Finance Minister rebuts Congress charges

Tuesday, 26/03/2013

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130326/punjab.htm#2

Chandigarh : Concluding the debate on the Budget, which resulted in passing of Budget estimates of Rs 56,051 crore for 2013-14, Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa today took on former Congress minister Laal Singh, who had presented a 'critique' of the Budget at a mock assembly session.

Claiming that the latter had never read out his own Budget speeches as Finance Minister, he said the loss being attributed to public sector undertakings was misleading. He went on to claim that most of the Rs 64,000 crore debt attributed to PSUs by the former finance Minister was in fact bank guarantees, many of which had been taken by corporations who had "sufficient" income.

Dhindsa indicated that CLP Leader Sunil Jakhar was being forced to adopt a confrontational policy by his MLAs and that he looked "sad and forlorn" because he was a victim of internal Congress politics.

Dhindsa, claiming that Punjab was on the path to fiscal consolidation and had improved on all major fiscal indicators, said the revenue deficit as well as debt accumulated by the state should be seen in larger context. Even in India, growth had receded to 5 per cent of the GSDP and inflation had increased to 10 per cent.

Rebutting Congress claims that debt had increased whenever the Akali-BJP alliance was in power, Dhindsa said that debt due to militancy in the state had been calculated between Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore.This should be struck off.

On expenditure, the minister said a major component went on salaries and pensions and not power subsidy, as was usually made out. He said an attempt was being made to ensure revenue expenditure did not increase by more than 10 per cent every year. He said revenue income was increasing by 17 per cent annually and soon "we will have an extra monetary cushion of Rs 3,200 crore," he said.

Dhindsa said students would get tablets this year, whether or not the Akash tablet was launched. More funds would be earmarked for unemployability allowance, if necessary. Expressing remorse at the backlog in distribution of the Shagun dole to newly weds, he said the same would be cleared in three or four months.

However, the minister failed to explain whether Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) had been given separate funds for research or if the Rs 300 crore allocated to the university would only cover its salary bill, as was being claimed.

Dhindsa said it had been decided to remove VAT on footwear costing less than Rs 750. Earlier this concession was for footwear costing less than Rs 250. He announced that Rs 10 crore would be earmarked for providing sports kits to government schools.

About important Bills passed...

Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund Bill:

This will help create a fund with collections from auction of immovable property by government, semi-govt, Improvement Trusts and Panchayati Raj institutions

The government will allocate approximately Rs 200 crore for implementation

The government proposes to include a per centage of funds raised through infrastructural development projects worth more than Rs 50 crore, including Mandi Boards

The government can also levy surcharge on cess and finances from other contributions as prescribed from time to time

Punjab Educational Institutions (Prohibition and Ragging) Bill:

Every educational institution will have a committee to hear/decide complaints about ragging

On receipt of a complaint, the committee will send a copy to the head of the institution and decide on the issue in 15 days

The head of the institution is to take action within a week of the report

If dissatisfied, a complaint can be filed with an appellate authority comprising the Secretaries, Higher Education, Technical Education and Medical Education

Punjab Lokpal (Amendment) Bill:

Uplokpal will be appointed by the Chief Minister, in consultation with the Lokpal

He will exercise all such powers as exercised by the Lokpal and enjoy autonomy

The Lokpal will now also look into complaints against chairmen and vice-chairman of zila parishads, Mayors, Senior Deputy Mayors and Deputy Mayors

Punjab Contract farming Bill, 2013:

It will provide the framework for regulating contract farming through a legally enforceable agreement between the buyer and farmer

The agreement will be within the parameters of rules and bylaws to be enacted under the Act

The legislation proposes to protect the interests of both the buyer and farmer

Punjab Rent Control Bill:

It paves the way for allowing eviction of tenants through the rent authorities

It will apply to only those properties where agreements have been entered between the landlord and tenants

It will not be applicable to properties let out before the formulation of the law

NRIs can now apply to the authorities for immediate possession of residential/ non-residential premises rented out prior to the Act if required for personal use

Any number of rent authorities can be constituted by the government and that there will be no appeal against an order of any authority