Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik termed the Union Budget 2017-18 as “a mixed bag” that falls “short of expectations” on many counts.
Patnaik, who had earlier backed the Centre’s demonetisation as part of a broader plan to curb black money, said not much has been done to address the adverse impact of the note ban.
Patnaik said, “People at large took the brunt of impact of demonetisation, and I was expecting something spectacular for the common man in the Union Budget.”
“Specific concerns of Odisha, specially relating to development of the KBK region, opening of bank branches in unbanked gram panchayats and meeting the developmental aspirations of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities have not been addressed (in the Budget),” said the CM.
Pointing out that scheme-related transfers to the States have been proposed to increase at a meagre rate of 5.5 per cent over the previous Budget, Patnaik said, “Considering the inflation, in real terms, there is no increase at all. The allocations for schemes relating to rural roads, rural drinking water, education, midday meal programme and urban development are almost stagnant.”
Claiming that there is no increase at all in the allocation for Special Central Assistance to States for the Scheduled Castes’ welfare as well as for social security pensions under the National Social Assistance Programme, Patnaik said the Special Central Assistance and Article 275 grants for the tribal areas are showing a growth of only 6.3 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively.
Patnaik also said initiatives relating to job creation for the youth are an area of serious concern where adequate focus is not given.
He, however, hailed the measures taken for the farm sector, especially in dairy processing and infrastructure development fund to be set up in the Nabard as well as an increased allocation for rural housing.
On the allocations in the railway sector to Odisha, he said the Budget has allocated `5,102 crore against the demand of `5, 870 crore for various railway infrastructure projects in the State, which is a “meagre increase” of 9 per cent over the last year’s allocation.
Patnaik also welcomed the Centre’s decision to commemorate the bicentenary of the Paika Bidroha led by Buxi Jagabandhu.
He also complemented the Union Finance Minister for nation-wide implementation of the maternity benefit scheme, which he claimed to be a replica of Odisha’s MAMTA scheme launched by his Government.
Patnaik also welcomed the initiative to bring transparency in political funding.
While the Congress termed the Budget as anti-poor and disastrous for Odisha, the BJP said the Budget is dedicated to poor, and Odia people would be benefitted a lot.
“The Centre has stopped KBK fund, BGRF, IAP, funding but they have not even give any alternative. Hence, this Budget is disastrous for Odisha.” said senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra.