Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari said the Budget failed to address issues such as unemployment, filling up of vacant posts and bringing investments to the state.
“It is a populist budget that has been done in view of the Lok Sabha polls. Amid the fear of losing people’s support, monetary allocations have been increased for welfare schemes. There is no mention of filling up of vacant government posts and addressing unemployment,” said Adhikari during a press conference.
Targeting the state government over the budget, Adhikari said, “There is no clarity on the source of state’s revenue and how funds for such schemes will be arranged as we know how debt-ridden the state government is at present. The state government only provided sops to a section of the society. Even that is not enough. In Assam, women receive Rs 2,500 per month in such schemes and the amount is higher in Madhya Pradesh. Here, the state government as part of the Lakhsmir Bhandar scheme increased the amount for women to Rs 1,000 for general category and Rs 1,200 for SC/ST category. It is an insult to SC/ST community to see a rise of Rs 200 only.”
Meanwhile, CPM state secretary Md Salim also slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government for presenting a dole-driven budget.
“The state government at present has a debt of Rs 7 lakh crore. But the government is unfazed by this and is increasing monetary allocations for welfare schemes. From where will the government get funds for these? Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the budget is all about gimmicks and less about the state’s economy. Under pressure from a section of government employees due to their relentless protest, the state government was forced to increase the Dearness Allowance,” said Salim.
The Congress, too, criticised the state government’s budget. Party leader Ashutosh Chatterjee while speaking with The Indian Express said that its not a people-centric budget.
“This is an election oriented budget. There is no mention of real issues. The state government has tried to hide things and did not address issues such as – protests by Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and State Level Selection Test (SLST) candidates seeking teaching jobs in schools. Moreover, there is no indication on how this will be implemented. Therefore, the budget has been made in view of the Lok Sabha polls,” said Chatterjee.