AAP: Maharashtra budget lacks vision, no focus on growth and job creation

The Aam Aadmi party today felt that the budget lacks a long term vision as well as a well defined roadmap for recovery of the economy. The economic survey report for Maharashtra tabled in the assembly yesterday stated that agricultural growth is projected to be  a dismal - 12.3% and manufacturing is also down to a mere 0.5%. The report also stated that Maharashtra';s public debt has reached a staggering 3,00,477 crores! In the context of this report with both agriculture and industry slowing down AAP had expected the government to come up with a budget that would bring a clear vision towards re-establishing Maharashtra as a pre-eminent state as regards economic growth and industrial output.

We welcome the Maharashtra government';s initiative to curb the deficit to 3,357 crore but it may be recalled that the previous government had predicted a similar amount last year though the actual deficit had ballooned to 13,883 crores: which begs the question as to what the concrete and specific measures are that this government is taking to ensure fiscal discipline.

The AAP was also disappointed that this budget lacked focus on job creation, promoting small and medium enterprise thereby failing the aspirational youth of the state.

The AAP welcomes the lowering of rates for electricity which is something that the AAP government has done in Delhi, acknowledging the high input cost of power and the burden on consumers due to wholesale profiteering by ';Discoms';. We would urge the government to audit discoms and further slash electricity rates just as the AAP government has demonstrated so successfully.

AAP also welcomes the government decision to abolish LBT (local body tax) something which AAP has vociferously been opposed to.

Mobilization of revenue by enhanced premium on additional FSI is interesting but unclear as to its impact on affordable housing in cities. Increase of excise duty on country liquor to 200% is welcome but it is important to understand whether the intention of the government was to merely increase revenue or curtail the consumption of liquor and the results of alcoholism which have wrecked havoc among countless families in the state.AAP pointed out that women and women';s groups at local levels must be involved in this process just as has been ably demonstrated by AAP through its Delhi dialogue in the Delhi government.

 It is also heartening to know that women drawing salary of less than 10,000 INR per month have been exempted from from professional tax and this will go a big way in boosting women';s empowerment, a cause very dear to us at AAP.

The budget also talks about allocation of 2493 crores to the construction of roads with absolutely no mention of ';toll'; and its elimination which was a major electoral promise by this government. There is also no plan on stopping monetary wastage and leakages in the public service delivery system which are completely due to rampant large scale Corruption which has sadly remained a mere unfulfilled electoral promise of this government.

We understand that Maharashtra is in a huge debt burden of over 3.04 lakh crore and an annual interest burden of about 23,000 crores. The Maharashtra government should have been more sensitive to farmers issues keeping other non-important issues on hold and enhanced allocation to irrigation should have been a big priority of the government. But by reducing allocation to irrigation projects from 8215 crores in 2014 to 7272 crores in the present fiscal,shows the gross insensitivity to the farmer issues of Vidarbha, Marathwada and western Maharashtra.

The finance minister has assured to complete a mere 38 out of the total approx 800 irrigation projects under implementation in Maharashtra which will require close to 80,000 crores. There is absolutely zilch mention of how the above goal will be accomplished in light of this budget.

AAP Maharashtra looks forward to the government vigorously and honestly implementing the budgetary proposals in the coming year and assures the government of its complete cooperation in this regard. If not backed by strong government resolve in its execution, good intentions will remain good intentions and its implementation will never see the light of day.

Regards,

AAP Maharashtra Media Committee