Mondal speaks on General Budget 2016

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Madam Speaker, Bhola Singh ji ne jo kaha hai, ki Pradhan Mantri Ji aur khas kar ke Arth Mantri ji ne batti jalaya aur sab jagao me wo batti jalte rehte hai, lekin ye batti Bihar tak poucha hai aur uske baad ye batti Paschim Bangal me gaya nahi. Mai asha karta hu ki is budget se to kuch huch hua nahi rajya ke sarth me. Magar next year me jab budget ghoshit hoga us time me humara rajya pe kendriya sarkar dhyan dega.
Madam Speak, aapko bahut abhar vyakt karta hu mai.

What was the expectation from this Budget 2016-17? Expectations in the domain of personal taxation, expectations for home buyers, expectations in the domain of GDS limit, structural reforms expected from this Budget, path of fiscal consolidation which was an important aspect, expectations surrounding the National Pension Scheme—all these expectations are not being fulfilled. Partly, a section of the society can gain something but at large major share of the society is deprived of getting the benefits from this current Budget, 2016-17. That is why, our Finance Minister of West Bengal, Shri Amit Mitra told that the Budget was directionless, and this is a Budget without any vision. This Budget is not people-centric, and there is nothing in the Union Budget for West Bengal. I want to highlight some important aspects in relation to agriculture and farmers’ welfare for which the Government has allocated a considerable fund of Rs.35,984 crore. Among these, 28.5 lakh hectares of land will be brought under irrigation; five lakh acres to be brought under organic farming over a three-year period; Rs.60,000 crore for recharging of ground water in India; Dedicated Irrigation Fund in NABARD with Rs.20,000 crore; and nominal premium and highest ever compensation in the case of crop losses under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana. The Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely in his ‘Make in India’ Budget speech laid more emphasis on agriculture and farmers’ welfare with an aim to double the farmers’ income in the next five years. He laid thrust on the rural sector and social sector, including health care, educational skills and job creation to make India a knowledge based productive economy. He announced various allocations to agriculture and farmers’ welfare sector with a total expenditure of Rs.35,984 crore. He also made announcements on infrastructure investment to enhance quality of life and bring financial sector and governance reforms to reduce compliance burden.  He added that nominal premium is also being implemented from this Budget. As key States including West Bengal gear up for assembly elections, it was not surprised that agriculture took the top slot in Finance Minister’s Budget for 2016-17. In his speech, Jaitley said that India was a bright spot in the global economy as he outlined his nine focus areas with social programmes and rural development taking at number 2 entry slots. With agriculture being the main stage of economy in States like West Bengal, Modi’s Government t hrust on rural development is bound to boost BJP in the poll-bound States and that is why they are focussed mainly on agriculture. Rising rural distress after back to back drought and having heavy defeat in Bihar have upset the calculus. The Government estimates that four of 10 Indians rely directly on farming for their livelihood. Jaitley also assured that the Government intended to double the income of the farmers in coming five years. He told a unified agriculture platform will be dedicated to the nation on the Birth Anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The Government all the time is talking about Ambedkar; they take the name of Ambedkar; but they are not doing much for the people of Ambedkar. I request him to allocate proportionate funds for SC/ ST Sub Plans and place them everywhere in social strata – service sector, education sector, etc. The Government should secure their livelihood and respect them in a true way. By doing these things – not by installing monuments and memorials – they can really respect Dr Ambedkar. If you respect the down-trodden people, the depressed classes, SC/ST communities and improve the budgetary allocation for them, which will be the right way to respect Dr. Ambedkar. The Government all the time gives emphasis on looking towards Eastern India. But what has the Government given to Eastern India, especially to West Bengal, the gateway of Eastern India? We have a long legitimate demand of setting up of a Central Agricultural University in West Bengal. But this has not been taken up by the Government. West Bengal is the right place for setting of such a university because it has good agricultural productivity. Almost all crops can be grown there and even in some of the horticulture crops West Bengal plays a leading role. Therefore, I urge upon the Union Finance Minister that when he is going to announce for the next Budget, he ensures that West Bengal gets a Central Agriculture University for the benefit of the people of the State. Similarly, there is a need for Central Horticulture University. Some States of the Indian Union have Central Horticulture Universities. But in spite of West Bengal’s position and contribution in the production of vegetables, flowers and fruits, there is no such university in my State. If we compare the State of West Bengal with other advanced States of the Indian Union, the number of ICAR institutes is much less in West Bengal. So, we urge upon the Union Government to set up more institutes and sub-centres of CRIDA, IISER, Rice Research Institutes, etc. in West Bengal for boosting up agriculture production. Another important thing, not relating to agriculture, is Nabadwip birthplace of Mahaprabhu Shri Chaitanya and renowned Shri Vaishnao Dham. This should be taken up as a national heritage. But that is also neglected by the Central Government. So, I once again request the Central Government to look into the matter and accord national heritage town status to Nabadwip Dham.

Ratna De (Nag) speaks on the Union Budget 2016

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Mr. Chairman, Sir, this year’s Union Budget has been presented at a time when the public discourse in India shifted from mere issues of development towards issues of social democracy. Nonetheless, one has to analyse the Budget as a fiscal document affecting the Indian people.

The classes of people who occupy the centre stage of the Budget are farmers and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who otherwise do not find any place in the dominant discourse of the NDA Government. Two consecutive years of drought and allowing the drastic fall in global consumer prices has placed the farmers in severe distress. Farmers’ suicides have become the order of the day even in affluent States like Punjab. In such a situation much is needed to be done for rural India where 67 per cent of our population resides. Let us see what has actually been done in the Budget.

There has been substantial hype about focus on farmer and rural India. But a minute study of the Budget makes it clear that the claim is entirely baseless. I put some figures here to support my argument. In terms of the total outlay, irrigation accounted for only 0.14 per cent. In 2015-16 the allocation was Rs.13,500 crore, amount spent during that period was Rs.12,000 crore, amount remained unspent was Rs.1,500 crore. Agriculture and allied activities accounted for only 2.7 per cent of that total outlay. Rural development accounted for a mere 0.4 per cent of the total plan outlay. To be precise, agriculture, irrigation, There is one area of rural India which has got much importance in the Budget. That is the area of rural consumption demand. For that purpose, Rs 38,000 crore has been devoted to rural job creation through MGNREGA. Much emphasis has been put on creation of infrastructure and Rs 97,000 crore has been given for roads and highways. In addition, Rs 48,000 crore has been given for rural infrastructure. Any student of political economy would know that the sole purpose of this expenditure is to boost Indian industry and business which has been declining in profit.  the Budget does not reflect any ideological shift towards the making of India. Coming to the urban poor and the middle class, the Budget does nothing for them. In fact, by increasing the proportion of indirect tax, Budget has been extremely regressive on them. In a few words, regarding the restless aspiring youth of India, the Budget does nothing to revive the lost hope.

Decreasing the allocation for higher education and education in general shows the commitment of the Government towards the youth of India.

Regarding my State, our Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee has provided inclusive governance and has fulfilled the hopes and aspirations of our people with limited resources without much need and appeal for financial assistance from the Central Government.

There has been some mild noise in the Budget regarding the hill sector. Yes, the dialysis will be cheaper but what about the cost and treatment of the patient which is always a burden on the poor?

We have been told that 100 per cent rural electricity will be completed by 2018. But in our State, already 100 per cent rural electrification has been achieved in early 2016. At the end, I have no other option but to say that this Budget has no hope for the industry, no hope for the youth, no hope for the poor and no hope even for the Sensex. Lastly, I would say that the Budget has continuously marginalized the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The allocation for the Scheduled Caste Dalit women is one per cent and for Adivasi women it is two per cent. Without taking into account the needs and voices of the women, the scheme lacks in understanding the life’s reality and is blind to the conscience of the Dalit and Adivasi women.

On 7th December 2015, it was reported in the Indian Express that hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modiji said that his Government is leaving no stone unturned to fulfill the vision and dream of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar to create a prosperous and inclusive India, whose views and thoughts he said have not been fully understood as yet. I would like to know whether you are going to fulfill such views and thoughts of hon. Prime Minister.