Union Budget presented by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday has received buckets and brickbats here in Jharkhand. Political opponents, at one end, have come up with their versions like budget being short sighted and even without sight. On the other, trade bodies like FJCCI and PHD Chamber of Commerce have supported claims of Chief Minister Raghubar Das and other ministers and BJP leaders of the budget being progressive, pro-poor and pro-industry.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das said that moves announced for women, children, under-privileged and left behind made this Union budget an extremely progressive one. He said that budgetary allocation for AIIMS in Jharkhand was a blessing for the State. Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister Saryu Roy also welcomed Union budget presented on Wednesday saying that the budget carried special provisions for weaker sections of the society as a whole.
However, former Union Minister and Congress Implementation Committee Chairman Subodhkant Sahay and JPCC President Sukhdev Bhagat have found nothing new in this budget. “The budget is a premature baby. This is delusive and deviating. There are no focused provisions for farmers, unemployed youth, minorities and downtrodden. The budget has once again reflected coziness of the government with few corporates,” said Sahay. Echoing similar views, Bhagat said that Finance Minister failed to count sources of revenue generation. “The budget fails to make understand where funds will be generated from.
Numbers are imaginary with no vision,” said Bhagat. He also added that Finance Minister saying during budget speech that the government would make ‘system based decisions’ proved (Congress) party’s argument that demonetization was a ‘system overlooked’ decision.
However, an ally of the State government AJSU which hasn’t hesitate to criticize government at occasions called the budget a balanced one with hope that announced plans would be translated into actions, too. “Party is with the government on the issue of fighting black-money, and reducing cash donation limit to parties to Rs2,000 is a welcome move. Though we expected little more for the State in budget, AIIMS in Jharkhand must get appreciation,” said AJSU Spokesperson Devsharan Bhagat. He also said that the government needed to go an extra mile to make cashless transactions a secure one, too.
Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) has welcomed the budget saying that it would strengthen every section of the society. “No tax for Start-Ups for seven years, no service charge on train ticket booking through IRCTC, change in plan to promote real estate sector, simplification in labour laws and many others are welcome steps. Though the budget misses Jharkhand severly as far as railway services as a whole are concerned, I see the budget futuristic and inclusive,” said FJCCI President Vinay ASgrawal.
Rajyasabha MP Mahesh Poddar called the budget inclusive, aggressive, positive and falling in line with global development. He said that the budget was a milestone in direction of Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas with affirmity of the government for rural development, AIIMS in Jharkhand, steps for timely completion of railway projects, simplification of taxes, and many steps for development of tourism, healthcare, education and Skill Development.
Former BJP President (Jharkhand) Dineshananda Goswami also called the budget supportive for rural population, farmers, youth and women. He said that special focus on infrastructure sector will help the State a lot.