Union budgets disappoint Madhya Pradesh

By Ataullah Faizan

Bhopal: March 2, 2011

Both the Union Budget and Railway Budget have grossly neglected Madhya Pradesh and therefore people of Madhya Pradesh find them disappointing. People in general described the Union Budget as completely disappointing, directionless and suffers ad-hocism. They feel said that the Union Budget does not offer solutions to existing problems, especially inflation.

The provision of seven per cent rate of interest on farm loans gives no relief to farmers and the provision of lowering it to four percent for timely repayment is also negligible. People are of the view that the Union Government should lower it to one per cent as done in Madhya Pradesh.

The allocation for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was negligible and would not resolve farmers' problems. Keeping in view multiple problems plaguing the farm sector, the increase is inadequate.

The 17 per cent increase in social security head is insufficient in view of increasing number of the poor. The limit of income tax to Rs 1.80 lakh could have been extended to three lakh considering high inflation.

Besides, there was no special package for the backward and developing states while Madhya Pradesh demanded special package for inclusive development of Vindhya and Mahakoshal regions.

The Budget does not mention adequate provision for Bharat Nirman, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan or Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. States lack sufficient resources for implementing the Right to Education Act. The Budget does not mention anything special about this.

In fact, the 9 per cent growth rate has no meaning until benefits reach out to the common people. No concrete steps have been mentioned to combat the problem of black money. The Budget does not give any hope to the common people, farming community, women and the poor. The increase ambit of service tax will finally cause the financial burden to common people.

Similarly, Union Rail Budget presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday has also been disappointing for Madhya Pradesh the. Justice to Madhya Pradesh has been eluded by ignoring its interests.

Madhya Pradesh is a progressive state that requires expansion of transport infrastructure. But the density of railway lines is low. Districts that are strategically important in terms of faster industrial development remain without railway facilities.
Madhya Pradesh has been drawing attention of the Union Railway Ministry towards the need of expansion of railway facilities in Madhya Pradesh for last five-six years but interests were being ignored.

There were great expectations from this year's Rail Budget, but they have not been fulfilled. Madhya Pradesh is the heart of Incredible India and deserves top priority. What the Union Railway Budget offers is far from satisfaction. Paying special attention to a particular state and ignoring other states brings disgrace to the dignity of Centre-State relations.
Madhya Pradesh had demanded extension of Satna rail line up to Mirzapur, conversion of Jabalpur-Gondia route, construction of Bopal-Ramganj Mandi new rail line, extending Rajkot Express to Rewa, extending Shaktipunj Express to Bhopal, laying of Bhind-Koch track, stoppage of Shatabdi Express at Bina, Indore-Mumbai and Delhi-Mumbai rail facilities and train for Biohari-Katni-Bina via Singrauli and Bhopal-Singrauli train. These demands have been ignored in the Railway Budget.