RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 4: State finance minister Rameshwar Oraon today ruled out the apprehension of the opposition legislators of non-utilization of budget amount with the available infrastructure and level of corruption saying ‘Na Bandarbaat karne denge na pare rahne denge isko kharch karenge ‘ .
Oraon, a retired IPS officer turned politician representing Lohardaga assembly constituency having affiliation with Indian National Congress, was replying on behalf of the government after the end of four-hour discussion on budget he had presented in the house on Thursday.
Oraon said the state government is committed to the all round development of the state and has prepared the budget organizing seminars and taking advice of people outside the government including noted economist Jean Dreze unlike conventional method of preparing the budget with the help of clerks of different departments, who generate the file related to budget to present it before the minister via head clerks, under secretaries, joint secretaries, special secretaries and secretaries.
Expressing commitment of the government to work for the all round development of the state, Oraon said it was for the first time the budget size crossed Rs one lakh crore figure which is a matter of pride not only for this government but all the legislators associated with the house.
When Hazaribagh BJP legislator Manish Jaiswal interrupted him saying the minister should explain the mechanism it has developed to improve its performance which remained only 46 percent during the last financial year, the finance minister having his root in Palamu district of Jharkhand in a simple language said much mechanism is not required as the government has to spend.
“We are giving 100 units power free and universal pension to 13 lakh people. We have increased our expenditure,” Oraon said saying no additional mechanism is required to improve performance to spend the budgetary allocations
During the discussion Ajsu legislator Sudesh Mahto had taken a dig on the scheme of distributing one kg dal at Re 1 saying the quantity will help provide hardly 30 gm per day to a person in a house which is as good as preparing a ‘tabiz’. On which the finance minister became emotional saying such remark is not good.
“The previous government had provided Maad Bhat and we have planned for Dal Bhat. Don’t think we have progressed,” Oraon questioned.
Oraon said the government is committed to development and thus it has increased budgetary allocation in capital expenditure from Rs 1500 crore to Rs 2400 crore. He said intention of providing cow to 400000 beneficiaries under Pashudhan Vikas Yojna is to give a sense of richness among the villagers as during old time cows used to be a parameter of richness.
The minister said that keeping the welfare of children warm clothes will be distributed among the children at Anganwadi centres and Rs 136 crore has been provided for providing quality mid day meal.
He also shared the government is intentional to improve science of the students in the state by improving mathematics and science laboratory.
The minister talking about the importance of libraries and government intention to improve its condition, said he had never purchased book and always got it from libraries sharing his memory of his stay as a student in Patna.
Earlier legislators from different parties commented on the budget in the house.
Welcoming the budget Lobin Hembrome asked state government to finalise local policy soon. Legislator C.P.Singh criticized the budget explained how the government failed on all fronts. Poraiyahat legislator Pradeep Yadav welcoming the budget raised the issue of misuse of communal politics saying that the intention of BJP to raise issue of Rupesh Pandey to promote communal politics. Godda MLA Amit Mahto presented an analysis of budget exposing its hollowness. Mahagama legislator Dipika Pandey welcomed the budget and use her opportunity to speak in the house to target prime minister Narendra Modi amid obstruction by former education minister Neera Yadav.
Senior independent legislator Saryu Rai expressed his apprehension taking proper use of fund without putting a check on corruption in the state.
