Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPC) president K Therie has warned that the State’s fiscal deficit would only grow, unless fiscal discipline was maintained.
In a press release, Therie explained that no matter whatever amount was given by 15th Finance Commission (FMC) – may be even a hundred thousand crores of rupees – the fiscal health won’t improve, unless fiscal responsibility was taken by the respective departments to spend within the budget.
He pointed out that while he had presented a surplus budget of Rs18 crore in 2003-04, the deficit today was Rs 1,834 crore, which could be more than Rs 3,000 crore, if the civil deposit deficit too was taken into account.
Therie cautioned that, if rampant backdoor appointments, additional funds in the name of liabilities and false bills as indicated by CAG reports were not controlled, the question of fiscal improvement did not arise.
While rampant loans and investing without returns should be avoided, he said huge escalation in costs could be seen in projects like the multi-disciplinary sports complex at Dimapur, high court complex, chief minister’s residence, Kohima Town Hall, NST station, half-done bridges, etc. He stressed timeframe bar chart to complete such projects.
Meanwhile, Therie claimed to have submitted a joint memorandum along with representatives of other political parties to the visiting 15th FC team on Wednesday seeking implementation of clause 11 of the 16-point Agreement in respect of funding development and administration.
Appreciating the 14th FC for its giant step in increasing tax devolution to the State from 32% to 42%, he said the current budget of Rs 18,305 crore indicated that per capita income was more Rs 92,000.
However, he lamented that State Capital Kohima was graded as the second most unliveable city in the country by the Union housing & urban affairs ministry, adding that perhaps Nagaland was the most unliveable State.
Alleging that the State government had no welfare policy for the people, the NPCC chief said farmers did not receive minimum support price (MSP) for their produce, while citizens did not have healthcare policy.
He alleged that every day about 30 households were rendered poorest of the poor due to medical treatment costs.
In a year, over 10,000 families were reduced to poverty, while over two lakh educated youth were unemployed, he claimed.
“We want funding for targeting resource building, agriculture produce marketing with MSP, employment generation projects, creation of permanent assets, healthcare policy for all citizens, increase in intake capacity of Agriculture University at Medziphema to 600, etc,” he demanded.
However, Therie pointed out that the State had no industry today and government employees in district headquarters had no work. They get salary through ATMs and did not need to go to their district and subdivision postings, he added.
He alleged that government activities were only confined to Kohima, not in the districts, as the system of checks and balances had totally failed. He said false utilisation certificates were being given as per the CAG report, adding that unverifiable projects were paid in full.
The yearly assessment carried out by the Planning Commission (PC) was non-existent with the disbanding of the planning panel and CBI was in doldrums, not even able to carry out court directives. Lokayukta had been deliberately delayed while the State Vigilance Commission had turned into a shield for the corrupt. Central investigating agencies deputed were giving clean chits to those accused of corruption, the NPCC president complained.
He pointed out that there was not even a single investor in the State due to the fear of extortion from 11 NNPG factions. And to make collection of commissions in the name of various factions easier, he alleged that all payments were centralised at Kohima. He said officials were even killed for resisting extortion, adding that there was no citizen that did not pay extortion to the 11 factions.
And having adopted a policy to merely “facilitate and support”, Therie alleged that government of the day had left the public and executive with no option but to compromise and buy peace as there was no protection to life and property.
He said groups negotiating with Government of India (GoI) had ceasefire grounds rules agreed by both the parties, which were above the constitution, adding the State had no longer any control. He said though he had even requested for peace fund, GoI did not pay any heed.
According to him, 21 years of negotiation without solution was unreasonable and reiterated that GoI should provide peace funding component in all projects and salaries.
The NPCC chief claimed that 15th FC chairman SK Singh had expressed concern and recognition of the special situation and assured commission’s support. He is also reported to have explained that the commission was functioning within the constitution and might not be able to overstep while referring to the representation submitted by the political parties.