DK, Udupi response mixed on state budget
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Mar 14, 2015 : Karnataka Budget presented on March 13, by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah received mixed response from aware peole in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. For the people of coastal districts, the State budget has proposed to allow tapping of neera - sweet sap extracted from the inflorescence of coconut palms, setting up of Abbakka Rani Chair in Mangalore University, corpus fund of Rs 2 crore for setting up of Konkani chair, establishment of communicable diseases laboratory in Mangaluru, establishment of Integrated AYUSH Hospital at Mangaluru, provision of permanent shelters for the urban homeless and setting up of ladies and gents hostels in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Hubballi, Kalaburgi, Belagavi etc.. for trainees of Karnataka German Technical Training Institute among others.
The budget has also announced incubation centres which is a good move. Over all, the budget is pro-development.
Terming the budget as "good" catering to the needs of people from all walks of life, Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) president Nigam Vasani said the budget has covered people from all walks of life including border areas. It has announced Rs 100 crore to upgrade the infrastructures in the industrial estates across the State. The prices of some goods have been reduced.
On another note, Nitte Institute of Management Department of Economics, Prof Justice K S Hegde Prof G V Joshi termed the budget a populist budget. With existing schemes, the CM has added a few more schemes. However, budgetary allocation is in adequate. With the meager amount, will the CM fulfill the objectives. No fiscal discipline is maintained in the budget, unlike his previous budgets."
MLA J R Lobo said the budget has not given much to Dakshina Kannada district. "Mangalore City Corporation was not given special grant of Rs 100 crore unlike Mysuru and Hubballi. We had sought budgetary allocations for airport development, feasibility survey for metro train, aquarium, expansion of third phase of fishing harbour in Mangaluru. The announcement of rice and wheat through ration shops for APL families and schemes for the upliftment of SC/ST and backward classes are a good consideration."
Lauding chief minister for announcing corpus fund of Rs 2 crore for setting up Konkani chair, Konkani Sahitya Academy President Roy Castellino said this will contribute to the overall development of Konkani language, literature and people in the long term. Konkani language has a history of several centuries, we do not have documents on it. There is a need to conduct research on the culture, tradition, lifestyle of 41 communities who speak Konkani language. Through the chair, correspondence courses in Konkani language can also come with several other plans.
CPM leader Vasanth Achary said that the CM has spoken of social justice in the budget. However, the budget has no programmes to overcome the problem of unemployment and to check migration of farmers to urban areas in search of employment. CPM had asked the State government to hike honorarium for anganwadi workers. However, the hike announced by the government is microscopic.
One person stated that it is not a common man’s budget. Increasing the petrol, diesel and liquor prices is not a commendable effort. Allowing the tapping of neera is a good move as it will be benefit the coconut farmers of the region.
The state budget had enough to cheer for fishermen - both inland and as well as marine. All Karnataka Fishermen Federation general secretary Vasudeva Boloor said: The proposal for bringing about in blue revolution in inland fisheries by providing short term loan up to Rs 1 lakh at zero percent interest is most welcome. Both fisheries should flourish. He also welcomed increase of 10,000 kilo litres to 1.5 lakh kilo litres diesel provided to fishermen, apart from 3,000 houses for fishermen families under Mathsyashraya scheme.
BJP as an opposition always does. - K Jayaram Shetty, district BJP spokesperson said the budget presented by Siddaramaiah has neglected aspirations of people of coastal Karnataka. It has neglected sea erosion, problems faced by areca nut growers, beedi and agricultural labourers and has also failed to take in to confidence all sections of the society. He said the CM in failing to implement programmes announced in last year’s budget and by announcing new schemes in this budget has failed to make people self-reliant. The one per cent increase in VAT on petrol and diesel will result in price rise. This is a budget that has no concern for the poor man except promising the moon.