news details |
|
|
| VoA: Govt seeks Rs 9503 Cr for five months | | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, March 3: A day after Model Code of Conduct came into effect with announcement of Lak Sabha elections, barring governments from offering any sops, the Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather presented in the Legislative Assembly a Rs 9503 Crore Vote on Account (VoA) for five months.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and almost all members of the treasury bench were present in the House when Finance Minister read out his VoA speech. However, the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party top brass including Mehbooba Mufti, Mufti Sayeed and Muzaffar Hussain Baig were absent.
The Finance Minister also presented revised estimates for 2008-09 estimated at Rs. 19,077 crore against the budget estimates of Rs. 18,443 crore.
. Rather said that out of the total sum of Rs. 9,503 crore, Rs. 6,153 crore comprise non-plan expenditure; Rs. 2,100 crore state plan expenditure, Rs. 750 crore under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan and Rs. 500 crore as expenditure under Centrally sponsored schemes.
Deliberating on the revised estimates for the current financial year, 2008-08, Mr. Rather said that the total receipts during the current year are estimated at Rs. 19,077 crore against the budget estimates of Rs. 18,443 crore. He said that out of Rs. 19,077 crore, Rs. 15,812 crore has been estimated as revenue receipt while the capital receipts aggregate to Rs. 3,265 crore. On the expenditure side, he said that against the projected expenditure of Rs. 18,443 crore, the revised estimates of expenditure are assessed at Rs. 19,077 crore inclusive of plan expenditure of Rs. 4,500 crore. This includes Rs. 12630 crore on revenue account and Rs. 6,447 as capital account, he added.
Emphasizing on bringing greater element of financial discipline in expending the resources available under Vote on Account dispensation, the Minister said during this interregnum, the Government would continue with the recruitment process and not allow the pace of development to slacken. He said that job and wage earning opportunities would continue to be created and wheels of economic machinery would not be allowed to be derailed. He said that all the activities would entail authorization of expenditure from the Consolidated Fund of the State till the full budget is passed.
Rather said that the Government would ensure that the entrepreneurs, traders, horticulturists, artisans, transporters and other business establishments are not impacted by the global economic meltdown. He assured that Government would take suitable steps to create an investment friendly atmosphere in J&K so that employment opportunities are created for the youth of the State.
Referring to the reports from experts on the slowdown in export-oriented sectors of J&K economy like horticulture and handicrafts, the Finance Minister said that the Government shall take all necessary steps to prevent job losses and the ensure that the employment opportunities for the weavers, artisans and small entrepreneurs are not affected during the crisis times. He said that the special sectoral plans to lend support to cottage, micro, mini and small enterprises engaged in agriculture and allied activities, horticulture, handicraft, handloom, small business and other such sectors would be formulated to give fillip to growth in these vocations and creation of more jobs. Child welfare and special socio-economic package for women would also remain important concern of the Government, he added.
Rather said the Government would come out with innovative schemes for the under privilege sections of the society including STs, SCs, Backward Classes and residents of backward areas as also to tackle regional and sub-regional imbalances wherever they exist. He said that the Government is also aware of the problems of the employees of the State and despite extremely precarious financial health of the State, the Government have committed to implement the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission from July 1, 2009. The arrears from January 1, 2006 will be disbursed as and when the resources become available, he said.
Referring to the assurance made by the Chief Minister in the House yesterday on revising the minimum wages of unskilled daily wages, the Minister said that the decision on this account would be taken in due course. He said that Government has already constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to look into the problems of casual workers, adding that another committee of Advocate General and Administrative Secretaries of Law, Finance, GAD has been set up to look into regularization of ad-hoc, contractual and consolidated employees, which is likely to submit its report by August 2009.
Stating that tourism is vital sector which not only creates job opportunities of the youth but forms the backbone of the State’s economy, the Finance Minister said that special attention would be laid on developing infrastructure in this vital sector. Apart from this, suitable structural and institutional mechanism shall be put in place to mobilize investment from corporate houses purely with a view to throw open attractive job opportunities for the locals in private sector.
Terming Power sector as another area that would be the priority of the present Government in the next six years, he said it would be their endeavor to maximize power production in the State during this period, which will have multiplier-effect on the economy, more particularly, providing boost to employment scenario. He said this sector will open up new employment opportunities for skilled youth particularly, ITI Diploma holders, engineers and other skilled workers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
