Budget size increasing, but no benefit to people: Cong

Raipur, March 19, 2012

Congress legislator Dr Shiv Kumar Daharia on Monday said that the budget size had continuously increased during BJP regime but people had not been benefited by it. “It is the Centre that has given relief to Chhattisgarh by showing generosity and flowing funds but still the state ministers criticise it,” said Daharia while speaking during debate on the budget at Vidhan Sabha on Monday.

He said the government had done injustice to the people belonging to SC community by reducing their reservation quota from 16% to 12%.

He pointed that SC and ST people were also facing problem in obtaining caste certificates. “Even the hostels of SC/ST students are in worst condition because the government representatives never visit there,” he said suggesting the government to at least direct local officials including Collectors to regularly visit the hostels to ensure provision of radical facilities there.

He alleged that the SC and ST people were not secure in the state. “The Meena Khalkhon incident is a glaring example of how the government is harassing the innocent SC and ST people,” he said.

He indicated that the government had not started distributing unemployment allowance, ignored ramification of liquor mafia in the state, especially in rural areas and kept its eyes shut towards felling of trees and killing of wild animals in forests.

He said the government was also playing on the name of religion. “Surprisingly, the government opens its exchequer for Rajim kumbh but has never provide adequate fund for religious places like Shivrinarayan and Giraudpuri,” he said.

He further took a dig at the government on education sector and said the rural schools were deprived of quality education. “Corruption prevailed in this sector and the government has failed to maintain transparency in centrally-sponsored schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Shiksha Mission and Mid-day Meal programme,” he said.

“Similarly, the government is apathetic towards Shikshakarmis who are neither getting promotion nor other provisions,” he added.

Daharia also questioned the credibility of PSC and lashed the government on PMT paper leak case.

On separate agriculture budget, he said it had nothing specific for the farmers and was merely intended to deceive them. “In fact, the government is exploiting the farmers by compelling them to buy duplicate fertilisers, duplicate seeds and duplicate pesticides,” he said.

Congress legislator Pratima Chandrakar said the crop area of the farmers had reduced while the paddy production cost had shot up.

She said the government had completely failed to maintain law and order and common people were feeling insecure.

Congress MLA Ambika Markam indicated that women abuse increased during BJP regime but the government had taken no initiative to check it. “At least, the government should have announced establishment of one Mahila thana in each district to curb women abuse cases,” she said.

The opposition member Padma Ghanshyam Manhar pointed that many farmers incurred huge loss during rains and flood but had not received compensation.

Another opposition member Dr Premsai Singh Tekam said the government constituted nine new districts in haste and hence people were annoyed.

Congress MLA Bhajan Singh Nirankari termed the budget as anti-farmer and said the number of poor remained the same under BJP’s two tenures.

Congress MLA Agni Chandrakar said the provision of free electricity to farmers up to 7500 units for irrigation with 5 HP pump was not enough as in spite of that they would have to pay Rs 3000-4000 power bill every month.

The BSP legislator Dojram Boudh also participated in the debate.