Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday gave a measured response to the Union price range, hailing a couple of key bulletins but in addition denouncing a number of the declarations made by the Centre.
Patnaik criticised the discount in MGNREGS allocation, stating that the transfer will adversely have an effect on the poor in a pandemic scenario.
“Already, there are serious issues of offtake by the Food Corporation of India, leading to dislocation in paddy procurement. Further, reduction in food subsidy under the National Food Security Act will put farmers in serious trouble. This needs to be reconsidered,” he mentioned.
Patnaik additional mentioned that the price range has failed to handle the difficulty of value rise, which has hit the poor and the center class. “To compound the problem, there is a sharp decline in LPG subsidy. This will affect household economics very badly and women will bear the brunt of LPG price rise,” he added.
“The increasing level of cess and surcharge is shrinking the mandated transfers of share tax due to the states. More than 20 per cent of the Union taxes are proposed to be collected through levy of cess and surcharge, which is against the spirit of co-operative federalism,” the Odisha chief minister mentioned.
He, nevertheless, thanked the federal government for recognising the significance of millets within the Union Budget. Notably, the BJD-led state authorities has already launched the Odisha Millets Mission.
While he welcomed elevated allocation underneath the Jal Jivan Mission and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Patnaik mentioned that Odisha’s calls for pertaining to rural housing have been uncared for. “While the same is considered for other states. I hope the Centre would rectify this injustice being meted out to the poor and the tribal people of Odisha by not sanctioning houses,” he mentioned.
He additionally expressed his dissatisfaction over no particular consideration being given within the price range relating to the frequent pure calamities that batter Odisha.
“Odisha is the only state in the country which is more frequently affected by natural calamities and our repeated demand for special consideration in this regard has not been addressed in the budget,” he mentioned.
Patnaik additional mentioned that the discount in sectoral allocation in crucial sectors like agriculture and farmers’ welfare, larger schooling, rural improvement and ladies & baby improvement, might hamper inclusive development.
Meanwhile, he welcomed the concentrate on expertise and infrastructure led development within the price range. “The proposed technology-led development in health and education will help the country to a large extent in this pandemic situation,” he mentioned.
“The production-linked Initiative schemes in 14 sectors and extension of Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme would be helpful in mitigating supply-side constraints,” Patnaik added.
