Describing the Budget 2016 passed by the Assembly on Saturday as “a new hope for renewed corruption”, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) said the budget was without any fiscal policy to produce, distribute or control.
In a press release, NPCC president K. Therie said the budget did not show any sign of reformation. He maintained that the supposed ‘welfare government’ did not have any welfare programmes. “Health, farmers, youth employment and price rise are all ignored. There is no policy to control corruption,” Therie said. He further said the budget did not talk about either the welfare of BPL families or the living conditions of the people.
According to NPCC president, the budget reflected that the state would continue to remain stagnant in developmental activities, while roads and created infrastructure would continue to remain as it was. “It is no more than a piece of information,” he added.
NPCC president asserted that passing Rs. 13,645 crore without opposition; “all with a vision of raiding and sharing the spoils of power”, left no hope for the public.
Claiming that 2016 budget would be lost in the name public service “once again” as in the past, he said “one can assume it is only for corruption.” Pointing out that Rs.7734.28 crore were for salaries, pensions, debt servicing and non-salary components (maintenance), NPCC chief said non-salary components would also be used for mandatory expenditures and mostly for unknown and unspecified civil deposits and “deficit adjustments to whoever can pay higher commissions.”
Further, maintaining that the improvement of Rs.1265 crore from last year’s award in the Non-plan was “only a normal increase”, he said there were serious doubts over deficit figures, adding that it has been hovering over Rs.1400 crore for years.
Therie said the party did 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.326 crores during UPA government in 2010.
He alleged that there were also serious doubts with civil deposits which were drawn against work orders that were under progress.
Asserting that drawing in the name of CDs without actual cash availability was a betrayal of trust, Therie said it would affect cash out-go during the Current Financial Year. Also, he said the State Plan was indicated at Rs. 3924.47crores with hardly Rs.580 crores in the divisible pool for all departmental plan activities. This was however an improvement from 405 crore of last year, he said.
NPCC president said the remaining were Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) earmarked programs (Rs.3344.47crs) and claimed that “this small plan fund will be misused in LADF and additional selective payments.” He said achieving CSS would depend on timely release of funds and submission of utilization reports.
Therie further alleged that the state government has failed to bring out a works programme since the beginning of 2013, adding that it was now several years that the offices have been complaining of lack of funds.
Pointing out that 14th Finance Commission has fully covered non-plan, he said there was therefore no question of deficit. “How come there is CD when there is no works program and nothing is happening on the ground?” Therie queried and said 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).
Alleging that the NPF-led BJP-DAN government has completely centralised payments and use of funds, NPCC said “everything happens based on a small chit.”
Drawing a comparison between the policy of Congress and NPF-led BJP DAN, he said while the Congress believed in decentralisation, achievements on the ground and inclusive public growth the latter believed in centralisation, paper achievements and individual growth.