Jammu, Mar 9: Chief Minister’s Political Advisor Devender Singh Rana Friday said the Budget presented by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather was progressive and depicts the visionary approach of the state government.
He also criticized the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying that during its tenure in the state, it had presented just popular budgets filled with political sloganeering, that too away from the ground realities.
Participating in the General Discussion on Budget in the Legislative Council, Devender Singh Rana said that no Finance Minister other than Abdul Rahim Rather could have presented such a budget given the volatile situation of the state with the annual growth of 6.8 percent in GSDP.
Rana said it was the efforts of the FM that the revenue realization under VAT and GST has witnessed an increase of about 30 percent. Every aspect of the economy has been taken care of in the budget, he said and added that the FM has been able to increase the budgetary estimates this time.
He emphasized the need to focus on strengthening agriculture sector as it is largest job provider but contributing only 19 percent in GSDP.
Coming down heavily on the PDP, Rana said that from year 2002 to 2005, then PDP led government had left the economy of the state in lurch but present coalition government is trying to bring it back on the path of progress.
There was never ‘zero deficit’ budget but it was popular budget based on mere sloganeering, he said adding that PDP led government did not implement the recommendations of 6th Pay Commission but it was NC-Congress government, which undertook the task of conceding the recommendations.
“It is because of then government that state is heavily burdened on account of about 60 percent Transmission and Distribution (T&D) losses. It spent about Rs 3900 crores on Power sector but not even one third of this amount was spent on the power reforms”, he observed.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah steered Jammu and Kashmir out of tumult and turbulent ocean to the safe and secure shore of peace and prosperity adding that PDP in 2008 left its ally in the government in isolation and the state in a situation of uncertainty and disturbance.
“It was the visionary stewardship of Omar Abdullah and the courageous efforts of National Conference-Congress coalition government which pulled the state out of the tides and turbulence in which PDP had left it,” he said.
“It was efforts of the Finance Minister that Jammu Kashmir has been restructured on the recommendations of 13th Finance Commission. The state government is able to save Rs 200 crores on account of interest on overdraft”, he added.
Rana said that shirking responsibility and depicting double standards have been the outlook of PDP and its leadership since its inception. He said PDP delayed the implementation of sixth pay commission deliberately to avoid facing the financial burden and manage the economic affairs at one hand and pretended to be employee-friendly by raising hollow slogans in their favour.
Describing Jammu and Kashmir Bank as the Corporate face of Jammu and Kashmir State, Rana said that the J&K Bank is the bank of people of the state and when NC-Congress coalition government took a reformative initiative to strengthen the base and the functioning of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, the PDP as usual launched politically motivated campaign to create false impression about the government. He said the reform in fact strengthened the bank as also led to better fiscal management of the state thereby leading to a saving of Rs 200 crore in debt interest.
Taking a dig on the poor financial management that prevailed during the tenure of PDP regime, Rana said that Union Government in 2002 sanctioned Rs 3900 crores to the J&K State for Power reforms, but the then PDP regime consumed the amount for purchasing additional power to exhibit political gimmickry and astray the people giving impression that it has improved upon the power supply scenario as compared to the previous government.
He also complimented the Finance Minister for exceeding the budgetary estimates this year in tax collections and said that it would have positive effect on the economy of the state.
Rana also laid stress on the need for developing a real time data bank of all kinds of assets, works, expenditures, planning, monitoring etc at block, district, department and state level for better planning, development and monitoring.
Participating in the discussion, MLC Muhammad Ashraf Mir suggested following of Gujarat Model of infrastructure outsourcing. He said artisans, handicrafts and weavers have not been covered by the present budget.
Syed Asgar Ali suggested that thrust should be given for the generation of non-tax revenues by way of exploiting resources like hydro power, minerals and forests in a better way. He said that government should also make necessary interventions for the resurgence of sick industrial units and revival of cottage industries in the rural areas.
Vijay Bakaya congratulated the Finance Minister and said that there has been marked improvement in tax revenue collection and increase in the capita income. He said that the growth rate has improved and there has been reduction in the fiscal deficit.
Haji Ali Muhammad Bhat appreciated the efforts of the Finance Minister for presenting the people-friendly budget in which every sector has been represented duly. He demanded that the Muslim migrants in Jammu should be provided all the facilities as par with other migrants.
Jehangir Hussain Mir in his speech suggested that state’s abundant natural resources be taped judiciously for strengthening the economy of the state.  He said that the government should take concrete steps for revenue generation so that maximum budget allocation would be utilized for the development of the state. He also suggested that special plans should be framed for the upliftment of the backward classes besides there is also need for boosting of horticulture sector and grading of products should be prioritized.
Master Noor Hussain in his speech appreciated the efforts of the Finance Minister for the uplift of poor section of the society.
Subash Chander Gupta suggested launching of scheme for BPL girls to provide them help at the time of their marriage. He also suggested enhancement of honorarium of SPOs on the pattern of ReT, Numbardars and Chowkidars.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST