Jammu, Jan 16 (KNS): Speaking in the Legislative Assembly in Jammu on Monday, CPI(M) MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami alleged that the Finance Minister has focused on figures and future promises rather than on concrete and pragmatic proposals. He described the unemployment as a very crucial challenge for the state and said that this problem contributes to the political uncertainty and unrest, as such, it should have been taken very seriously by the Finance Minister. Unfortunately it has, in a sense been neglected. The regularization of 61000 casual workers and the implementation of 7th Pay Commission too has been postponed. There should be no further delay and dilly dallying in the regularization process, Tarigami stressed.
In his speech, he referred to the mismanagement and losses suffered by the J&K Bank as highlighted in the budget proposals, Tarigami recalled that some legislators had in the past impressed upon the government to bring this important financial institution under the preview of the state legislature but the suggestions were ignored. On the other hand the impression was generated that the said institution was on the top and its management and performance was par excellence. Now the bank has suffered the losses of Rs.600 crores and the govt. is ‘infusing equity’ of Rs.532 crores in two tranches, the real picture has now become clear.
Tarigami referred to the power budget and observed that the budget is again vague on improving the present dismal power situation. The coalition government should have, as is promised in its Alliance of Agenda and recommended by the Rangarajan Committee urging the centre to handover two J&K based hydro-electric power projects to the state.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThis has not been done as the centre has not been bounteous enough to grant this request. The budget document is, as such, silent about the reaction of the centre. Nothing concrete for improving of generation, transmission and distribution have been proposed instead unbundling of power/electric sector has been projected as panacea to all ills and problems. The experience reveals that after unbundling of electric/power sector in various states, the utilities have not in any way become more efficient.
Referring to the implementation of the budget, Tarigami said that rampant corruption and motivated transfers in the administration would not allow the smooth and accurate implementation of the budget proposals.
The CPI(M) MLA demanded constitution of Welfare Board for the Artisans on the pattern of Construction Welfare Board, adequate relief and support measures for farmers and fruit growers besides constitution of Pesticides Regulatory Authority and more allocations for research purposes to two Agriculture Universities. He lambasted the proposals of the Fiannce Minsiter to increase the tax on the import of walnut and impressed that our problem is the low production and bad quality. The leveling of tax on the import of walnut fruit will in no way add to the growth and quality of dry fruit.
Tarigami, however, welcomed the crop insurance scheme and proposed welfare measures for the construction workers and also some other steps which could result in providing relief to the common masses. (KNS)