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| State's dependence on central funds loses its right to seek autonomy | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 2: The state of Jammu and Kashmir has been reduced to the size of a new born baby suckling last drop of milk from its mother, the Government of India. For every economic ache the state Government knocks the doors of the central Government. For meeting the demand of employees it cries like an infant with the hope that its mother, Government of India, starts feeding it.
It believes in the old adage "Jab Tak Bacha royega nahein Tab tak Maa usey Dood nahein Daitee hein." (unless the baby weeps its mother won't feed it with milk). Government reports indicate that the Government of India provides over 80 per cent financial support to plan and non-plan sector in Jammu and Kashmir. It is one a few states which receives central assistance in the share of 90 per cent grant and 10 per cent loan.
Still the baby seems to be unfed and dissatisfied because its requirements have increased in geometric progression during the last 20 years. The issue that bothers the state Government is its commitment to release the 6th pay commission arrears in favour of the Government employees. This exercise, according to the Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather, requires Rs. 4200 crores.
This way it is well nigh impossible for the state to clear the arrears when its internal resources do not exceed about Rs. 3,000 crores. To its series of communications to the centre for financial help the Government of India has made it clear that since a request similar to the one from Jammu and Kashmir has been received from many other states it cannot resort to any pick and choose because the centre is not in a position to meet the demands of all the states.
Now the state plans to send an All Party delegation to the Prime Minister with the request that as a result of 21-year long militancy related violence, which had ravaged the state's resources and squeezed all avenues for imposing heavy taxes, Jammu and Kashmir deserved a special treatment.
The argument is tenable. When the state has been given special constitutional status within the union of India why should not it be given special treatment by way of releasing additional funds for meeting the genuine demand of the employees. As far as fulfilling the demand of the employees is concerned the state Government has no funds. But when it comes to raising the monthly salaries of legislators and ministers, Chief Minister not excluded, by one hundred per cent the state does not complain of financial stringency.
The state Government has funds for spending lavishly on fuel for Government cars on travel and tours of ministers and bureaucrats, on purchasing new vehicles, furnishings and furniture even in the face of austerity measures the state authorities may do well to generate internal resources for meeting the demands of the employees.
By seeking financial help from the Government of India for construction of hydel power projects, for improving road connectivity and drainage, for saving lakes from pollution and encroachment and even for building toilets at public places the state loses its right to seek restoration of greater autonomy. Let the state achieve financial autonomy greater autonomy will follow it like a shadow.
The state wants the stream of financial assistance from the centre to remain unchoked but it wants to choke the channel of extension of central laws to the state without approval by the state legislature.
Let the state observe austerity measures strictly and raise internal resources by auctioning its mineral wealth, including sapphires and other precious stones and minerals, especially gypsum, Zinc, lignite, sulphur, granite etc. Let the Government enter into collaboration with private firms for generating electricity which could be exported to others states for increasing its revenue
Let a 10-year moratorium be fixed on the salary of all ministers, legislators, Government employees and those working in public sector undertakings. Let this moratorium be introduced after clearing the arrears of 6th pay commission in favour of the Government employees. |
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