Friday, March 9, 2012

Omar steers J&K out of tumult waters

Political Advisor to the Chief Minister Devender Singh Rana today said that Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah steered the State out of tumult and turbulent ocean to the safe and secure shore of peace and prosperity adding that PDP in 2008 left its ally in the Government in isolation and State in a situation of uncertainty and disturbance.

"It was the stewardship of Omar and the courageous efforts of National Conference-Congress coalition Government which pulled the State out of the tides and turbulence in which PDP had left it in", he said launching pitched attack on PDP for running from the scene in 2008 when it was required to for the sake of the State and its people.

Mr Rana said that the peaceful year of 2011 attained by the hard efforts of Omar-led Government which laid the strong edifice for sustained growth and development in the State. "The year of 2011 was a year of peace, calm and economic resurgence", he said adding that 13 lakh tourists visited the Valley and one crore pilgrim to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji generating wide ranging economic avenues for the people.

Speaking in favour of the budget during the discussion in the Legislative Council today, Mr Rana described the budget an upto the mark document identifying clear roadmap for holistic development and inclusive economic progress in the State.

"It is all time best financial statement taking care of all aspects and providing relief of some or the other kind to every sector and every citizen", he said describing the budget as a real financial assessment and analysis aimed at addressing ground realities with firm footing.

Mr Rana said that during the PDP regime, the then Government created great hype in media and other circles about the presentation of zero deficit budget which was ultimately proved to be only jugglery of words and based window dressing. He complimented Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather for exhibiting his experience, prudence and intelligence under the visionary leadership of Omar Abdullah for formulating best ever budget under the challenging and difficult circumstances.

Rana said that shirking responsibility and depicting double standards have been the outlook of PDP and its leadership since its inception. The PDP delayed the implementation of Sixth Pay Commission deliberately to facing the financial burden and manage the economic affairs at one hand and pretended to be employee-friendly by raising hollow slogans in their favour.. "It was Omar led NC-Congress Government which rose to the occasion and implemented the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. Not only this, the coalition Government also released the first installment of arrears to the employees despite poor fiscal management inherited to it by the PDP", he said.

Describing Jammu & Kashmir Bank as the Corporate face of Jammu and Kashmir State, Rana said that the J&K Bank is the bank of people of the State and when NC-Congress coalition Government took a reformative initiative to strengthen the base and the functioning of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, the PDP as usual launched politically motivated campaign to create false impression about the Government. He said the reform in fact strengthened the bank as also led to better fiscal management of the State thereby leading to a saving of ` 200 crore in debt interest.

Taking a dig on the poor financial management that prevailed during the tenure of PDP regime, Rana said that Union Government in 2002 sanctioned ` 3900 crores to the J&K State for Power reforms, but the then PDP regime consumed the amount for purchasing additional power to exhibit political gimmickry and astray the people giving impression that it has improved upon the power supply scenario as compared to the previous Government.

"It was only a populace approach at the cost of State and its people by the then PDP government", he said adding that had PDP Government spent only ` 300 crores yearly out of ` 1300 crores it received annually for power reforms on the strengthening of transmission and distribution system the situation at present would have been better. He said had the PDP Government acted as a responsible Government and utilized the money properly the State's T&D losses would have been greatly fallen by today.

Rana said PDP made the State to lose the opportunity to transform the power situation and willfully and willingly caused the State to suffer on this count.

Stating that hollow political sloganeering does not lay foundation for strong economy and economic development, Rana said that the mismanagement of financial affairs and mis-spending of funds, the PDP regime willfully played with the economic health of the State and caused irrecoverable damage to development in all sectors.

Rana complimented the Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather managing the financial matters prudently and said that the visionary financial management in the state during the last three years received appreciation and the 13th Finance Commission award of ` 40557 crore to the State as ` 20880 crores by 12th Finance Commission.

"This 100% jump is because of the prudence, right estimation, proper analysis and articulation by the Finance Minister under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah", Rana said.

Referring to the people-friendly measures incorporated in the budget provisions, Rana said that the concession in VAT and other Taxes has touched every kitchen, every soul and every sector positively. He said the brilliant financial statement presented by Mr Rather has taken due care of growth development in all sectors focusing on agriculture, industry, horticulture and other sectors bearing direct influence on economic growth and development. He said despite constraints there has been increase in the collection of taxes by 30% which is remarkable.

He also complimented the Finance Minister for exceeding the budgetary estimates this year in tax collections and said that it would positively effect on the economy of the State.

Underlining the need for concentrating on agriculture and allied sectors, Rana said that 80% population is directly or indirectly associated with this sector, but it contributes only 19% to the GDP of the State which needed to be focused. He said that hardcore measures are required to bridge this gap and put in place effective field level extension mechanism to implement the concept of 'lab to land'. He emphasized the need for introducing effective measures for transfer of technology from lab to land and its dividends to the farmers. He said that regular and constant rapport between Universities and Agriculture department is need of the hour in this regard. He said Agriculture department could act as conduit in this connection.

Rana highlighting the need of revamping and reviving the PSU sector, underlined its importance in generation of wide ranging economic activities in the State and contributing to the development. He suggested third party monitoring and involvement of expert consultancy in this regard to give tailor made inputs for the revival of these PSUs.

Rana also laid stress on the need for developing a real time data bank of all kinds of assets, works, expenditures, planning, monitoring etc at block, district, department and State level for better planning and monitoring.

Underlining the need for special purpose vehicle for inclusive and holistic development of bad and backward pockets, Rana said that Finance department needs to attend this aspect by earmarking special funds for areas because of their special needs. He referred to the initiative taken by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as Planning Minister for faster upliftment and progress of bad and backward pockets and said that similar initiative can also be put in place by the Finance Department to ensure a special focus on areas.

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