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| All budgetary claims based on figures jugglery are illusory | | | Early Times Special Correspondent
Jammu | Jan 17
All the budgets presented in the election year, either by the center or of any state will be populist, aimed at pleasing all sections of the people, with an eye on the next elections. So there is nothing unusual in the budget proposals presented by the Finance Minister Tariq Hameed Qarra in the J&K assembly on January 16, which is claimed to be a zero deficit budget consecutively for last sixth year presented by the coalition government. It is all pleasing budget, prepared manipulatively, playing jugglery of figures as all the populist, particularly the pre election budget are.
But what was unprecedented in the hour long budget speech made by the J&K Finance Minister was the attempt at putting the previous NC government in wrong, by making comparison of lower budgetary allocations during six years rule of the National Conference and highlighting annual spendings as well as earnings by the coalition government during last six years of its rule, which are claimed to be more than two times higher as compared to the spendings and earnings during six years of NC rule in the state. Thus the former Finance Minister in NC government and presently leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Abdul Rahim Rathar was right to call the budget speech of Qarra as a speech delivered at an election rally.
While the budget proposals for 2008—2009 amounting to 18,443 crore propose no new tax and also hold assurance of additional DA to the government employees which will cost the public exchequer additional Rs 200 crore during the year, it makes no mention of employment policy of the government. Nor it speaks of over drafts drawn by the government from the J&K bank, which are reported to be to the tune of Rs 1900 crore.
Highlighting the budgetary fillip during six years of coalition rule which are calculated at Rs 87,000 crore on expenditure during these six years while the earnings are shown to have been raised at Rs 80,000 crore. However how much of these earnings come from central funding and how much of it is generated by the state's own resources is not clear.
It is customary with budget presentation by any government rather than claims made about the progress achieved by any government, to measure the same in terms of money spent during the period so Tariq Hameed Qarra also sought to measure the achievements of coalition government during six years by the amount spent on development projects. But the quantum of money spent on development projects is no real yardstick to assess the development occurred and progress achieved. Higher spending in no way can be the yardstick of the achievements of the government. These spendings also include wasteful expenditure and even leakages. The real yardstick should be the over all progress and development achieved at the ground level and its benefits reaching equally to all classes of the society. The real purpose of planning and budgetary expenditure has to be to ameliorate the lot of the common people and raise their standard of living. The higher spending if not done judiciously, can lead to concentration of money in the hands of few, while the teening millions can continue to be living a substandard life or below poverty line. Improving the life and standard of living of the common man should be the real criteria of progress made and development achieved. Any economic survey and budget proposals as well as the evaluation previous budgeting must be measured from the point of prosperity brought to the common man. In this regard the achievement of the coalition government during last six years has in no way been better than during the six year rule of the previous government. The level of unemployment has been rising year by year, prices of essentials are sky rocketing and the same are becoming beyond the reach of the common man. The power scenario continues to be grim, with prolonged power cuts, causing all the hardships to the consumers as well as placing obstructions in the way of production in the industry as well as agriculture. The water supply position in the urban and sub urban areas has in no way improved during last these six years and the position is in no way better than what it was during the six years rule of the previous government.
Instead of quoting the figures of over all spending or spendings on different heads, to make claim of progress made during ones rule it will be better to quote the figures of new jobs generated and provided to the unemployed, bringing down the cost of living to the common people and housings as well as other necessities ensure to them. |
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