Even though the opposition parties like Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and the Congress found it a big opportunity to criticise the Centre after the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday, State BJP leaders among other hailed it calling it a growth oriented one.
The only good news Jaitley gave to the State was the establishment of an institutions on the pattern of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa in Jharkhand - a must for agriculturally backward State.
Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda, called the budget a ‘Vision for India’, while the Congress termed it as directionless and an eyewash for the common man.
Munda, calling the budget as a strong base for the development, said that the newly elected Modi Government has tried to define its intentions to develop the nation including all economic and social sectors of the country.
According to Munda this budget clearly shows the plan for structural development, sustainable growth and the intention of the Government to add more value to the youth power of the nation.
State BJP president, Ravindra Rai said that this was for the first time after Independence that any Government has given priority to the projects of farming and irrigation. Adequate arrangement was also being done for the stocking of the grains produced by the farmers. Rai also added that the Modi Government for the first time has tried to understand the financial soul of the country.
State Congress on the other hand called the budget as anti-Jharkhand where there was no mention about any special package as promised by the BJP before the general elections. Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Sailesh Sinha said that the BJP which had launched a movement demanding special status for the State, but no steps were taken in this regard. Sinha said, unlike the former UPA Government which had taken various steps for the overall development of the country, present BJP Government has not taken a single step towards the welfare of poor, minorities, SCs and STs.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha also called the budget as purely directionless where despite India primarily being a farming state, there is no action plan for the farmers and farming. According to a press release issued by the party office, it said that Modi government is trying to cheat the common man in easy instalments.
JVM also criticised the budget and said that development or contribution of common man is missing in the budget, rather raising FDI in insurance and security sectors from 26 per cent to 49 per cent raises question mark on the intensions of Modi Government. In a press release issued by the JVM Chief Babulal Marandi, he stated barring an Agricultural Research Institute, there is clear cut negligence of the state. Despite Jharkhand having largest reservoir of coal, it did not get a single power plant out of four mentioned in the budget.
Meanwhile, social activist Poonam Anand calling the budget as completely balanced intended towards the development of the country which has focused on women’s education and security. This budget has also given relief to the home made products which ultimately will give relief to our Kitchen, said Anand. She however, said that the state has been ignored on the education front.
President of Indian Hospital Association Dr RK Rai has also hailed the budget saying that it was for the first time emphasis has been given on regional analysis of disease privilege profile and Drug Analysis labs. More funds have been given for public health, he added. According to Rai Governments emphasis on providing clean water to girls toilets will definitely lower down the cases of anaemia in the Country. Furthermore, increasing FDI in insurance sector will further lower down the EMIs of health insurance benefiting the common man, Rai said.