Jammu
Several members today took part in General Discussion on Budget 2018-19 in Legislative Assembly and expressed their opinions, suggestions, and concerns on the Budget proposals.
Initiating Monday discussion, legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that many sectors including Agriculture and Horticulture, the core sectors of the state need major impetus by way of reforms to strengthen state economy.
He said the budget should include targeted reforms aimed at the welfare of farming community especially those living in far-flung areas of the state. He also called for provision for reforms in Animal and Sheep Husbandry department to support and encourage people to establish dairy, sheep and poultry units and taking up this field as their profession.
Tarigami appreciated the government for lifting toll on various commodities like vegetables, medicines etc. He remarked that there is no budget provision for artisans of the state in the Budget and requested for action in this regard.
He congratulated the government for the employee welfare measures presented in the budget and called for an enhancement in honorarium in favor of Anganwari Helpers and Anganwari Workers.
Sat Paul Sharma while taking part in the discussion, termed the budget proposals as growth-oriented and said that budget contains development-oriented measures aimed at every section of the society. He hailed the provisions kept in the budget for improvement of rural industries and said that this will help generate employment avenues for educated unemployed youth, especially in rural areas.
He hailed several initiatives including the decision of implementing 7th Pay Commission recommendations, the release of 1 percent DA to the employees.
He asked for provisions for increasing of Afforestation drives, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and others social welfare campaigns in the state. He also asked for further strengthening the Agri and Horticulture reforms.
Ali Mohammad Sagar commented on lack of sufficient consideration in the budget for 2014 flood victims. He also asked for renewed measures to help and support the traders affected due to the implementation of GST in the state so as to help in the recovery of the state economy.
He also called for focused efforts to promote setting up of poultry, sheep units in the state adding that growth of these sectors is essential to reduce state imports.
Yawar Ahmad Mir hailed several budget initiatives including implementation of 7th Pay Commission, employee welfare measures like the mediclaim policy, accidental insurance, increase in DA for the State employees.
He also expressed thanks for budget provisions for setting up of prefabricated huts for police personnel deployed with the VIPs and for regularization of casual labour.
Terming the Budget as people friendly, Yawar said that budget caters to needs of poor and marginalized sections of the society.
He also asked for the special focus of the government towards development and growth of Sopore Mandi.
G M Saroori while taking part in discussion congratulated the Government for the proposal of reduction of Tax on Walnut.
He thanked the Government for medical-claim policy for all employees and other employee-friendly measures.
He appreciated the presented budget provisions for construction of bridges, other infra projects. However, he asserted for creating a provision for construction of Sadna Tunnel and Vyloo-Sinthan Top and demanded adequate fund allocation for the same. He also remarked on lack of internet connectivity in various rural and far-flung areas of the State and demanded for improvement measures in this regard so that aim of enhanced digital connectivity Pan-India is fulfilled.
He also requested for sufficient funds for undertaking developmental works at rural areas in his Constituency, including works for macadamization.
G M Saroori also appreciated the government for regularization of casual labours, other workers and asked for inclusion of Anganwari and Asha workers under the said reform.
Abdul Majeed Paddar termed the budget people-friendly which is aimed at uplifting every section of society. He congratulated the Finance Minister for presenting a successful Budget that delivers on major demands including measures for boosting tourism sector, provisions to provide employment opportunities to unemployed youth besides fulfilling the demands of Government employees and daily rated workers.
He appreciated the government’s proposal to revive the silk factory in Jammu and the special budgetary allocations for development of Horticulture and agriculture sectors in the State.
He urged the government to provide subsidized loans to farmers to support them as well as the state agrarian economy.
Paddar also urged the government to take steps to repair the defunct water supply schemes to ensure drinking water to people residing in all areas in the state, especially the far-flung and rural areas.
Bashir Ahmad Dar said the Finance Minister has presented an encouraging budget made with consideration to demands of people from all walks of life including farmers, industrialists, labours, government employees etc.
He appreciated the steps taken to bring transparency in the functioning of government institutions and urged for a comprehensive mechanism to be devised to eradicate corruption from the state. He also hailed the regularization of causal and other daily rated workers.
Dar asked for special measures for focused development of tourism and health sector assets in the state. He also urged the government for allocation of appropriate funds for 2018-19 in each sector, besides providing adequate funds for development of border areas.
Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar praising the government for regularizing casual labours put forth a demand for regularization SPOs and other unpaid workers.
He asked for government’s focus on boosting the outputs of the livestock industry and exploring its full potential, so as to meet state’s demand as well as creating stock to export the product to other states. He commented on lack of sufficient provisions in the Budget for development and promotion of floriculture sector in the state.
Ishfaq asked for increased allocation under PHE sector for infra up-gradation, besides the increase in the number of water supply schemes in the state. He also asked for upgrading existing power infrastructure in the state and for steps to minimise HT/LT distribution losses.
The legislator also urged for Strengthening Disaster Management System in the state and for creating ready provisions to be ready to deal with any emergency situations in the future.
Javid Hassan Beigh while taking part in the discussion appreciated the Finance Minister for implementing the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission for the state employees.
He also appreciated the government for keeping Horticulture sector as a priority, given that the major segment of the state depends on the sector for their livelihood. He urged for developing a proper mechanism to provide farmers knowledge and access to proper irrigation facilities. He asked for concerted efforts to strengthen the power and tourism sector in the state.
Expressing concerns over reports of encroachments of Auqaf land in the state, he urged the government to take serious note of the matter and take action to retrieve such encroached lands.
He urged the government to take focused steps towards women empowerment and said that seats should be reserved for women in the State Assembly.
Altaf Ahmad Wani pleaded for implementing the decisions taken in the District Development Board (DDB) meetings in letter and spirit. He urged the government to strengthen tourism, the backbone of state’s economy and to ensure judicious use of funds available in the sector, for its promotion and development.
He also demanded regularization of NHM employees and urged the Minister for Health and Minister for Finance to work out on a proposal to accommodate these engaged employees for regularization.
