NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer addressing the House on the concluding day of the 7th Session of the 13th NLA on February 19. (DIPR Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 19
Opposition leader TR Zeliang today termed the Nagaland Budget 2021-2022 as a ‘Contract- oriented budget’ focused only on construction of infrastructures for various government departments.
“The Budget presented by Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of Finance, Neiphiu Rio, is a ‘Construction Budget’ said Zeliang while taking part in the general discussion on the Nagaland budget at the 7th session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) here.
Zeliang said that out of the Budget 2021-22, maximum profit will go to people at the helms of affairs running the present day PDA Government. He continued that there is no intention to bring in welfare-oriented policies and programs for the general public of the State except construction related works.
“The Budget is hollow, bereft of innovation and contains no plans and programme to ease the hardship of the common man during a time when the State economy has been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Zeliang said.
No provision to ease unemployment rate
Unemployment rate is rising rapidly in the State but Budget 2021-22 has no provision to ease the burden faced by the unemployed educated youths, he argued. Unemployment is growing every single day and the State Government has been left as the only agency to provide employment, he said.
Zeliang also said the Minister in-Charge of Finance has made tall promises in his Budget speech but in reality, the State is facing one of the worst times since Statehood.
Stating that there are already over 1,40,000 Government employees which is over 7.1 % of the State total population of 19,80,602 as per 2011 Census, he said “Unless, employment avenues are created for the unemployed youth, Government jobs alone will not be able to solve the ever increasing unemployment rate in the State.”
If sources are to be believed, the state has an excess of over 70,000 Government employees which is consuming 67.3% of the budget every year. Under such a paradigm, if the State Government focuses only on constructing buildings, where will our unemployed youths go?, he questioned.
He said that while the budget speech is overwhelmed with the topic of COVID-19, there is neither mention of the funds received nor the utilization of the same.
“This pandemic has particularly affected the farmers and the business sector, yet there is little mention of the assistance that the government plans to provide to help rehabilitation,” he said.
Zeliang expressed optimism that the prepaid electricity system would be a success if pursued diligently by the government and revenue generation would increase with it gradually. “If the ongoing system, that is the electronic and prepaid system, which are being installed becomes a failure, the government has every right to venture into a different mode, however without the result coming in, to suddenly ponder upon privatization would only mean that there is a scheme to chop off the hands and legs of the power department in the state,” he added.
On the issue of SARFAESI Act, Zeliang requested the chief minister to direct the Chief Secretary to issue a notification to maintain status quo superseding the letter of the Deputy Secretary Law and Justice to the Secretary Finance Department. “This will ease the problem for the young entrepreneurs and other section of the society to seek loan and get assistance from the banks,” he said.
“On the Naga political issue, in order to pursue and expedite, I also request the leader of the house to seek the opinion of his colleagues in treasury bench and decide on the proposal of Opposition bench to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee represented by all the Legislature Parties of this August house including the 2 MPs,” he said.
MLA Dr Chumben Murry said that “if we go through the Union Budget for 2021-2022, we find the Centre has plans to rationalize and bring down centrally sponsored schemes (CSS) in line with the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission. Ultimately, we may have to drastically work upon and improve our own tax and non tax revenue.” He said the government of the day might as well have a relook into the liquor prohibition issue and exploration of our natural resources. “We need to leave our begging bowl and become rational and business minded. We need major economic reforms and not just at certain sectors like power etc,” he added.
‘Most alarming’ of all deficit budgets
MLA Imkong L Imchen, initiating the discussion on general budget said that in all the successive terms, the government had presented deficit budget but not as alarming as this year’s budget. He stated that Naga people have every right to expect better financing, disciplining and management. However, he lamented that the budgetary and financial management were never as per expectations of the people which needs serious introspection.
Imchen said that sectoral allocations are mostly spent on construction activities adding that the department has not proposed any developmental initiatives but on assets and constructions.
He also pitched for Kelhoshe Polytechnic Atoizu to be made a full-fledged Engineering college of the State.
Drawing the attention of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Imchen said that cost of COVID-19 testing is on the higher side and asked the department to clarify on the high cost of the test.
MLA Amenba Yaden appreciated the initiative taken by the government on an innovative model of cluster Agri development called ’Naga integrated settled farming. He requested the Department to properly research and validate in considerable area before applying the same on a mass scale since Nagaland farming holding is entirely different from mainland area.
MLA YM Yollow Konyak called on the government to give equal importance to the development of all districts and not just concentrate on few. MLA Dr Imtiwapang Aier opined that underdeveloped areas of all districts should also be included under Department of Under Developed Areas so that parity is maintained. MLA Moatoshi Longkumer raised concerns on the State’s dependence on import of important commodities from outside the State and the impact of frequent economic blockades imposed by neighbouring States.
MLA Yitachu stressed the need for industrialization in the State so as to improve the economic state and solve the unemployment problem in the State. He also suggested for opening of the State to other regions of the country and even other countries for trading purpose, with special reference to the South East Asian countries in line with the Act East Policy.
Yitachu suggested for proper planning while constructing roads in rural areas so that they do not create problems to the existing National Highways and State Highways. He suggested bringing in investors and promoters in various sectors to improve the economic condition of the State.
MLA Dr Chotisuh Sazo, while appreciating the Government for providing various machineries to the farmers, called for equal distribution of machineries to all the districts and requested better service from the service providers. While pushing for outsourcing of various services, Sazo suggested improvements in the revenue earning departments of the State.
He also queried on the steps taken by the State government with its counterpart in Assam to lift the ban imposed on transit of pigs from Haryana/Punjab to Nagaland via Assam. If the Assam government continues to impose imposed the ban, our Government should take up the matter with the Central Government, he suggested.
IT&C, Science & Technology, NRE, Mmhonlumo Kikon stated that the government has shown the leadership by safeguarding the interest of the citizens during the pandemic. He said that good governance has come back despite facing pandemic and economic challenges.
Toshi Wungtung, Advisor IP&R, SCERT and Village Guards highlighted the success story of the State in many aspects under the leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and how the state has successfully sailed through one of the toughest times during the COVID-19 pandemic. He commended the budget for covering all available avenues that has potential, especially the agri and allied sector. He also acknowledged the austerity measures adopted by the Government and termed the overall budget as “well balanced and promising for the future of our people.”
Delivering the concluding remarks, CM Neiphiu Rio stated that the time has come to curtail Government expenditure and give more importance to revenue generation so that resources are available for development.
NLA passes Rs 22,816.61 crore budget for fiscal 2021-22
The 7th session of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) today passed Rs. 22,816.61 crore budget for the fiscal 2021-22 by voice vote.
This was passed through Nagaland Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2021, which authorized the withdrawal of Rs 22,816,61,43,000 from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Nagaland for the financial year 2021-22.
It was moved by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who also holds finance portfolio on the floor of the House and later passed by voice vote.
The House also passed Nagaland Appropriation (No.1) Bill, 2021 which authorized the withdrawal of Rs. 1,66,13,00,000 from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the state of Nagaland for the financial year 2012-13.
Nagaland Appropriation (No.2 & No 3) Bill, 2021 has also been passed on the floor of the House.
The Nagaland Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2021 authorized the withdrawal of Rs. 38,51,00,000 from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Nagaland for the financial year 2013-14.
The Nagaland Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2021 authorized the withdrawal of Rs 58,26,79,40,000 from and out of the Consolidated fund of the state of Nagaland for financial year 2021-21.
