Chandigarh :Sanjay Pahwa: Mr Randeep Singh Surjewala, Minister for Industries, P.W.D. (B&R), Science & Technology and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Haryana has issued the following statement to the Press today
“Hailing the Union Budget 2011-12 as truly ‘agriculture sector focussed’, ’pro-ruralite’ and ‘pro-poor’,
This Budget has brought cheers to the agrarian community by its variety of measures. Enhancing credit flow of agriculture to small and marginal farmers from 3,75,000 crore rupees in 2010-11 to 4,75,000 crore rupees in 2011-12 reflects continued commitment of UPA Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi to the cause of agriculture. To reduce interest rate on short term crop loan to 4% per annum (on repayment on time) is, indeed, a historical milestone written by the Congress government. In an out of box solution, Finance Minister has further increased availability of rural credit through NABARD by extending a special sum of 10,000 crore rupees as ‘Short Term Rural Credit Fund’ as also by increasing Union Government’s share in NABARD capital by 3000 crore rupees.
What has come as the biggest shot in arm for enhancing‘agricultural productivity’ is a range of growth of agricultural measures like, (a) giving a 400 crore rupees package for central and eastern regions of India for growth in rice production; (b) giving a 300 crore rupees package to promote growth of pulses in rain-fed areas; (c) giving a 300 crore rupees package for bringing an additional 60,000 hectares of land under palm oil plantation for India’s self sustainability on edible oil; (d) giving a 300 crore rupees package for enhancing vegetable production and launching vegetable initiative around big urban growth centres; (e) giving a 300 crore rupees package for promoting balanced nutrition by promoting production of crops like Bajra, Jwar, Millets etc. in 25,000 villages for 10 lakh millet growing farmers; (f) giving a 300 crore rupees package for launching a ‘National Mission on Milk-Protein Supplements’ by aiming to enhance production of livestock, piggeries and other milk-based inputs and (g) giving a 300 crore rupees package for fodder development programme in 25,000 villages.
In another path-breaking measure to ensure ‘farm to market’,sustainability of agriculture products, Finance Minister has announced setting up of (a) 15 additional mega food parks, (b) augmentation of storage capacity of foodgrains by 170 lakh tons and (c) setting up of seven cold storage projects with 5 lakh metric ton capacity. With a view to provide agriculture storage the status of industry and promote public-private initiative, Finance Minister has recognized setting up of cold chains as an ‘infrastructure sub-sector’ and made it possible for grant of ‘Viability Gap Funding’ (VGF) by Finance Ministry for the first time in history of the country. These are measures which have capacity to change the face of Indian agriculture altogether.
On the indices of ‘social development and inclusive growth’,present Budget is, indeed, among the finest. Decision of Government of India to ensure ‘Direct Cash Transfer’ of subsidy on kerosene etc. to the poor by constituting a committee headed by UID Chairperson, Shri Nandan Nilekani is a laudable move to plug leakages in distribution of subsidies. Enhancing the salary of Anganwari workers and Anganwari helpers by 100% to Rs.3000/- and Rs.1500/- per month respectively will go a long way in not only helping 22 lakh Anganwari workers/helpers have financial independence but will also ensure effective delivery of services through ‘Integrated Child Development Programme’ in 2,50,000 villages across India. Shri Rahul Gandhi’s vision to ensure market linked wages under biggest employment guarantee programme of world i.e. Mahatma Gandhi NAREGA has been achieved by linking wages under Mahatma Gandhi NAREGA to Consumer Price Index. This single step will put a few thousand crore rupees extra directly in the hands of aam aadmi seeing employment under Mahatma Gandhi NAREGA.
Increasing the budget of ‘Education’ by over 24% to 52,057 crore rupees, budget of ‘Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan’ by over 41% to 21,000 crore rupees and budget of ‘Health’ by over 20% to 27,660 crore rupees speaks volumes about the principal commitment of UPA Government headed by its Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh. To reduce the age of pension under Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme from 65 to 60 years and introducing an additional category of those above 80 years of age for being eligible to pension of Rs.500/- per month translates slogan of inclusive growth into a meaningful ground reality. Grant of 58,000 crore rupees under ‘Bharat Nirman Flagship Scheme’(PMGSY, Irrigation schemes) will provide a new boost to rural hinterland. Commitment to extend ‘broadband connectivity’ within three years to 2,50,000 villages across India will help include the remotest of rural areas of the country into knowledge revolution. Creation of ‘Woman Self Help Group Development Fund’ with a corpus of 500 crore rupeess and grant of 18,000 crore rupees to Rural Development Fund will also propel rural India’s growth story. Cause of down-trodden communities has been best served by taking the land mark decision of having a separate Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe sub-plan in budget of every department, so as to place special emphasis on the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Extension of scholarship to 40 lakh Ninth and Tenth Grade Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students is also an important step in this direction. Along with all this, common man has not been left out, in as much as, Income Tax returns filing procedure has been simplified, exemption limit has been increased for general category, senior citizens and very senior citizens and incentives for investment in infrastructure sector bonds has been retained while reducing surcharge on corporates.
While farmers and aam aadmi of Haryana stand to benefit immensely from the 2011-12 Budget, Haryana can take pride of the fact that the four innovative schemes introduced by Shri Bhupinder Singh Hooda led Congress government in Haryana under the guidance of UPA Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi have now been replicated/adopted by Government of India. These are:- (a) reducing interest rate on short term crop loan to farmers to 4%, (b) doubling the emoluments of Anganwari Workers and Anganwari Helpers, (c) reducing age limit for eligibility of old age pension to 60 years and (d) pre-Matric scholarship scheme for Scheduled Castes students, which already exists in Haryana from Class-I to Class-X.
To sum up Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s vision of India emerging as truly a world power in the 21st Century stands strengthened by this Budget, Shri Surjewala said. Smt. Sonia Gandhi’s resolve to unleash the vast untapped potential of rural India – particularly its farmers and youth- is sought to be exploited to the maximum by a number of pro-poor and pro-rural measures. We salute the spirit of Prime Minister, Shri Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee for giving this growth oriented budget.”
