Tame Budget discussion in Assembly

Thiruvananthapuram: The opening day of the three-day general discussion on the revised Budget for the current year on Monday was a tame affair.

Opposition members stuck to the stand that the Budget proposals were utopian while the ruling front members reiterated that the Budget was development and welfare oriented. There was hardly any deeper analysis of the budget or the white paper on State finances.

Deputy Speaker V. Sasi, who initiated the debate, said that the State needed large scale investments to achieve its developmental and welfare goals. Hence, the Budget proposed the package for economic revival.

He recalled that tax collection had dropped by Rs. 23900 crores during the UDF rule. “There is allegation that the revenues did not fall but was brought down.”

The previous government’s financial management was characterised by anarchy. The LDF government’s Budget has proposals for efficient use of resources.

V. D. Satheesan (Congress) said that the white paper on finances was a mask created by the government to justify financial restrictions.  “When governmental resources are lacking, how can loans of the order of Rs. 20000 crore to Rs. 1 lakh crore could be raised?” he asked.

The revised Budget, he added, will end up in serious deficit. The budgets presented by the previous government never had a deficit. The revenue deficit projected in the revised Budget was Rs. 3000 crore higher than the one presented by UDF government for the current year.

The LDF, which accused the previous government of limiting appointments, was now putting a lid on appointments.

C. Divakaran (CPI) said that the Budget presented by Dr. T. M. Thomas Isaac as a red budget that offered relief to the poor.

He said that the Kerala Congress (M) was now alleging a conspiracy behind the ouster of K. M. Mani as Finance Minister of previous government. The people had a right to know who were behind the conspiracy. Those making the allegations should disclose that.

Suresh Kurup (CPI-M) said that the financial policy of the government was clear from the Budget. The government proposes decisive interventions in sectors such health care and agriculture.

He urged that care homes for older persons should be set up in different parts of the State.