Lok Satta Party President Jayaprakash Narayan said that the Andhra Pradesh budget ignores many critical points.
The Andhra Pradesh Government, which has budgeted to spend Rs. 352 crores a day or Rs. 15 crores an hour during 2011-12, lacks direction as it has ignored key areas which are crying for attention, commented Lok Satta Party (LSP) President Jayaprakash Narayan on Wednesday.
Addressing media on the state government's budget presented in the Assembly on February 23rd, Dr. Narayan said that the budget failed to touch upon measures to increase farmers' incomes, provide livelihood opportunities to youth, establish a gas grid to accelerate industrialization, improve infrastructure in the capital city, and devolve resources and powers to local governments. The budget envisages a per capita debt of Rs. 20,000 and liquor as the mainstay of the state's revenue.
Party working President DVVS Varma, and leaders Katari Srinivasa Rao and P Ravi Maruth took part in the media meet.
Dr. Narayan pointed out that the government, which raised its revenue from liquor in a mission mode by 54% in the last 2 years, is indulging in hollow promises on eradicating poverty. Although the food grain production this year is expected to be 190 lakh tons compared to 156 lakh tons last year, the government will not allow farmers to market their produce wherever they want. Although the state stands at no. 1 in horticultural production, the government did not allocate adequate funds to promote storage, processing, and marketing in the interest of farmers and consumers.
The former IAS officer said that by spending Rs. 2500 crores a year on imparting skills to 10 lakh youth, the government could have provided them livelihood opportunities. Yet the budget is silent on such a scheme.
Although agitations on regional disparities are rocking the state, the budget does not talk of decentralization of powers. A per-capita allocation of Rs. 1000 to local governments, costing Rs. 8000 crores to the state exchequer, would have helped people address many of their problems.
Dr. Narayan said that although the state capital with a population of more than 1 crore is suffering from drinking water and drainage problems, the government has not focused on them. Instead of taking up the third phase of the Krishna water scheme to quench Hyderabad's thirst, the Government is squandering precious resources on unviable schemes in the name of Jalayagnam.
The LSP chief said that the budget is silent on developing a gas grid to give a fillip to industrialization.
Dr. Narayan congratulated Finance Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy on limiting the deficit to 2.6% of the state's GDP and successfully introducing the budget in the backdrop of the developments in the state in the last few days.
Courtesy: INN