Budget 2016 is bereft of any fiscal policy to produce: NPCC

EMN DIMAPUR, MARCH 19 Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) has said that the Budget 2016 is bereft of any fiscal policy to produce, distribute or control. In a press statement, NPCC said the Budget does not show any sign of reformation. It said the supposed ‘welfare government’ does have not have any welfare programmes. Health, farmers, youth employment and price rise are all ignored, it stated. There is no policy to control corruption. The Budget does not talk about either the welfare of BPL families or the living conditions of the people, the NPCC added. “The budget reflects that the state will continue to remain stagnant in developmental activities, while roads and created infrastructure will continue to remain as it is. It is no more than a piece of information,” the NPCC note also said. “Passing Rs 13,645crores without opposition; all with a vision of raid in and sharing the spoils of power, leaves no hope for the public. Right or wrong, they will continue to support each other even in corruption. They will not do what is morally right but will grab whatever comes before them shamelessly and selfishly to buy votes,” the NPCC press note said. According to it, the 2016 budget will be lost in the name public service once again as in the past. One can assume it is only for corruption. Because of bogus deficit and hoarding in civil deposit, they are able to pay even 50% or more commission. The Budget is a new hope for renewed corruption, it termed. According to the NPCC, Rs 7734.28crores are for salaries, pensions, debt servicing and non-salary components (maintenance). Non-salary components will also be used for mandatory expenditures and mostly for unknown and unspecified civil deposits and deficit adjustments to whoever can pay higher commissions. The improvement of Rs.1265crs from last year’s award in the Non-plan is only a normal increase, it also said. “There are serious doubts over deficit figures. It has been hovering over Rs.1400crs for years. We do not see enough reason why this should be since the 6th ROP was fully covered by a grant of Rs.712crores of special non-plan assistance with additional plan assistance of Rs.326crores during UPA Govt in 2010 but there has been no developmental work in the state.” “There are also serious doubts with Civil Deposits which are drawn against work orders that are under progress. Drawing in the name of CDs without actual cash availability is a betrayal of trust and will effect cash out-go during the Current Financial Year,” the note also said. It then pointed out that the State Plan is indicated at Rs. 3924.47crores with hardly Rs 580 crores in the divisible pool for all Departmental plan activities, however, this is an improvement from 405crs of last year. The remaining are CSS earmarked programs (Rs.3344.47crs). This small plan fund will be misused in LADF and additional selective payments. Achieving Centrally Sponsored Schemes will depend on timely release of funds and submission of utilization reports, it stated. The NPCC then said that the state government had failed to bring out a works program since the beginning of 2013. “It is now several years that the offices have been complaining of lack of funds. The 14thFinance Commission has fully covered non-plan and therefore there is no question of deficit. How come there is CD when there is no works program and nothing is happening on the ground?,” it asked, adding, “ Pending bills of genuine contractors and suppliers may amount to some few hundred crores but not in terms of over 2000 crores (Deficit + Civil Deposits)”. It then alleged that the NPF led BJP-DAN government has completely centralised payments and use of funds. Everything happened based on a small chit, it also said. “The difference of policy between the Congress and NPF-led BJP DAN are that we believe in decentralisation while they believe in centralisation. We believe in fixing responsibility and accountability while they believe in absolute obedience and exact delivery in their homes. We believe in achievements on the ground while they believe in paper achievements. Congress believes in inclusive public growth while they believe in individual growth,” the NPCC note added.