Srinagar, Jan 12 (KNO) : Vice President Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mohammad Sartaj Madni has described budget 2018, a “welfare document” providing relief to one and all.
Appreciating the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu for his propeople initiative, Madni said the budget proposal comes as a “good news” to state’s larger majority.
He said the proposals include innovative measures and judicious distribution of resources for all sections of society. There are some historical steps getting relief to labour class, women, youth and employees of the state.
This budget should become a land mark for overall development of the state and its components. He said the glaring past of the budget are the systematic reforms which are bound to bring financial stability and growth to the state.
The proposals for revival of indigenous resources through well managed allocations speaks about the efficiency to utilize the resources for public good.
Madni said state is now free from liabilities, fiscal deficit and unnecessary tax burdens for the first time there is surplus of 1300 crores and no resource gap. Ten thousand crore tax revenue for the year is an achievement.
Madni said it is how that government has been able to take unprecedented measures like regularization of thousands of casual labours, daily rated workers, NYC’s and other Adhoc, Contractual employees, ending uncertainty of about six lac, population.
The hike in wages of working class from Rs-150 to 225, for skilled labour from rs-225 to 350 and above all social security net for construction workers under “Mahafiz Scheme” have ended woes of deprived and marginalized workers hitherto meagrely paid or manual labour.
Madni said employees of all grades are virtual beneficiaries of the budget. The employee-friendly measures include the commitment for recommendations of 7th Pay Commission, the corps of 1200 crores for GP fund, decrease from 28 years to 20 years of eligibility for pension, big relief to 30 lac people under medi-claim insurance policy and pension for unmarried daughters of employees besides innovations for further relief under man power audit and end of stagnation.
PDP vice president said that budget has fully taken of the concerns of businessmen, traders, Houseboat Owners, Taxi drivers, Industrial Unit Holders and other sections who have suffered in unrest and floods of 2014. Chief Minister’s Business interest scheme introduced with 200 crore provision for debit relief or “Power amnesty scheme” providing amnesty from penalty and interest and “waiver” for house boat loans are generous measures that will help these sectors to come out of distress.
Similarly waive off of passenger tax, group insurance for poor and marginalized also get relief extended to more people. Madni said youth of the state will get immensely benefited from the budget with more relief and incentives to come to them, interest subversion of education loans, stamp duty exemptions for self help groups, 5000 scooties for college girls are some of the measures that will provide an incentive to potential youth for career making.
Madni said while the various sections of society have got bigger incentives to promote careers or earn more, various sectors of State’s economy are for the first time deservingly addressed.
Budget provides measures relief to Horticulture sector, Agriculture, Small Scale Industries as programmes like High Density or products like walnut, willow, silk, handloom, Handicraft are promised extensive support for sustenance and growth.
Madni said it is for the first time that any government is taking tangible measures in areas of culture or is addressing concerns of people through an institutional base.
He said providing for a separate finance commission for Panchayats and Local Bodies, separating Law from the Parliamentary affairs , and sparing initial money of 200 crore for Urdu Council speaks imagination and commitment to make the state fully equipped with a viable system that ensures an overall growth.
Madni said that Finance Minister’s promise to eliminate opportunities of corruption reflects the will of Mehbooba led government to bring the state to a promising start for holistic development and assured future for all on equitable and judicious spending of available resources.
He said the budget also reflects the honesty and sincerity of the government to fulfil its promises made to the stake holders of the state. (KNO)