Lok Sabha Debates
General Discussion On The Budget (General) For The Year 2003-2004. (Not ... on 6 March, 2003
15.06 hrs. Title: General discussion on the Budget (General) for the year 2003-2004. (Not concluded) MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House shall now take up Item No.26, Discussion on the General Budget for the year 2003-2004. Time allotted is ten hours. The first speaker is, Shri Shivraj V. Patil SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL (LATUR): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, to save time and to be precise and to cover as many points as I can, I seek your permission to read my speech. I hope, I have that permission.
The Budget is not just a statement of income and expenditure of the Government. It is an instrument of economic and social engineering and development. If it fails to take into account all in the society, it cannot achieve the objectives which it is expected to fulfil. It should help the needy and the weak. It should encourage economic development. It should help to do distributive justice. It should help to face the challenges of the future and the contingencies that may arise. Will this Budget achieve these objectives?
It talks of alleviating poverty. Nobody can quarrel with this objective. The Congress Party has been working to achieve this objective. It has succeeded in reducing it. If something more is done to reduce it further, it would be welcome.
What this Budget proposes to do to achieve this objective is not enough and satisfactory. It is like counting a few trees and missing the wood. By doing a few such things, the people will not get the relief they need. The most important thing in this respect is the need to enhance the employment potential. To help the people, the theory of trickle down of benefits cannot be useful. It could not be acceptable in America. It cannot be useful in India.
The Government promised to provide employment to one crore persons every year. It has not fulfilled that assurance. It does not have any specific plans and schemes to provide work to the needy. That is most disappointing. Antyodya Anna Yojana will help more needy people in the society. The food stocks available with the Government can be used for this purpose. Shrimati Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President had asked the Government to use the food stocks for this purpose and the Government has responded to it favourably. We appreciate it. But why should the Government stop at this level only? Why cannot it have it for more people? The food stocks are huge. They should be used to help more families.
If the suggestion given by Dr.Swaminathan, that in every district a food bank should be established, is accepted, the poor people and their children would not remain undernourished and unemployed. It would have been better for the Union Government to take some effective steps in this respect. But it has not done that.
The Government could have made the plans to plant trees and achieve good results in afforestation with the help of foodgrains. These schemes could have been more useful in tribal areas, which are least developed and where the poverty stalks the land in a most tragic form.
The Government talks of providing better and more educational and health facilities through the cooperation and partnership with the private sector. These days also this is being done. It should be encouraged and helped. But can the Government forget that these institutions and hospitals are not meant for the poor? They are not meant for the middle class families also. Only the affluent and well to do can afford to make use of them. Should not the Government think of going to the succour of the poor and the middle class citizens of the country by making them affordable? There is nothing in the Budget which can do something in this respect. It is not necessary to comment in detail on all the proposals visible in the Budget used to alleviate penury. It is sufficient to say that what is proposed is most inadequate and not at all sufficient. One gets a feeling that, that is a sugar coating on the bitter pill of the reality of the Budget.
The Budget proposals with respect to the development of farming sector do not indicate that the problems of it are clearly understood by the Government. The rate of growth in agriculture has declined from 5.7 to 3.1. Many States and areas in the country are suffering because of unprecedented drought conditions. This fact should have goaded the Government to do more to help this vital and most important sector on which 70 per cent of the people depend. On this sector, it is not only the farmers but also the labourers in rural areas depend. But, the Government has missed to understand the problems and provide correct solutions.
The agriculture depends upon irrigation facilities available to it. The Budget should have taken a note of this fact and should have provided plans, projects, and funds for this purpose. It talks of drip irrigation. It is good. But it is not going to be sufficient. Drip irrigation should be helped and encouraged, no doubt, but it cannot quench the thirst of agriculture. It is necessary to build big and small dams to line the canals and reach the water to the fields. The river-linking project is good but it is going to take a long time to materialise. Everybody should help it to be completed in as short a time as is possible. It is not going to be wise to starve the agriculture of irrigation facilities for two or more decades by not constructing dams and canals simply because river-linking concept has been floated and would be acted upon. Let the dams and canals be constructed in such a manner that they would form part of the river linking projects.
The credit facilities which are available to agriculture are not at all adequate. If Rs.75,000 crore of credit is given to an activity on which 75 per cent of the people depend, it is not just and wise. The Government has given directions to the banks to provide 18 per cent of the credit to the farming sector. But the banks have not given that kind of credit to the agriculture. Moreover, the Government has not been able to take any effective steps. Agriculture deals with plants which are endowed with life by nature. On its produce, the lives of creatures, cattle and human beings depend. What is produced in agriculture, is going to be constantly and permanently in demand by the people. India has the climate, the land, and the water that are conducive for agriculture. Should we not, therefore, pay more attention and give better credit and other facilities to see that the agriculture prospers?
The fertility of the land should be protected and preserved. Water should be made available and used in frugal manner.
Climatic conditions should be protected and preserved. The Government has to take lead in this matter. The farmers are not rich. They have limited areas of land and resources. If the Government does not take a lead in this respect, it is bound to suffer. Nothing of any pronounced nature in policies for farming for this purpose made by the Government is visible. And that worries those who know how important it is to keep the agriculture in productive and profitable conditions.
The produce from agriculture has limited retentive capacity. It gets damaged and destroyed if it is not turned into finished goods and processed. The agro-based industry can help agriculture. But these industries are in very bad shape and are not modernised, and are getting closed down. The textile, jute, oil, sugar industries are suffering. The Government has not taken steps to establish food-processing industry on a large scale. The private sector is not inclined to establish the processing industry. The result is that agriculture suffers, the farmer suffers and the farm labour suffers and the consumer also suffers.
The huge stocks of foodgrains are produced by farmers not with the help given by the Government only in last four or five years. Let us not forget it. They are produced because of the policies made in the regimes of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Shrimati Indira Gandhi. This fact need not and should not be glossed over to give credit to the present Government. The present Government should take new steps to help the agriculture and agriculturist.
The sugar industry was doing well. Now it is in a very bad shape. It should not be allowed to suffer like the textile and the jute industries. What can be done? The sugar factories should produce ethanol by using not only the molasses, but sugarcane juice also. Half of the sugarcane juice can be and should be used to produce ethanol. The bagasse and other remains of the sugarcane should be used to produce electricity. This approach would strengthen the industry. It would remain viable and profitable at least for fifty years to come.
What is proposed for agriculture is quite dismal and unimaginative. That makes one feel that the Government does not care sufficiently for agriculture, rural development and unemployment. The Government has increased the prices of fertilizers and the diesel. These steps are going to affect the agriculture a great deal. The Government should bring down the prices of fertilizers and the diesel. The Government can think of these methods and other methods also to help the farmer. The farmer and the farm labourers are not as well off as the persons in services, trade or industry are. So, they do deserve the assistance and help of the Government.
The Budget appears to help some industries to some extent. What is done need not be criticised and objected to. But what is done is not sufficient. The small scale industry is put in a disadvantageous position. For new industries nothing substantial has been done. The industry in modern times depends a great deal inter-alia on new technologies and markets. There are no substantial steps taken to develop and produce new technologies. The funds provided for these purposes are not enough. They too are expected to be used the development of designs and quality control. This kind of development of technology cannot help. New basic technologies should be developed and used for which purpose a substantial investment and funds are needed. The Budget does not talk about such research and development activities. Ultimately this negligence would affect the industrial growth and development. India would always remain a follower and would not become a leader in industrial and service sectors if it solely relies on imported technologies and does not develop its own technologies. We do not want to suggest that the wheel should in reinvented. We suggest that in the areas at horizon, other countries would not help India with latest technologies and so India should try to stand on its own in the new areas and fields.
India does have some advantages in some areas. In electronics, in genetics, in ocean, in solar energy, etc., it has certain advantages which are not enjoyed by other countries. Why should India not make use of them and help itself and other countries in return for help it may receive from them? Nations and economies are not built on small and trifling ideas. They can be built on vision and a sense of adventure in unknown areas of knowledge. What the Government proposes to do for the industry is limited to give some tax concessions. Give the tax concession, if necessary. But that is not sufficient. It should spend to establish new capabilities and to develop new methods of management and technologies. This kind of positive approach is not visible in the Budget and it is likely to affect industry and services in the country.
SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY (CALCUTTA NORTH WEST): Is it an alternative Budget from the Opposition benches?
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA (CANARA): Listen to it, you may learn something.
SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL : Well, this is called positive approach. We are not only criticising; we are giving suggestions also.
SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY : I am learning. In Parliament, nobody reads so many pages after pages. I just want to know whether it is permissible. I can bring mine tomorrow.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: In order to save the time of the House, if you also want to do so, I will give you permission.
SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY : That means anybody can come with it.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Yes, if it saves the time of the House particularly.
SHRI SUDIP BANDYOPADHYAY : I am not opposing it; I am only appreciating.
SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL : For infrastructure a lot need be done. The private sector’s cooperation and partnership should not be shunned and should be obtained and used. But in India, that would not be very significant. The Government has to play a major role in building the infrastructure. If reliance is placed beyond a reasonable limit on the initiatives and efforts of non-Governmental sector in building the needed kind of infrastructure, the time would be wasted, and the country would lag behind other countries in many respects. Private sector in other countries is quite strong and versatile. Indian private sector also can become very strong and versatile. Steps for this purpose should be taken, and it should be treated as a part of the national sector. But unrealistic reliance on it, in the circumstances in which it is found would not be very helpful. The results obtained in communication sector would not be available in power, road building, or river grid projects, through private sector. The advancement in communication is more because of new technology and cellular phones, than anything else. This should be understood and remembered.
There are no plans to produce more power by using the present methods and technologies or by using new methods. The plant load factor in many power plants is not as it should be. There are no steps suggested to generate power on a large scale by using nuclear, solar, hydrogen technologies or other methods. The results that would be obtained through this route may be revolutionary. True, it would need huge amounts of money, and quite substantial time to fructify. If it would not be started now, it would take more time and more funds to be able to make use of them.
At present we do have the technologies to use this route to generate power. The technologies should be sophisticated and economies of scale should be developed to make them cost effective and economically feasible and viable. The Governments of years gone by and the leaders have sown the seeds in these areas. The present Government should continue its efforts to develop these capabilities further.
The project, which is meant to build golden quadrilateral road network, and projects which are meant to link the rivers, are good. The concepts on which they are based were known and were tried to be used in the past.
They appear to be moving towards the goal set for them. They should be encouraged; funds should be found for them; and cooperation from all sides should be extended for these projects. Let us see how they develop and how the Governments handle them.
Knowledge is one of the most important ingredients of infrastructure needed for visionary, all-round development of the country. It is unlimited. It is available for those who pine for it and work for it.
The Budget speaks about literacy, education, and primary and secondary education as well as tertiary education to some extent. But it does not speak about the policies and plans for discovery of new knowledge and science. Knowledge would be the most expensive commodity in the world. Those who would have it would lead the humanity. Is there anything substantial and specific mentioned in the Budget about it? We did not find anything specifically mentioned about it. It is dealt with in a routine manner. What would be produced out of this casual attitude would be very insignificant and uninspiring. The most advanced countries are devoting a lot of funds, energy, time and manpower in discovering new knowledge. India has a huge human resource which can be very useful to generate knowledge. If we use this innate strength of ours, we can produce results which would be useful to us and others in the world in a most spectacular manner. If we use what we have, we would be strong and competitive. If we do what others are doing we would seldom be equal to them.
The Budget does not speak, in clear terms, about the problems which have occurred out of the drought conditions, and the scarcity of water for drinking and other purposes in the country. The people may have food to eat. But if they do not have water to drink or irrigate their farms, or for industrial purposes, they would suffer. Time has come when in a comprehensive manner, these problems should be considered and solutions to overcome them should be found The problems are not insurmountable. They can be tackled in a very successful manner by adopting short-term, medium-term and long–term plans. It would be very wrong to neglect them. The State Governments have a duty to tackle them. But they should be helped with funds, with plans, with technologies and new ideas. The Government of India would be failing in its duty if it does not take effective steps to overcome them. Time has come when these problems can hardly be delayed or neglected.
Indian soil is not covered with forests as it should be. Science suggests that 35 per cent of it should be covered with greenery. The trees recharge the ground water reservoirs. They fertilise the land. They attract clouds, and help to see that rains, flood the rivers and reservoirs. The Government of India and the State Governments should take effective measures to protect, preserve and enlarge the forests. There is some misunderstanding in the minds of State Governments and citizens also, which does not help to protect and preserve the forests. That misunderstanding should be removed and the forests should be treated as a very rich resource of wealth.
Population in India is increasing. Nobody talks about controlling it and about taking effective steps to see that it does not become unbearable to the land and the country. Those who criticised the efforts done to control it, are in power today. They do not want to speak about the population control because they had criticised it in the past. Those who had tried to control it, do not also speak about the problem because they think that again they can be unreasonably criticised for doing it. This "Teri be chup, Meri be chup", is not going to help. The Budget should highlight the issue and provide necessary infrastructure funds to achieve the objective.
The GDP is on the decline. It has come down to 4.4 per cent from 5.6 per cent. The production from farm sector has decelerated and has come down to 3.1 per cent from 5.7 per cent. The targets fixed in the Ninth Five Year Plan are not attained. The targets fixed in the Budget and in the Annual Plans remain unachieved. The condition of the financial institutions is very bad. Almost all financial institutions are losing their capability to provide credit facilities for industrial development and big projects. The banks are in a very bad shape. The real non-performing assets have reached the level of nearly one and a half lakh crores. The employment promised to the young ones and the unemployed has not been forthcoming. The foreign exchange reserves have gone up to 75 billion dollars. But these reserves are not put to any use and are creating the burden on the exchequer and the economy because those who have brought them in the country and deposited them in the banks and other institutions have to be given interest. This is one of the reasons why the debt burden and the interest burden have increased. The Governments have been borrowing funds from the markets with heavy interests.
Many projects of the Government are suffering from cost and time overruns and increasing the burden on the exchequer, and delaying the returns, which could have come from them. The targets to collect the revenue and taxes are not met. The funds given to the Ministries are not used. No new methods of economising are found out. Only down sizing the Government is taken as feasible to economise. The Government could have planned properly, could have implemented the plans meticulously, could have used new methods of administration, and management, could have used new technologies, could have discovered new areas of economic activities, could have enthused and inspired the workers and the people to produce more, and produce more efficiently.
The governance has been inapt and inefficient, uninspiring and unimaginative, devoid of plans, and visions. It has adopted the old theory of the Government having no business to do business, which the hon. Finance Minister mentioned in his speech. The Government need not in all cases be in the business or trade. It need be in the trade also to do distributive justice. It need be in industry and specifically in new areas of industrial activities, in which non-Governmental agencies are unwilling, or unready or unable to enter. It need to help in social sector, which would not be helped by non-Governmental agencies. It did not talk of any vision or long-term planning. The Union Government is required to have perspective plans and visions, and function for the future of the country. The deficit, revenue and fiscal deficit is escalating. It has gone up to nearly Rs.150,000 crore. The present Budget does not explain clearly as to how it could reduced it. It mentions some proposals to reduce it. But, as things stand and as the governance is done, it is not convincing that it would be reduced. Let us see what happens when the next Budget is presented in this respect. The budgets which were treated as dream budgets or, budgets which were given ten marks out of ten, could not reduce the deficit, could not increase the production, could not make the country competitive, and could not make the people happy.
This year, the Government talks about some vision, Vision 2020. It is good. It should be explained as to what that vision represents; as to how comprehensive it is and as to what areas it covers. Is it limited only to Science and Technology or is it extended to matters political, economic, social, cultural, international and futuristic? If it is limited it would not help. If it is holistic and comprehensive it would help. It should explain what it means for the economy of the country. Does that mean helping the weakest, the poorest and the middle class men and women? Or does that mean helping those only who need very little help? Does it mean helping the country to be strong, competitive and helpful to other countries? The vague ideas would not help. Amorphous approach would not produce concrete results. It is the absence of holistic vision, that is at the root of sluggish movement towards prosperity and happiness of the people.
No nation can be built and can become strong without ideological and visionary moorings. The rulers of the initial decades of Indian freedom had vision and long term perspective. So, they could build institutions, and lay the foundations of economic development and social harmony, the unity of the country and democratic institutions. The pragmatic approach should not be allowed to degenerate into opportunistic methods of doing things.
The Government talks of economic reforms. But its reforms are restricted only to disinvestment and downsizing the Government. If necessary, these steps should be taken. However, while doing that, it should see that human beings are not treated as machines which can be discarded without any qualms of conscience. The reforms should have a human face and help the people and the country.
Reforms should reach political institutions. New technologies should be procured, developed and used. New areas of production should be discovered and used. Machinery to do economic, social and cultural justice should be built and used. The people should be enthused and inspired to put in hard labour and efforts of all kinds and to be competitive. The limited concept of reforms may not suffice. They are not going to be real reforms and useful. They would decelerate the progress rather than push it ahead towards the goal of prosperity.
These limited reforms cannot help the people at large. They would not convince and inspire anybody who is of just and equitable nature.
We know the task of the Finance Minister is quite onerous. He needs help of his colleagues and officers in all Ministries and the cooperation of many others. The Opposition parties would extend a hand of cooperation in all just things he wants to do. However, they are bound to resort to their right to criticise his wrong policies and wrong steps. They would mince no words to tell him frankly and criticise him, with no malice towards anybody, as to what is good or what is not good for the people, and the country and their future and the mistakes and defaults committed by him, his Ministry and the Government.
The Budget is sugar coated. It is vague and unhelpful to consolidate fiscal position of the country. It is not kind enough for those who are not strong and vocal. It speaks of good intentions. However, it is not convincing that these intentions would be put into practice. It appears that it is deceiving itself and the people. It is more worried about reducing or increasing the taxes. But it is less keen to emphasise on using the funds and collecting the revenue and taxes. That is why, funds provided for the defence activities remain unspent. An amount of Rs. 9,000 crore has remained unspent by the Defence Ministry. The Defence Ministry wants the allocation to become non-lapsable. That means, the Ministry need not be alert and use the funds that are given to it in time. This is nothing but inexcusable ineptness, which cannot be appreciated. There are other Ministries also which have not used funds allocated to them. This should not be continued.
Will the Finance Minister reply to the points made by us to dispel our doubts and doubts of the people on the efficacy of the Budget proposals? This, I say because many of the points raised by the Members, in most of the debates remain unanswered. Let this be not done this time too.
Sir, I have done.
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR (MANGALORE): Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, the Budget is a document showing the direction of growth on the basis of the current health of our economy.
Sir, on the presentation of the Budget, some people expressed optimism, some others said, they are pessimistic, but in all humility, I would submit that let us be realistic. In the backdrop of the hardships which we have faced like the worst drought in the last 15 to 20 years, warlike situation along the borders for a long time and worsening economic situation in the entire globe, the Finance Minister has ventured to produce and present a Budget that would galvanise economic growth, eradicate poverty, generate more and more employment in the country and also provide happiness and satisfaction to the common man.
Let me take the liberty of patting the back of my senior leader, hon. Minister of Finance, for presenting such a pro-poor, popular and growth-oriented Budget the other day.
The Budget is knitted in such a fashion that my friends from across are unable to find a hole in it. I welcome their support. … (Interruptions) Hon. Shri Shivraj Patil has generally been supportive of the measures initiated in the Budget. Everybody is silent. I thank for that.
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : Who said, we are supportive?… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI (RAIGANJ): There is a misunderstanding. … (Interruptions)
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR: I only thank you.
SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL : You did not hear what I had said. … (Interruptions) We are silent because we are disciplined.
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : Thank you very much for that. I was only thankful to my friends from across for the positive suggestions they had made. That would enable the entire country to improve the economic situation.
The hon. Minister of Finance has ventured to hand out concessions – concessions varying from the excise duty on a variety of goods to five percentage reduction across the board so far as the customs duty is concerned. Even in the matter of personal taxation, that is, Income tax, he has given greater relief to all the sections of the society. All - the poor people and those belonging to the salaried class - are happy. … (Interruptions)
My friends would better understand the provisions contained in this Budget if they make a critical analysis. Unless they read it and experience it, probably, it would be very difficult for one to understand. This Budget has not only provided these concessions but it has also shown us the way by making enormous investments in the field of infrastructure. A whopping sum of Rs. 40,000 crore is to be invested for construction of 48 new roads in the country. Then, there will be another amount of Rs. 20,000 crore for other infrastructure sectors. That would generate employment as envisaged. It is also being propagated by the hon. Prime Minister. This Government has no doubt held out a promise in the last year that it would provide new employment opportunities to the tune of one crore every year. The other day, we heard the hon. Prime Minister on the floor of this House. He was able to establish through facts and figures that more than 70 lakh new employment opportunities were created during the last year. I am sure that with the provisions that have been made in the current year’s Budget, we would exceed the target of creating new employment opportunities for more than one crore of people during this year.
Sir, not only that, the existing employment also has got a new impetus on account of the concessions that are given, especially as we all know the one sector, which would provide large employment in this country, next to agricultural sector is the textile sector. Hon. Finance Minister has come out with a new package of taxation proposals for the textile sector knowing full well that by March next year the multi-fibre agreement will come to an end and the textile sector will have to face new challenges globally. To strengthen the textile sector, side by side, creating more and more employment opportunities domestically, we want the textile sector to stand up on its legs, compete in the global market and come out successful.
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : By importing Chinese silk indiscriminately and bringing it through every channel! MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please do not interrupt like that.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : Sir, Madam is fully aware that even after best of our efforts, we are not able to produce sufficient quantity of quality silk in our country. There is a great demand for silk and we are unable to increase our production to the tune of our demand.
SHRI SHIVRAJ V. PATIL : Would he yield for a minute?
The Economic Survey, which is prepared and submitted by the Government to the House shows that in 1998 that the jobs created were 281 lakhs; in 2001 it has come down to 277 lakhs; in 1999 it was 281 lakhs; and in 2002, it was 279 lakhs. This shows that the number of jobs created is not increasing, it is shrinking. This information given by the Government in the Economic Survey of India shows these figures. In view of this fact how can he say that they are creating more jobs?
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : It was not supplied to the Prime Minister… (Interruptions)
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : Sir, that is why, I was referring to the marked deviation that is made in the provisions contained in the Budget. Can we not say that by making a whopping investment of Rs.60,000 crore in the infrastructural sector alone for the construction of new roads, for providing other infrastructural facilities, like sea-ports, airports, etc. we are creating new employment opportunities? Probably one would say that there is ample opportunity for creating new employment. I am also trying to place on record that on account of the concessions given in the textile sector, I am pretty sure that the employment opportunity in that sector will go up.
The other sector, which will make the biggest contribution to our economy is the gems and jewellery section. For that also, at least, Shrimati Alva should be happy that the customs duty on import of gold has been decreased.
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : He should talk about poor women and not the Rajas and Ranis, who are going to wear this jewellery.
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : I am talking about her only… (Interruptions) Though these days, there is no opportunity for anybody to become Raja or Rani, we would wish the same status for Shrimati Alva. I do not have any grudge there.
Sir, by granting concessions in the customs, import duty on gold and other gems as well as diamonds, the number of employment opportunities in this country would get a new boost. Sir, 90 per cent of the diamond used in the world is being cut and polished in this country. One should visit Surat and Ahmedabad.
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : Do you know in Gujarat the diamond-cutting industry suffered a one million loss during the riot? Do you know it?
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER: No running commentary, Shrimati Alva.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I do not know why Karnataka people are heckling you.
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : He was doing such a good job and they removed him.
… (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Now, please let us hear him.
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : In my own humble way, I was trying to present before the House how the new initiatives are taken by the hon. Finance Minister in assuring creation of new employment opportunities in this country. Sir, so far as the steps initiated for the eradication of poverty is concerned, hon. Shri Shivraj Patil has already welcomed it. The number of people covered by the "Antyodaya Ann Yojana" has increased from 1 crore families to 1.5 crore families.
Then, Sir, the life time concern of our citizens covering health, housing, education and also employment is taken care of. This is the first Budget which has, on the one hand, given so many concessions and no new taxes are imposed, still we find a way for growth. This is the biggest achievement of this Government. It is growth oriented.
Sir, I would like to say that the biggest achievement of this Government is in making the State Governments agree for introduction of the Value-Added Tax system. By introduction of the Value Added Tax system, the entire tax regime in the States will become easy. In one go the barricades that are existing will go away, they will vanish. I would say this is the biggest achievement, . That is why, I would like to congratulate the hon. Finance Minister, hon. Prime Minister of India for taking such a bold initiative. It will go a long way in bringing in reforms so far as the taxation is concerned. Sir, it will make the life of the common man easy. The consumers will be benefited in getting quality goods at a reasonable price, so also, the revenue will go up. Every single value addition made in terms of physical value addition or in terms of price of the goods will be tapped. One who would keep proper accounts will also get the benefit of the tax suffered at the earlier point. So that being the situation, the hon. Finance Minister has tried his best in taking the step further so far as the reforming of the taxation is concerned.
Sir, we all know that knowledge is wealth, very well and this Government has come out with a new scheme so far as literacy is concerned. The new scheme of continuing education and compulsory education for all the youngsters between the age of six and fifteen is made a reality by making a provision of around Rs.10,000 crore for the primary, the secondary, the higher-secondary education, and also for the welfare of the women and the children. Sir, no other Budget has made such a greater allocation for the education and also welfare of the women and children.
So far as the health sector is concerned, a new innovate scheme is being implemented. You just pay one rupee if you are a single person per day; if you are a part of the family consisting of five persons, you pay Rs. 1.50 per day; if the number of members in your family is more than five, then you pay Rs. 2 per day, and Rs. 30,000 worth your expenditure at the end of the year will be taken care of by the Insurance Company. You will get Rs. 25,000 in lump sum in case of accidental death. Such an innovative scheme, such a social measure has never been proposed by any of the earlier Governments. This should be at least welcomed. … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE (THANE): They are keeping silent. That means, they are welcoming it. … (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : When we interrupt him, you say, ‘do not disturb him.’ When we do not interrupt him, you say, ‘we are supporting him.’ … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : We are supporting him and you are opposing him. … (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : You are provoking us to oppose him. … (Interruptions)
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : Sir, the hon. Member, Shri Shivraj V. Patil has expressed concern that there is a fall in GDP and it has come down to 4.4 per cent. I would say that the hon. Finance Minister has made a very moderate estimate of the GDP growth of 4.4 per cent. At least I am convinced, and I am sure that by the end of the financial year, that is when we reach March 31st and when the real GDP figure will be published somewhere in May, June, we will reach the mark of 5 per cent growth. You take it from me. … (Interruptions)
SHRIMATI MARGARET ALVA : The Prime Minister himself has agreed that it would not go beyond 4.4 per cent. … (Interruptions)
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : I am sure about it when I make this statement.
There is continuous growth in the industrial sector and it has already crossed 15 per cent. It will reach 20 per cent. Everyday there is continuous growth in the industrial sector and that will enhance the growth of the GDP. I am sure that we will reach five per cent or we may even cross that five per cent mark. … (Interruptions)
SHRI PRIYA RANJAN DASMUNSI : It will go beyond six per cent, do not worry! … (Interruptions)
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : I do not make such a tall claim. As I have said in the beginning, let us be realistic, let us not be optimistic or pessimistic. I am only trying to put across the real figures. We will be in a position to reach the five per cent growth of GDP.
So far as the growth of industry is concerned, it has already been mentioned in the budgetary documents. I do not want to take much time of the House.
There is another major step, which has been initiated by this Government. This Government has taken care not only the economic health of the Government of India but also bothered equally about the health of the economy of every State. For the first time, an offer is made by the hon. Finance Minister for swapping of the high cost debts by the State Government. I am sure every State Government will take advantage of this offer, and the State Governments that are ruled by my friends sitting across will take the lead first in taking advantage of this offer made by the hon. Finance Minister. It such an innovative provision, such an offer that you pay off your debts which are of high costs, and you make fresh borrowings wherein you will be getting the loan at a much cheaper rate, and thereby, the economic health of every State is going to improve. That will also contribute to the growth of the GDP. I am sure that we will be definitely reaching the target of 5.1 per cent or 5.2 per cent, which the Finance Minister has suggested. We may reach the figure of 5.6 per cent or 5.7 per cent. This year itself, I am sure that we will cross five per cent. This is an innovative step for which we must give a loud applause to the hon. Finance Minister. … (Interruptions)
16.00 hrs. श्री प्रियरंजन दासमुंशी : क्या ताली बजाने के लिए आपके लोग नहीं आए?
श्री वी.धनञ्जय कुमार : आप लीड कीजिए। आप पहले ताली बजाएं फिर सब बजाएंगे।
I am not going into the details of the provisions made. The economic indicators are also relevant when we support the measures that are provided in this Budget. The economic indicators are also important. The sectoral growth will also have to be taken into account. Now, so far as agriculture and other allied sectors are concerned, the hon. Finance Minister has frankly admitted that on account of severe drought conditions, the contribution from the agricultural sector could not reach the target. That is why we have been a little bit behind the target, but on account of the growth in the industrial sector, we are sure that we will be in a position to make it up.
Then, so far as the contribution made on account of the infrastructural development is concerned, that is enormous. Personally one could experience it today; one could see it; and one could travel on such beautiful roads that are laid across the country. We have not made any differentiation between the States, which are ruled by the BJP and the other partners of the NDA. We have laid the roads across the country, from North to South. The entire Golden Quadrilateral project is getting completed ahead of schedule. Also, side by side, in every village we have been able to lay new roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana. No other Government has come out with such a wonderful proposal. Every year, Rs.2,500 crore is provided. For the last three years, I have been the beneficiary. In my constituency, I am able to construct roads in every village. I am sure that all my fellow Members have taken the best advantage of this innovative programme. This has galvanised the infrastructural development in this country. We provide transport facility and we provide other kind of infrastructural support so that the entire economy will grow and it will create new employment opportunities.
Now, so far as the services are concerned, I am sure everybody would agree with this point. I am the fourth-timer in this House. I came for the first time in the year 1991. Those days we were all given the authority to give or sanction telephone connections to 25 persons out of turn in a year. Then, came the authority of giving gas connections. In the beginning, it was just 12 per quarter. We were getting 12 coupons for three months. Those days are gone. Today, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is providing us with 100 coupons a year. Nobody is taking those coupons because there is no demand in the constituency. Nobody is asking for that. Nobody is asking for telephone connections. You just have to go to the Telecom Department, file the application and you get the connection by evening.
श्री प्रभुनाथ सिंह (महाराजगंज, बिहार) : बिहार में कनैक्शन नहीं मिलते हैं।
श्री वी.धनञ्जय कुमार : बिहार की बात छोड़िए। वह रघुवंश बाबू करेंगे।Bihar is an exception. … (Interruptions) So, what I am trying to bring to the notice of all the hon. Members is that the life for the common man has become easy. There is no queue for cooking gas. There is no queue for telephone connection. Life has become easy for the common man.… (Interruptions) Sir, 20 lakh new houses are constructed every year since the last four years. हमने नाम बदलने की कोशिश नहीं की है। हम इन्दिरा विकास योजना के नाम से ही उसे चला रहे हैं।Under the Indira Awas Yojana, 20 lakh houses are being built every year in the rural parts of the country providing shelter to the common man.
All this has made the life of the common man easy. राशन की दुकान के बाहर जो लाइन हमें दिखती थी, वह कम होती जा रही है। Nobody is interested in standing in queues for ration. Is this not an achievement by the Government?
The Government has been able to contain inflation. The rate of inflation is much under control; it is falling day by day. On the other hand, our foreign exchange reserves are swelling. I believe, today, the foreign exchange reserves would be $ 80 billion. On the one hand, the foreign exchange reserves are swelling and on the other hand the inflation rate is under check. So, the common man is happy.
We hope that this Budget would definitely achieve the target set before us and would create an atmosphere whereby we would be in a position to repay the loans well before schedule. We have started that already. We have already liquidated some of the debts ahead of schedule. This has never happened in the past, during the first 52 years since we attained Independence. For the first time, the Government of India has been able to liquidate some of the debts in advance and this is a happy situation.
Everybody would know that worldwide only two economies are growing – one is India and the other is China. No doubt China is ahead of us. We have to agree on that point. But we are also in the race. I am sure the day is not far off when we would not only reach the rate of growth of China but even surpass that because of the measures initiated by the hon. Minister of Finance through this Budget. We are sure, we would surpass the targets set before us.
I do not want to take much time of the House. I would only make an appeal and request the support of all hon. Members of this House to the hon. Minister of Finance and to the provisions he has made in this Budget for carrying forward the agenda that he has set before the country. I am sure, this would usher in a new economic growth in our country. It would also provide happiness and peace. It would provide growth in all sectors. That is why, I support the provisions contained in this Budget and also make an earnest appeal to one and all to give their full support to the provisions contained in this Budget.
So far as the agriculture sector is concerned, the hon. Minister of Finance has made provisions for easy finances and also provided for tax relief to the co-operative sector. As I said, I do not want to go into the details for want of time. The hon. Minister has been so magnanimous that in spite of all the difficulties, he has taken care to provide something for everybody.
There is a popular request by all hon. Members on the proposed increase in urea prices. Although I would say that it causes some difficulties, the total subsidy outflow to the fertiliser sector, in fact, would be increased on account of the increase in the prices of naphtha. So, the hon. Minister of Finance has no option but to make some small savings on the subsidy that is given on urea. Still, I am sure, keeping in view the demand and request made by all hon. Members of this House and also by the farming community, the hon. Minister of Finance would take this into consideration.
I hope he would come out with necessary relief when he will finally give the reply. I make an earnest appeal to the hon. Minister of Finance to give due credence to the sentiments expressed by the Members of this House and also by the members of the farming community in the entire country.
Sir, once again, I give full support to the provisions contained in this Budget and I thank, from the bottom of my heart, the hon. Minister of Finance for providing revolving fund support to the plantation industry, coffee, tea, rubber, etc. … (Interruptions) My friends have reminded me that arecanut and coconut are also the plantation crops. Similar provisions can be made by forming a corpus fund for giving support for coconut and arecanut. I am sure, the hon. Minister of Finance will take this also into consideration. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: I also support about coconut.
SHRI V. DHANANJAYA KUMAR : Sir, you are also supporting because that is the mainstay of the people in your area. So, coconut and arecanut also should be supported by constituting such a fund.
Sir, I thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to participate in the discussion.
DR. B.B. RAMAIAH (ELURU): Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir, I thank you very much for giving me an opportunity to participate in the discussion.
The hon. Minister of Finance presented an excellent Budget for 2003-04. The main objectives on which he has emphasised are about eradication of poverty, covering health, housing, education, employment and also infrastructure development. The other aspects are: financial consideration through tax reforms, progressive elimination of other budgetary tax, agricultural and related aspects including irrigation, enhancing manufacturing sector’s efficiency including promotion of exports and further acceleration of the reform process.
In the Budget of 2003-04, the total expenditure projected is Rs. 4,38,795 crore. Out of this, the Plan expenditure is Rs. 1,20,974 crore and Non-Plan expenditure is Rs. 3,17,821 crore. Last year the Non-Plan expenditure was Rs. 2,89,924 crore. The increase is mainly because of interest liability, subsidies and Defence expenditure.
Now I would like to say something about the total Non-Plan and Plan expenditure. Out of Rs. 2,53,935 crore, the deficit financing will be Rs. 1,53,637 crore, which is about 5.6 per cent of the estimated GDP. I know that this is going to be a little bit high. So, the hon. Minister of Finance has to look into some of these aspects and to see how we can be able to reduce it to the maximum extent possible.
Now I come to the other taxation policies. First is the direct taxation. He has given some fillip for stock markets, improving more investments in the stock exchange. In the direct taxation, he has removed the dividend taxation and also simplified the tax structure and long-term capital gains. He has given complete elimination of sur charged taxation, which will go a long way for the stock markets, which is basically what we need today. Unless the industrial growth comes, the economy will not pick up.
Today, we have to support agriculture with hard work. But the finance has to come from the industry, both through direct taxation and indirect taxation, and through various employment potentialities at various levels. However, agriculture, basically, will give you the support for GDP. But the fact is that it will come mainly from the industrial growth. That is the reason why, I think, he has given some fillip to the industrial development for these programmes.
Now I come to some of the indirect taxation measures. The main thing is that on the corporate taxation, he has given some surcharge reduction from 5 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
16.14 hrs. (Dr. Laxminarayan Pandaya in the Chair) In the direct taxation, he has completely taken away the entire surcharge from the individuals and the HUF. But for those with income of more than Rs. 8.5 lakh per year, the surcharge is increased to 10 per cent. In any case, it is a provision that he has made in order to compensate the losses that will be arising from out of the above decision.
I now come to the import duty. The hon. Minister of Finance has standardised the excise duty by making it at eight per cent, 16 per cent and 24 per cent in order to utilise the various sectors by different categories. He has adopted some very novel methods wherein he has given full exemption in some of the very important items like umbrella, bicycle, bicycle parts, toys and other things. It is a very good thing and this will give employment potential to the handicrafts and those people involved in it. He has also done the same in respect of kitchenware for which all the women would be very happy.
Coming to the other taxation policies of the indirect taxation, the hon. Minister has given substantial reduction in the case of gold, gems and jewellery. Today India has become one of the largest exporters of gold jewellery. By this decision, the hon. Minister has reduced the entire mafia and also smuggling to this country. It is a novel step. We congratulate him for taking this decision. It will give great employment potential to a number of goldsmiths and we would be having excellent quality products in the country. Our people can produce excellent quality jewellery and this will be a very good encouragement for them.
Coming to the industrial sector, particularly small-scale industries, I think the hon. Minister needs to give some more support. He has removed only 75 items from the list of de-reservation. For the other sectors he has to give more support. The sickness of the industry is one of the basic items which he has not touched. In fact, hundreds and thousands of crores of rupees worth equipment and money have been blocked up because of sickness. It is there not only in the country but in other countries also.
It is a novel method of the hon. Minister by allowing the financial institutions and banks with the expertise through the mergers and amalgamations which can be able to reduce the sickness. This will happen due to various reasons. We do not want to go into those things whether technological changes or policy changes and other things in some other industries. But the sickness can be eliminated to the maximum extent possible and it can be reduced. I hope the hon. Minister of Finance will take some sort of measures for this purpose.
I am also happy that the interest rates have been properly controlled which will give liquidity for the banks and the financial institutions so that money is available for industrial purposes.
Sir, VAT is one of the important items that is to be seen. In the whole country it can be a unifying method. Now each State has got a different type and structure of sales tax. The VAT is one of the things which will be able to make it. Today, in the European Union, things can move from one country to another country without any differentiation. But in India, from one State to another State, we have so much of discrimination. VAT is a good thing with which we can have unification of the whole structure of the sales tax system. In regard to the VAT system, I hope that they will see that the movement of goods will also slowly improve without any restrictions on their movement and all these things.
Coming to his policy on the textile industry, it is very encouraging. This is the largest exporter of this country where nearly Rs. 40,000 crore worth of exports come from textiles – be it various categories like yarn, cloth, garments or whatever it is. I am very happy that the hon. Minister has given a very good support to the textile industry both for modernisation and various other levels.
The other thing that is growing today in this country is pharmaceutical industry. There also, the hon. Minister has given a lot of support in different methods so that the pharmaceutical industry of this country can also grow and compete with the world market. That is what we would be able to prove in spite of the doubts expressed in the WTO as to what is going to affect this country is the pharmaceuticals. Today the bulk drugs are also made in this country. The formulations are very well. The research and development is going on very well. I am also happy that the hon. Minister of Finance has given a good support for the R&D and this will be able to help our pharmaceutical industry.
Today, the Information Technology is a growing industry in this country and that is where he has given more employment potential. We are also exporting to a lot of other countries and a lot of them are coming here to utilise our talents and make use of this industry. I am sure this industry will grow very fast. The same is the case with biotechnology. I think the hon. Minister has almost recognised the various growth-oriented sectors in this country and we are very happy about it.
But the only thing where I feel about is on the duty structure. He has reduced it across the board from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. I know that this is because of the WTO rules and regulations. But, unfortunately, the developing countries are not reducing the subsidy for agriculture. Unless they also reduce it and fall in line, it will be difficult. We should also make an attempt to see how we should be able to tell them that we are also going to strongly protect our industry.
When they want to support their agriculture, without following the WTO norms and guidelines, they do it. We should also see that in the meanwhile, our anti-dumping duty or our safeguard system should be improved substantially to make sure that the industry does not suffer. I am quite sure that some of these things will be taken care of and our hon. Finance Minister will look into them.
I want to mention about only few items. Today, our foreign exchange reserves are more than 75 billion dollars and inflation is also within the norms or at a very reasonable level. He has also given for the employees the Leave Travel Concession, which was withdrawn about two years back. This is an encouraging support for them.
For exports, Special Export Zones are very important on various aspects. Today, EPZs are there, but we should also be able to make sure that Special Export Zones become more and more attractive and they should be given more encouragement. I am also happy for establishment of an Export Credit Corporation. He has given Rs. 80 crore for its equity. That is going to be the main support for insurance purposes. The only thing I demand is that he should reduce service tax on the designing and engineering exports because a lot of other countries are using our own manpower with skills and abilities for designing and various other things from this country. So, there should not be any service tax on those things which are going for export purposes. I am sure that the hon. Finance Minister will take this into consideration.
Now, I come to agriculture. This is where we have to see that today, in spite of the drought conditions in the whole country, we are still able to have a comfortable position on food front. It is due to the hard work of our farmers. More than 65 per cent of people, who are mainly employed in this sector, need some support at the time when they have some difficulties. I am sure that the hon. Finance Minister would take care of this.
The increase in price of fertilisers is one of the very alarming things. I know that because of increase in the price of naphtha, subsidy on fertilisers has to be reduced, but I think, he should have asked the fertiliser industry to absorb a part of it and see that farmers are not loaded with this hike. He should have considered this in view of the present conditions of the farmers who are suffering from drought, shortage of water and everything.
He has also not mentioned about crop insurance. I am sure that crop insurance is very essential for farmers. I hope, this will come into his mind and he would see that a proper crop insurance policy is incorporated at the earliest possible. I am very happy to see that he has given support to horticulture, floriculture and high technology for the agriculture. With the use of modern systems like sprinkler irrigation, and such other methods where less quantity of water is required for irrigation, we would be able to have more production with less use of water. As a result, the use of fertilisers and also insecticides will be reduced and the agriculture production will increase with the use of high technology in the field of agriculture. Then, drip irrigation is another item. He needs to give a lot of support to high technology in this field and subsidies for these things.
The Kapoor Committee has recommended that rural banking system should be given more support in order to see that agricultural finance is provided freely to the farmers. I do not know why he has not mentioned anything about it. Rural banks for agricultural finance have become the very basic structure that we need for them. Also, the hon. Prime Minister had said the other day that on kharif crop loan, interest subsidy will be taken care of for one year, but I was told that the Reserve Bank of India has not implemented this and the hon. Finance Minister should look into this aspect because farmers are still waiting for this relief which was announced by the hon. Prime Minister. This is the right time to help them.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH): For plantation?
DR. B.B. RAMAIAH : Yes.
Let me say about irrigation part of it. Frequently, national calamities are happening. On the one side, we are having damage by floods and on the other side, we are having problems on account of drought. We have been discussing this issue every now and then. If the linking of rivers is there, it will reduce the damage caused by floods and help the drought affected areas by way of water from other rivers. That is possible. Hon. Prime Minister has taken interest in this matter and appointed a Committee under the chairmanship of Shri Suresh Prabhu.
And I hope the Finance Minister will give some support. It is just like what we do in infrastructure today, for the road development, etc. Once you take up the decision that you have to do it for the larger interest of the country, the funds can be provided some how or other. It is because it will help us tremendously.
When you talk about agriculture, the associated or allied sectors, namely, fisheries, poultry, and dairies are also forming part of the farmers’ usage. The fisheries require a lot of support and new methods. Poultry is suffering heavily because the cost of the feed is going up, whereas the developing countries are giving more than 60 per cent to 70 per cent subsidy. If you can give a reasonable subsidy for this industry, then it gives employment potentiality, it gives export potentiality; and it will grow very fast. It will help us a lot.
When we talk today about employment, it is not the Government employment, the employment potentiality can be developed in other sectors like the rural employment, agricultural employment and the agricultural waste development. We also require now the ‘food for work’ scheme which was started earlier and which worked very well. When serious drought situation is there, and so many people are waiting -- it is not that the farmers only who are suffering, the labourers are also suffering -- the hon. Finance Minister should take immediate action on this issue. It will be helpful, if under the food for work scheme, rice or wheat or whatever is possible, is made available to them at the earliest possible, to help them. But, I am happy that he has taken a keen interest in reducing the debt -- which is about Rs. 2,44,000 crore -- from the State Governments by giving a high interest rate debt, to reduce it and providing a policy which gives a discount of about Rs. 81000 crore. It is a real model, and I am very happy about it. I hope that this will be able to really help every State and that they will take advantage of it without any problem.
There is also a request from a number of States that the allocation for States should be increased. Today, the allocation of funds for the States is 29 per cent. This has to be increased in order to see that the States’ finances are improved, and it is a constant request from a number of States. I am sure that you will be able to consider it in whatever way it is possible.
While coming back to infrastructure, the allocation for infrastructure, namely, roads, ports, airports and other centers is Rs. 60000 crore. I want that along with these roads, ports and airports, you should add warehousing also.
Warehousing is one of the important issues in addition to cold storage and Food Processing Industry. The other day that tomato prices have come down to less than a rupee, and again it had gone up to Rs. 20. If there is Food Processing Industry, they will be able to utilise the tomatoes and produce Ketchup, Soups, concentrates, and so many other things. Not only that, so many other agricultural products are produced in large quantity and they are wasted. So, by doing this we can eliminate the wastage in agricultural production. So, the Government should come forward to give Food Processing Industry proper support and, probably, proper technology and assistance.
The non-conventional power sector is an important sector. Various sectors depend on power because power is the basic sector. Today, agriculture, industry, etc. all depends upon power. And, of course, you have also given some proper consideration towards this sector, but we need to give more financial support. Clearances should also be done much faster, so that it will help the poor.
Coming to the rural side, there are schemes for rural road development, drinking water scheme, etc. The drinking water scheme, which is now coming up will be of great help for them. Your support for senior citizens is a wonderful plan, on which you have given very good thought and they are all very happy.
We should not forget about the defence personnel who have served this country, and on the education side, the ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ and other schemes. Education has been given a lot of support.
On the health side, the amount of support you have given for various medical equipment and the drugs, the reduction in price of excise duty concessions and all these things, are welcome.
The most important thing is that more employment should be generated, and eradication of poverty is another important thing.
The agriculture side also requires some soil analysis support, marketing support, and various other things. I have to mention a lot of things.
The other day, I told you that the sugar is largest agro-based industry. It has to be encouraged someway or the other. They all depend on various other things, which require other methods. They require a lot of assistance from the Finance Minister.
Different States want to take up various other issues and they need different types of assistance. I am hopeful that the Finance Minister will definitely look into that arena and when he comes to the final conclusion, he would consider all the aspects to improve the things.
I am sure, this Budget is going to be one of the good Budgets. I thank the Finance Minister for the same, and I support this Budget.
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE (THANE): Mr. Chairman, Sir, on behalf of the Shiv Sena, I am standing here to support this Budget for the year 2003-04, presented by our hon. Finance Minister Shri Jaswant Singh, under the efficient leadership of our hon. Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The earlier speakers have given all the plus points and they have praised our Finance Minister for giving a number of concessions to all the sectors in Hindustan. I do not want to repeat every suggestion that has been mentioned in the Budget. One thing which appealed to me very much is that for the first time, our Finance Minister has given his Speech in short sentences. Instead of long sentences and typical bureaucratic language, he has given his Speech in short sentences, which a common man will also understand as to what are his feelings. I am very much happy to note here that the basic rule of economics, that is, reducing the rate of taxes will not reduce the revenue, has been implemented for the first time. This is what I was saying time and again that the Minister should simplify the tax structure so that a common man will have the feeling that he should pay the taxes. Here, I appreciate the Finance Minister for doing this in a nice fashion.
Sir, the Finance Minister has announced a lot of concessions in excise, customs, sales-tax and in all the sectors. However, I am little bit afraid that the reduction of customs duty may increase the inflow of goods from foreign countries, which will damage the interests of the indigenous manufacturers in our country. The day we signed the WTO Agreement, this comparison was made by all the political parties suggesting that we should follow and learn something from China: how China has developed their industry, how China has developed or increased the opportunity for the jobs in their country. For the information of this House and also the Finance Minister, I will just make a comparison of the industrial policy of China and the industrial policy of Hindustan.
Sir, the cost of land in China is Rs. 55-60 per square metre; in Hindustan, it is Rs. 2,000 per square metre. The cost of infrastructure in China is nil; in India, it is not related at all. In the field of power, the downtime in China is nil; in our country, the average downtime is one-and-a-half hours to two hours per day. The water availability in China is abundant; in Hindustan, it is very low. In China, telephones are abundant and the quality is good; in Hindustan, there is a frequent failure and the quality is bad. In China, the salary of a labour, on an average, is Rs. 3,000 per month; in Hindustan, it is Rs. 5,000 per month. In China, the indirect labour costs, like PF, ESI, Gratuity, etc., are nil; in Hindustan, it is approximately 50 per cent of the salary. In China, the discipline of labour is excellent; in Hindustan, it is average. In China, the sales-tax is 17.5 per cent on value added taxes; in Hindustan, it differs from 4 per cent to 15.3 per cent. In China, the excise duty is nil; in Hindustan, it ranges from 8 per cent to 16 per cent to 24 per cent. In China, there is no inspectorraj; in Hindustan, it is very high: we have to apply to 27 Government agencies, if we want to start some industry.
In China, income tax is nil in the first two years and 33 per cent thereafter. In Hindustan, it is 38.5 per cent. In China, Government formalities to be completed and the time taken to do that is negligible and everything is dealt with by one person. In Hindustan, as I narrated, one has to deal with 27 agencies to start an industry. Profits on exports are free of tax in China. They are fully taxable in Hindustan. Interest rates on bank loans range from two per cent to three per cent in China, 13 per cent to 17 per cent in Hindustan.
I have narrated this because we want to really compete in the WTO and our country is going to follow China in respect of facilities given to boost the growth of industry. Out of these ten points that I have mentioned, only two points are related to workers. However, I am sorry to say this, our Government had immediately appointed Verma Committee to study the issue of labour reforms. The Government is very much interested in bringing in labour reforms first rather than applying the same yardstick to all other issues in the industry. The labour is in no way connected with the management or in taking policy decisions. The Government wants to bring in labour reforms because a group of industries – under whose pressure it is said that this Government is running - want to see the labour reforms brought in first. On behalf of Shiv Sena, I tell you that no labour reforms as per Verma Committee report will be accepted till the Government follows the same yardstick in regard to the other facilities available in our country.
As far as interest on bank loans is concerned, I am sure that to bring the limit from 13 and 17 per cent in two-three years to 2-3 per cent is not possible for any Government. In this regard I have given one suggestion. Here, I would like to mention that for the last six years we have made many suggestions in our speeches here but all our suggestions appear to have been thrown into the wastepaper basket. I hope that at least this year our suggestions will be accepted where possible and that they will not be thrown in the wastepaper basket. I will come forward with my other suggestions, which were thrown in the wastepaper basket.
In respect of this interest on loan, I have sent a letter to the hon. Finance Minister. Unfortunately, no reply has been received. I mentioned in that letter that in Hindustan, a manufacturer or an industrialist submits his proposal to the bank expecting a 30 per cent to 35 per cent profit on his investment. But, because of WTO and because of the increasing prices of electricity, water, telephone and labour, he is unable to maintain his profit at 30 per cent to 35 per cent level when he starts manufacturing the goods. It comes down to 15 per cent to 11 per cent. With that kind of a profit, he is not in a position to repay his loan instalment as well as the interest amount.
In China, there is a facility called bullet loan spanning over 99 years. I request the hon. Finance Minister to at least increase the span of loan from a minimum of 20 years to 35 years. All the people who have borrowed loans previously but whose ratio of profit has come down when compared to the originally expected rate should be taken care of. This is quite possible to do. Increasing the span of loan will make some money available for him to pay his instalment, because the instalment will be reduced. The bank would not be a loser in this because on the increased span also the bank charges interest. To reduce the rate of interest is not possible. But to increase the span of loan, of the previous borrower also, to a minimum of 20 years to 35 years is quite possible.
The day before yesterday there was a huge cry on creating jobs. The hon. Prime Minister had stated then that people should not imagine that now the Government will be calling them and giving jobs. The only resource we need to promote by giving more facilities now is indigenous manufacturing. I was expecting that in this year’s Budget, the Finance Minister would announce a special package on taxes and interest rates to manufacturers who manufacture import-substitutes. Nowhere in the Budget has the Finance Minister given encouragement to manufacturers of import-substitutes. With some special consideration, this sector would bring in a boom in indigenous industry.
I can give you examples in this respect.
I am very happy that the Government has shown great interests on agriculture. About agriculture, in his Budget Speech, the hon. Minister has said: "Agriculture is the life and blood of our economy." He has given some concessions on agriculture sector.
Sir, do you know what is happening in the Food Corporation of India (FCI)? Their own Report says that 20 million tonnes of food is thrown into the gutters because of insects, and the food is not of a quality where a human being can eat it. In terms of price, it amounts to Rs. 15,000 crore. Our farmers are producing a lot but FCI is not able to preserve the foodgrains as they should have. What is the reason? For the last one year I have been moving with the FCI people.
Sir, I am really proud to say that two IIT engineers have developed one new system of fumigating foodgrains. As on today, we are fumigating our food grains, at least, four times a year to preserve it. As per their technology, not only the insects are killed, their eggs are also killed. And, for years together, the food grains can be preserved. I had brought the samples of these food grains, and the FCI people have technically accepted this proposal. But unfortunately, again the problems of funding comes.
Sir, in the same line, this year we have given the PadmashriAward to Shri B.G. Shirke. B.G. Shirke and Associates have also given a new technique of preserving the foodgrains in GIC, silos. You will be surprised to know that right from 1970 when late Shri Jagjiwan Ram was our Agriculture Minister, Shirke and Associates had submitted a Report in this regard. But till date, no Minister has given any attention to the new systems of preservation of foodgrains.
When I was discussing it with the FCI officials, I was told that FCI is having, in all, 6000 blocks where they are supposed to construct godowns. Now, instead of godowns it should be silos. But out of those 6000 blocks, only in 1000 blocks, they have constructed godowns.
Sir, our hon. Prime Minister has given Rs. 60,000 crore for construction of roads, to connect all the interior parts of India with highways. May I request the hon. Finance Minister to sanction Rs. 5000 crore to FCI with specific conditions that this money should be used for the new technology of preservation along with the new silos also. The silos are constructed vertically. Then the space of land required is also less. Everybody knows the value of land in our country. Land is very costly in our country. So, I hope that, at least, this suggestion of mine will be accepted by him, as the hon. Finance Minister himself has said that ‘Agriculture is the life and blood of our economy.’ Now Sir, I use one sentence that my precious suggestions are thrown into the wastepaper box. We all the parties and politicians always say that the minorities’ interest is to be protected. Everybody is of the same opinion that minorities’ interest is to be protected. In the august House 540 Members, there are only 23 MPs who are having more than 15 lakhs voters. Then are we, all others, not in minority? From my very first year as an MP, I am writing to the hon. Prime Minister; I am writing to the hon. Finance Minister… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAVIN RASHTRAPAL (PATAN): But with more votes, you are in majority there… (Interruptions)
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : I am writing to the hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs also saying that the smallest Constituency of Hindustan is the one where our hon. Deputy-Speaker Shri P.M.Sayeed comes from where the number of voters is 36,000.
The largest constituency of Hindustan has 31 lakh voters, and my constituency has got 28,32,000 voters. Sir, there is a disparity in the MPLAD fund. A person who is having 36,000 voters in his constituency gets Rs. 2 crore, whereas a person who has got 28 lakh voters or above 15 lakh voters is also getting Rs. 2 crore.
I have given a list of only 23 MPs whose voters are more than 15 lakhs. I have given a suggestion six years back, and everywhere I am giving this suggestion. I would be happy, if the Finance Minister accepts my suggestion. I am giving the suggestion right from the first year of introduction of this fund, namely, Rs. 2 crore up to 15 lakh voters; Rs. 3 crore from 15 to 20 lakh voters, and Rs. 4 crore for more than 20 lakh voters should be given for the MPLAD fund.
The Ministers are dreaming that they will become Minsiters after elections also. They must know that they become Ministers on the strength of the MPs who are elected and who are in majority. The demand of the MPs has not been taken into consideration, at, least, during the last two years. The hon. Speaker, has taken a lead by requesting the Prime Minister that at least he should increase this amount from Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore. But the Finance Minister in his Budget Speech has totally neglected the MPLAD fund.
In some States, people may not be using fund properly. That does not mean that all the MPs are not using the fund properly. So, that injustice and disparity should be removed.
Ultimately, after two years, we have to go back to our constituencies. As far as general budgetary figures are concerned, they are all right. But the day-to-day problems of the villagers, namely, the drinking water problem, the railway problem and the school problem, should be taken up seriously.
Sir, you will be happy to know that I have constructed 4 schools costing Rs. 25 lakh each in the village area of my constituency. From where will these people bring money? Do you want me to help people with this meager Rs. 2 crore? I have got 4 corporation, 3 councils, oneZila Parishad and all that. But during the last 6 years, nobody has bothered to take care of all these things.
I am from the Ruling Party.I am a Shiv Sainik. As per the Whip of my top boss, Shiv Sena Pramukh, I will never vote against this Government. That is why they are just suppressing my demand. I am sorry to say that. That is why I am going to announce one thing today because I am hurt. I have been after this Government for 6 years to solve my problem. But, this government has not solved my problem. I want this money for development work. Even no acknowledgement to my letter of request has been received by me. So, I would be sitting on a hunger strike in front of Prime Minister’s house, if the money is not increased this time. How, long are we going to support them? With what face will we go to our constituency? Our people are asking me this. They are saying you are in the ruling party; it is a small amount, a small demand and that too with an authentic justification, and you are not able to do anything. There is a disparity between the number of voters. Sir, may I tell you one thing? Now, delimitation process has started. What is the basis of that delimitation?
श्री रामजीलाल सुमन (फिरोजाबाद):आप आज ही समर्थन वापस लेने की घोषणा कर दीजिए। यह अच्छा और बढि़या मौका है।
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE (THANE): Sir, what are the criteria that the delimitation commission has applied? The criterion they have applied is the number of voters. So, after this delimitation, during next elections, all the constituencies will be between 12 and 15 lakh voters. Hence, there is a burden of increasing MPLAD fund to only 23 Members who are having more than 15 lakh voters. My Government cannot answer or respond to my demand which I am making for the last 6 years. So, I am quite hopeful, the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister will not compel me to sit on hunger strike by acceding to my justified demand for increasing the MPLAD fund. …(Interruptions) I have given the proposal; up to 15 lakhs, Rs. 2 crore; 15 to 20 lakhs Rs. 3 crore; and above 20 lakhs Rs. 4 crore. This chart is moving for the last 6 years. But, unfortunately, they have not given.
SHRI VINAY KUMAR SORAKE(UDUPI): Will the Rajya Sabha Memebr get?
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : For Rajya Sabha, the Rajya Sabha Members will say. I have nothing to say. So, the first suggestion which I gave was for the preservation of foodgrains. I have forgotten one point. By just giving Rs. 5,000 crore you are saving foodgrains worth Rs. 15,000 crore. So, your investment is recovered within 4 months. I would be thankful if, in your reply, you announce a separate Rs. 5,000 crore for construction and preservation of foodgrains through our new technique.
Everybody including the Ruling Party Members always talk about industrialists and about those who are below poverty line. Who is going to speak for common man and the serving man whom we represent? What have you given them? You have given them increase in electricity charges, increase in telephone charges, reduction in interest rates, etc. No Government is bothered to see what is happening to the common man and the one who is the honest taxpayer. You have given them some concessions and I am really happy especially for giving educational benefits, that is, if a family has two children and if he is spending Rs. 12,000 per child, that amount will be reduced from gross income for standard deduction etc. You have given some good facilities by abolishing the surcharge on income tax also.
Here I want you to make one very fundamental policy decision, as you have accepted that reducing the rate of tax will not reduce the revenue. Our present structure of income tax is like this: if the net income after standard deduction is between Rs.50,000-Rs.60,000, then one has to pay 10 per cent; if it is between Rs.60,000-Rs.1,50,000, then he has to pay 20 per cent and if it is above Rs.1,50,000, then he has to pay 30 per cent; whosoever is earning more than Rs.8,00,000, then, 10 per cent surcharge will be applied.
My request to you is this. Can you make it a little bit different, that is, those who declare their income of more than Rs.8,00,000, the income tax will be 15 per cent with a surcharge of 10 per cent? It will help a man to declare his income because in India, it has become a crime to earn more money – if a man earns more money, he will be taxed heavily.
I am giving this suggestion because my Private Member’s Bill in this connection is pending for the last two years, wherein I have suggested that there should be ‘tax on expenditure’ rather than on income. It will take some time because it will take time to change the mentality – to convert people into spending more. So, my request is this and you can think seriously about it: for persons who are earning more than Rs.8,00,000, you can have an income tax of 15 per cent and a surcharge of ten per cent. By this, I am sure that the revenue will increase and it will not go down because people will feel that they need to pay less tax and thus, they would declare their income; and thus, white money will not be converted as black money. You are saying that there is a parallel economy of black money is going on, but we are not doing anything. So, this is my solution. If you can do this, it would be better. At least you can try it for one year; every year, we are changing the sections and rules of the Income Tax by way of Budget. This is my suggestion and you can do this way; you can keep lower tax rate for higher income group. By this, the revenue will increase and it will not decrease.
I was referring to the problems of common man and about the increase in telephone charges. When the tax on urea was increased, there was a hullabaloo in the House. But when telephone charges were increased, nobody said anything. Department of Telephones is the only Department which is working in profit. So, what is the reason to increase the rates? They not only increased the rates, but they have also reduced the pulse rate. Previously it was three minutes a pulse; now, it is reduced to two minutes a pulse.
I remember when our present hon. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs was holding charge of this Department, she narrated a very simple example to the bureaucrats. She said this: if she goes to purchase banana, she asks the shopkeeper about the rate of banana. The shopkeeper says that it is Rs.12 a dozen. She asks what would be the rate if she wants to purchase two dozens. He would say it is Rs.11.50 a dozen. She asks what it could be if she wants to purchase five dozens. He would say that it is Rs.10 a dozen. So, she says, the moment the quantity increases, the price comes down.
But in the case of telephones, if the number of calls exceed 1,000, the rates also increase. But when the telephone calls are more, the administrative expenses do not increase. You are asking me to pay more if I make more than 1,000 calls. So, they tend to keep two, three or four telephones, and the calls are restricted up to 1,000 per telephone and by this way, I deprive somebody else of not getting his telephone.
May I request the present Minister of Communication, to immediately make an announcement to the effect that whatever increase in telephone charges has been made will be withdrawn? It is not impossible. But, just because he wants to make cellular phones popular, he is making telephones costly. Why it is so? You are working for whom? A man living in hut is also having the simple phone. समझने वालों को इशारा काफी है। Why should I take the name of the person who is spoiling our country? The Reliance is purchasing our country. He says that all the Ministries are in his pocket. I do not know whether it is so or not but I know that if a decision to increase the telephone charges has been taken just to favour Reliance, then we have to agitate because, we, the Shiv Sena, represent common earning middle class men. We are for the people below the poverty line. We are definitely for the working class, labour class, a class which really deserves some attention but that was not given to it. There are a number of things which really upset me.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Shri Paranjpe, please conclude.
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : I have a few points to make. I know, Sir, the next February, we will not be able to speak on Budget because if elections will be in May or June, Aachar Sanhita may start. So, this is the last opportunity to participate in a discussion on Budget. I will be thankful to you if you allow me to raise two to three more points.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: There is one more speaker from Shiv Sena.
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : He will be happy to give me his time because I am giving some positive suggestions. I am not criticising the Government. I am giving suggestions which a common man expects from the Government. In my last speech during the Budget debate, I had said that unfortunately the Ministers are meeting the Secretaries. They do not have the time to meet the elected Members.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: There is one more speaker from your party.
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : I know, Sir. He has given his time to me.
I had said in my earlier speech also that the Ministers spend ample time meeting the Secretaries. A Secretary sits in his Cabin, reads book and makes laws. They do not have the time to meet the elected Members. They do not want to know our feelings. Our feelings are not our individual feelings but they are the feelings of our voters. They come to our offices and explain as to what they expect from the present Government, at least from the NDA Government. No doubt, the NDA Government has done good things but there is still scope to do a lot for the common man. I would like to give you a simple example. Unfortunately, the concerned Minister, Shri T.R. Baalu is not in the House.
Cremation of a Hindu, with the conventional method, costs not less than Rs.2,000. Electric cremation is also costlier because the capital expenditure involved on this is about Rs.1,30,00,000. Some three years back I had given a comparative statement, to Shri T.R. Baalu, the concerned Minister, of the expenditure involved in different types of cremation. Two technicians from my constituency had developed diesel cremation involving only Rs.300 as its expense. Unfortunately, the Minister had no time to go through the papers. He is the person who has to take care of the pollution. He is not supposed to give only crores of rupees for plantation but is also supposed to protect trees. If diesel cremation is supported by the Department, cutting of trees will be tremendously reduced. For the last three years the concerned Minister has not even bothered to go through that chart and discuss with me as to what this scheme is. These two technicians from my constituency went to Rajasthan.… (Interruptions)
SHRI M.V.V.S. MURTHI (VISAKHAPATNAM): Hindu Shastraswould not agree with it.
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : I will tell you. In Rajasthan it is still a costlier affair. A cremation is costing more than Rs.4000 to 5000. The Police Commissioner there told me that at least he could use this new method to cremate unclaimed bodies so that he could save a lot of money. In my constituency we have this facility at five places. In Maharashtra at 19 places this facility is available and more than 19,000 cremations have taken place using this method. It is such a good device.
As I have said, Indians have got sharp brain. The entire world is envious of that but our Government is not ready to accept it. There are young scientists and technicians who can produce something which is affordable to a common man.
17.00 hrs. Sir, I am requesting you to inform the concerned Minister, Shri Baalu to, at least, go through those papers as this subsidised diesel cremation will be helpful to lot of poor persons. It is because you are talking about the people below poverty line. I have got the figures as to how much money we have spent on plantation of trees. The installation cost of electrical cremation device is Rs.1.30 crore. But this costs just Rs.30 lakh. So, with the same expenditure, you can have at least four such cremation devices in place of one electric crematorium. The recurring expenditure is Rs.300 because it requires only 20 litres of diesel and no technical person is required to be appointed to do that. We are giving all these suggestions but unfortunately, the Minister does not have time to go through my papers or to talk to me because I am in ruling party. अंत में क्या करेगा, वह चिल्लाएगा। फिर प्रैस में निकलेगा।
Now-a-days, it is very difficult to manage with the Press. People say that if you manage with the Press, then your speech can appear in the newspaper. I am not interested in that. My media is this august House and not the Press. If the Press does not print my speech, I have no problem. So far as my Finance Minister and the Prime Minister are listening to my valuable suggestions, taking my suggestions into account, and are implementing them, that is great victory for me. Therefore, I do not worry whether the media is covering or not.
I wanted to give all these suggestions in the interest of common man. I do not want to speak about statistical data and figures which always आंखों में धूल डालते हैं। The statistical figures and Economic Surveys are all right but we know better about the reality on the ground. I will be thankful to the Finance Minister if he considers whatever suggestions I have given. I hope that he would give more and more scope to the indigenous manufacturers, which is a booming industry and which would create jobs. The construction of roads and Houses would give jobs. But what about intellectual class? That class and the required brains are here, but the red-tapism does not allow them to come up. That is why, they are running to America. You should give them single window, just like China.
Sir, I would give you a last example. One person from Hindustan was importing sand from China and he was manufacturing tiles here. He was observed by the Chinese Government. They have a system where Mayor is empowered to do whatever he wants to do in his area. The Central Government finances the Mayor. The Mayor called him and asked him as to why he was importing sand and why did he not open his factory in China? He said that he was prepared to do that. The Mayor thought that if he opened the factory there, his people would get jobs. After all every Government wants to create jobs. That person said that this evening he was going to Hindustan by 5 o’clock flight and that during his next visit, they would discuss about it. They just asked him about his requirements of licences and other permissions. He gave a list of just 10 to 20 items. Before his departure from China, all the permissions were given in his hand at 4 o’clock. Will that day come in India? He gave a list of requirements at 10 o’clock and at 4 o’clock all the permissions were handed over to him. पहले नारियल फोड़ो, बाद में भारत जाना।
SHRI M.V.V.S. MURTHI : But Shri Narayana Murthy said that the Prime Minister of China has himself invited him to start the information technology work, but no permissions are forthcoming from China. He felt very sorry about it. The information technology will provide jobs in China.
SHRI PRAKASH PARANJPE : Our country is labour oriented. We are not talking about the intellectual class but about the hard labour. I am pointing it out to tell the Finance Minister that still there is time as two more years are left for the elections. The suggestions which I have given, especially about preservation of foodgrains are in the interest of our country. It is very important. It needs just Rs.5000 crore for constructing the silos with the help of new technology. But Rs.5000 crore should go with the instruction that this money should be used by FCI for constructing the silos as per B.G. Sirke’s specifications which is a new technology of preserving the foodgrains.
I would request you to convey my feelings to the Prime Minister. I would also request you not to force or compel me to sit on a hunger strike at his residence to get my just rights to serve my people.
SHRI MADHUSUDAN MISTRY (SABARKANTHA): Mr. Chairman, Sir, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to speak in the debate on the General Budget. I would not like to go into the details of every aspect of the Budget as our Deputy-Leader has already covered all the aspects of it. I would not go into the general observations of the Budget but would confine myself only to some of the observations on the Budget proposals and on some specific highlights of the Budget presented by this Government.
Sir, first let me speak about the lay out of the Budget. I am really concerned – the Finance Minister is going out; I hope somebody is there to take note of what is being said – about the highlights of this Budget. Every year the Finance Minister puts his highlights in the Budget. He stresses on the rural development programmes, drinking water programmes, Indira Awas Yojana and so on.
Sir, the Budget is nothing but an Annual Financial Statement of the Government. In fact, if you look at the Constitution, the word `Budget’ is not used, it is only an `Annual Financial Statement’. I am rather surprised that the allocation in the social sectors does not go beyond 11.1 or 11.2 per cent of the total Budgetary allocation every year. Allocation in the social sector has been around 11 per cent every year. I have the data since 1993 onwards till date to show that the expenditure on interest payment is always either 28 per cent or 29 per cent or 30 per cent. The Defence expenditure is in the range of 13 to 14 per cent. In fact, other non-Plan expenditure, a large part of which goes for payment of salaries to the Central Government employees, which at one point of time in 1995 was Rs. 18,000 crore, has, after the Fifth Commission, become Rs. 38,000 to Rs. 39,000 crore, is also more than 11 per cent. An impression is being created by the Government that the Budget is meant for the poor people. In fact, it is not so. Why does the interest payment not take the bold line? Why the other non-Plan expenditure does not take the bold line? Why only the programmes for the poor take the bold line thereby creating a myth that Budget is meant to serve the poor people?
17.07 hrs. (Dr. Raghuvansh Prasad Singhin the Chair) Sir, my second concern is about the deficit financing. It goes on year after year. The Finance Minister is proved wrong every year on this account. Whatever he says in regard to deficit financing in the month of February and March is proved wrong at the beginning of the next year. Deficit financing increases every year and also the burden of interest payment increases. Ever since we have adopted this concept of deficit financing, we go on borrowing and as a result of that, our burden of interest payment also increases. I am not concerned about that. I am concerned about the shrinking money bag, it has remained static.
Sir, if you look at the social sector spending, it was only ten per cent. If you look at the GDP, it was only 1.1 per cent. This year it is 1.2 per cent. Someone may correct me on this figure. This is my impression. I have gone through `The Economic Survey’. Due to interest payment and other non-Plan expenditure, our money bag is shrinking every year. We try to meet our own revenue expenditure by borrowing. This is known to everybody. The Finance Minister himself has admitted in his Budget Speech that out of the total receipts, nearly 48 per cent simply go for interest payment, thereby reducing our money bag, and our allocation for the poor remains stagnant and remains the same.
Insofar as the borrowing is concerned, I want to draw the attention of this House to the fact that this Government and the previous Government have never fixed a ceiling on the borrowing. In fact, one of the constitutional requirements is that every Government has to fix a ceiling on the borrowing and this Government has never met that obligation. Year after year the Comptroller and Auditor General of India makes a remark, but that is always sidelined and the ceiling is never fixed. As a result of this, the whole practice has led to a kind of indiscipline in the matter of dealing with financial matters. Last year also when I raised this issue, the then Finance Minister said that he would bring the Fiscal Management Bill. What happened to that Bill? What you need is a very strong control on the income and expenditure side. These are my general concerns and observations.
What I have observed year after year is that there is a tendency to show less deficit specially when the General Budget is presented. Subsequently, at the end of October, you put a supplementary demand. According to the Constitution, a supplementary demand can be put if there is a kind of expenditure which is unforeseen and it should not in any case be increased by more than 20 per cent of the original estimates. But what we see is that even regular and committed expenditures are raised through supplementary demands. As you know, supplementary demands never come under the strict scrutiny of the media or the Members of this House. As a result of it, at the end of every year the fiscal deficit goes on increasing over and above whatever percentage you have shown or estimated at the time of presenting the Budget. This tendency has to be curbed. I know that this tendency is growing specially in the people of the Finance Department. They try to show less deficit in the beginning and by putting the supplementary demands later on they increase the actual deficit. This mentality should not be encouraged if you want to become, as you always claim, a transparent and accountable Government. This is not a good practice in accounting also. Moreover, people of this country have a right to know everything.
In the last three years, I have been observing that the growth rate is always targeted as eight per cent. This time also it is targeted as eight per cent. Last year it was eight per cent and the year before it was seven per cent. Though you keep this high target in the hope of creating more jobs, actually this has not happened and I will come to it when I talk about employment. Over the years what I have seen is that even though there is growth, there is no creation of job opportunities to the expected extent. We have growth without creation of employment. We have growth without equity and social justice. The money in fact is getting accumulated in a certain section or layer of the society. It is not getting distributed among the all the sections of the society. As a result of this, even the kind of growth you have achieved has not helped the entire society. Both the agriculture as well as manufacturing sectors have not shown the kind of growth as was expected. It is only the service sector which is growing.
What is the strategy in this Budget? I would have admired and in fact I was happy with the previous Budgets. At least they said what they achieved in the past and what is the strategy for the future. They said underline the achievements of the previous Budget and the priorities for the current Budget. But, from this particular Budget it is very difficult for me to know what is the priority and what is the strategy of the Government. It is a hotchpotch Budget. In Gujarati we call it khichri.
You never try to find it out. What is the priority of the Government except that it is targeting, as a strategy, only sections of the society which have a regular income? I was just trying to find out from this Budget as to where are the tribals who constitute eight per cent population of this country. I was trying to find out how they are going to benefit out of this Budget. I was trying to find out agricultural labour which is, in fact, more than 12 crore in number. I was trying to find out the dalit and dalit farmers who constitute 16 per cent population of this country. I was trying to find out the OBCs. Where are they in this Budget? What are the provisions by which they are going to benefit out of this Budget? What have you given to the tribal farmers, dalit farmers, minority farmers and other farmers? If they are using five litres of diesel per day for at least two to three months, then every purchase of 5 litres they will have to pay Rs.7.50 as the minimum tax to the Government. That is the cess for the whole infrastructure for which you want to generate money. Where are all the other labour, whether they are construction labour or forest labour or industrial workers or hawkers?
I wish to see a Budget which should be an instrument to distribute the financial resources based on equity and social justice. You are the trustee of this. You do not have the right to distribute them the way you like, though you may have power. But, at least, your conscience should not dominate that all these resources should be distributed to certain sections of the society leaving all the poor masses of this country simply out of the provisions or allocations and other benefits of this Budget.
Let me come to employment. The President said that the Government would create jobs for one crore people. Our leader also referred to it. You refuted it by your people who are sitting over there in the Box. The Prime Minister said in this House that they are creating 86 lakh jobs every year. I have a data and you refute it. It is the CMIE data. It says that right from 1996 onwards, there were 36 million people who were on the live registers of employment exchanges. In 1999-2000 and this year too, there are 40 million people who are trying to seek jobs. If your Government is claiming that it has created 86 lakh jobs every year, then why is that the number of job seekers are increasing year after year in this country?
I am not saying that they are Government jobs. Tell us frankly on this point. Do you have any data to show as to how many jobs have been created in formal sector? Do you have any data which shows the contribution of the informal sector to the GDP? Do you have that kind of a system? How can they claim it? Sir, if they have created 86 lakh jobs, then I challenge on the floor of the House that they should put it sector-wise, industry-wise and State-wise and we will verify it. We are not taking the Prime Minister’s statement which has been given on the floor of the House saying that the Government is going to create jobs. Who is going to count it? We are ready to count. Let your Department come out and tell us that these are the jobs that they have created.
You talk of mandays. I am giving you an example which may be true to all the States. For example, consider DRDA which is a Rural Development Programme. You are concerned with Rural Development Programme. The allocation for Rural Development Programme has decreased in the Revised Budget. Simply you are increasing it in this year and I am not pretty sure that you are not going to decrease the allocation in October and November. It is the tendency of those sitting in the Ministry, specially in the Department, to show higher allocation in February and then decrease it in September or October or November when they present the Revised Budget.
You go on complaining. You never know that till the next Budget is presented. That shows your commitment. The Revised Estimate was more last year and yet this year it has been decreased. So is the case with the programme meant for drinking water supply. Last year the Revised Estimate was more, but this year the allocation has been decreased.
I was talking about employment – employment of unskilled people. I had written a letter regarding this to the Ministry. What does the Government do in counting the mandays? The money is sent to various State Governments. The respective State Governments, where there are droughts and natural calamities, give exemption from the purview of the Minimum Wages Act under Section 26 (1). The DRDA guidelines very clearly say that for all the works of DRDA, the minimum wage should be paid, which includes five kilos of grain. That is part of the minimum wage and other parts of minimum wage should be paid in cash. What does the State Government do? In order not to pay the minimum wage for the DRDA work, they in fact give exemption from the purview of the Minimum Wages Act to certain occupations, under the powers that they have got under Section 26 (1) of the Act. Thereby, the minimum wage is waived so that no one can file any case for non-payment of minimum wage because minimum wage does not exist for certain employments. I had written a letter to the Ministry asking them as to why the minimum wage is not paid as the guidelines suggest, when the funds are given by the Centre under DRDA. There was no answer from them. I have no quarrel. I will take it up through Calling Attention Motion. In the meeting I asked specifically as to how they count the mandays. I asked them whether the man-days are counted on the basis of the minimum wage. In fact, in a State like Gujarat the minimum wage actually varies from work to work. For irrigation work, it is Rs. 82; for forest work it is Rs. 82; for other works it is Rs. 83 or Rs. 85. For scarcity work, under which the entire DRDA work is converted, the scarcity wage is Rs. 42. So, for the DRDA’s work, the money you spend and give to all the States is being divided by half of the money which is given to the labourer and then you arrive at the mandays of work. It is stated here that we have created many man-days of work. Has the money really gone to the poor people? Has the money really gone to the poor people to that extent? It is not so. That is where I have got very strong objections. The entire system is trying to inflate the figures and it is trying to inflate the system itself, whereby it creates a picture to show as if all the monies are going to the poor people.
Let me talk of the Prime Minister Sadak Yojana. Eight per cent population of this country is living in tribal areas or the forest areas. I want to draw the attention of the Minister of State for Finance. There are forest laws. Under Prime Minister Sadak Yojana, no MP can force the State administration or the Forest Department to construct or to make the already existing road a pucca one or force them to connect the hamlets which are in the tribal areas with link roads, simply because of the forest laws. I want to know whether the money allocated under the Prime Minister Sadak Yojana is not meant for the tribals or for those who are living in the forest areas. Have they done something wrong if they live in the forests or for having guarded the forests for years and centuries? Why are they being deprived of this facility? Why can they not dig a well there for their own development? Why can they not construct a channel to take water from one part to another? I am just trying to find out as to how the Finance Ministry is going to meet the problem. Is the money allocated meant only for certain sections of the society, leaving those parts and those people who are living in the reserved forests for centuries? Should they be deprived of it simply because they are living over there? I would like to know this from the Minister.
For the Indira Awas Yojana, what is the allocation made? They say that it is 24 lakh dwelling units that they create. Have they ever tried to see how many dwellers in this country are living without the basic facilities of toilets and bathrooms? The survey shows it. The NSSO data shows it. This is my concern that when the allocations are being made, they are made by certain people. I am not going into the details of it. It is the kind of a mindset which I am trying to find out. What is the mindset? They are now in the Tenth Plan period. They are trying to do a survey of the people who are living below the poverty line. I raised it in the Consultative Committee. No Member of Parliament has been consulted. It is the Planning Commission’s formula which the Members of this House have to accept.
What does the survey form say? The survey form says, in fact, about the demography which is land, other things and so on. One of the questions which is so highly irritating is this. The question is: How many pairs of clothes a family has got? Is it one pair? Are they two-pairs, three pairs or four pairs? This is the question which is on record. Under it, scores are being given. 52 point is the maximum score with 13 answers and your score should be one to four, in-between, in all the questions which have been narrated. In fact, a number of people are living below the poverty line. Are we thinking that once they are above the income level of Rs.15,000, they are above the poverty-line? How many people in this country are living with an income of Rs.16,000 to Rs.20,000? Is a family, which earns around Rs.15,000 to Rs.20,000 a rich family? Are we saying that our work is over? So, I am simply concerned about the Planning Commission’s letters to all the States saying that no previous number, which has been decided by the various States about the people living below the poverty-line, should increase.
Some one has filed a PIL asking how can the Planning Commission or the Ministry of Planning give a direction to the States saying that once a person crosses the below the poverty line or once a person is enumerated as living above the poverty line, he will never go down in life? This is my concern. I am saying this because the resources are allocated on the basis of this. That is my concern which I am expressing here.
I am just asking the Finance Minister this question. The Prime Minister has said that there are six crore people who are in theAntyodaya Yojana. Why only 50 lakh families are there? What went wrong with the six crore people? Do we mean that we cannot have resources, we cannot generate the resources? If we can have Rs.1.50 as a cess on diesel to construct an infrastructure worth Rs.60,000 crore in this country, why can we not have a job guarantee or work guarantee programme? Why can we not give this to the people of this country? Have we ever thought of it in our planning? Are we making a Budget where employment has the central focus? I want that the hon. Finance Minister should re-assure this House that every house in this country would have a minimum of Rs.500 income. There are millions and millions of houses which do not have five rupees cash income every day. What is our Budget doing for them? Are we giving them work? Are we giving them some kind of a solace to have an income? In fact, the National Rural Workers Commission says that there is work for 159 days. … (Interruptions) This point has to be listened to because I am simply concerned with the way the Budgets are prepared and the allocations are being made. Which sections of the society are taking the entire resources? I am concerned about that. That is why, I am telling it. Can we not organise it in a proper way. Mr. Minister, you increase my income and I will take care of the health and education of my children. Where is the money? Where is the work? Why has it not been targeted in the Finance Minister’s speech? Why has it not been targeted in our planning? That is my concern that I am expressing here.
Sir, an agriculture labourer gets only 159 days of work. In fact, the National Rural Labour Commission has assessed that one.
How are the other labours getting? There is a recession everywhere. In my own city, Ahmedabad, which was the Manchester of this country, the textile industry has slowed down gradually. It has created so much of both social and economic problem in the city itself. So, where is the Antyodaya Yojana? In Antyodaya Yojana, six crore people were not covered at once. Same is the case, Sir, in other States, specially coastal States. We are a coastal State. In NCCF, they have put one per cent tax in buying the four wheelers or two wheelers. It is fine but who is deciding the contribution from NCCF? Why are certain States favoured, and why other States are not favoured? I want to put on record that even when the two-thirds of Gujarat is reeling under drought, no money is being given from the NCCF to the State of Gujarat. What went wrong? What is the system? What is the mechanism that is being created? Who decides whether money should be given in the NCCF or not? In drinking water, you have made allocations. We have certain norms. The norms say that every person should get a per capita per day 40 litres of water. Has the money which has been allocated to various States by the Union Government been utilized properly? Have these norms ever been observed? There is a scarcity of water. Not only that, it will lead to riots in a number of States specially for drinking water because it is the people who have to go for miles for fetching water. The Water Tanker Organization under which millions of money is being spent, has never in fact been able to fulfil the demands of drinking water of the States.
So, there are other issues like health, etc. and besides this there are other programmes. I am not dwelling into those in detail but I would certainly like the Finance Minister to see this. It is because he is putting a thrust on agriculture. Again, the water is going to be a scarce commodity. He says about drip irrigation. Who has the money to install the drip irrigation? What kind of subsidy is given? Is that enough? Is that subsidy enough to provide drip irrigation? Is the water available? The people in our area go up to a thousand feet down and still the water is not available. What is our long-term plan for irrigation or for conservation of water? What is the major priority or the major initiative on the Government in order to conserve water in this country so that the demand of the water can be fulfilled? I am certainly disappointed with this. I hope the Finance Minister at least will go into this. In other words I will appeal to him to please try to have some strategy, and try to release money for the people who have an irregular income by giving certain incentives to them. The present incentive will only increase the demand of consumer goods; that will only increase the demand of certain sections of the society; and will also hamper the growth that you are envisaging. This will again be discriminatory, and would lead to an increase in the income gap. I am sure that would lead to a kind of unrest in this country which will certainly not be beneficial for the future of this country.
श्री किरीट सोमैया (मुम्बई उत्तर पूर्व) : सभापति महोदय, मैं बजट के बारे में वर्तमान मासिक पत्रिका पढ़ रहा था। मैंने उसमें समाज के अलग-अलग एक्सपट्र्स और वभिन्न तबकों की प्रतक्रिया जानने का प्रयत्न किया। एक मैगजीन का कवर था जिस में लिखा था मिस्टर फील गुड़। And further he has explained something for everybody. There is something for industry, a push to the salaried class and stimulus to investment. The Finance Minster, Shri Jaswant Singh, has made everyone happy with his maiden Budget.
सभापति जी, दूसरी एक पत्रिका ने भी बजट के बारे में लिखा। माननीय शिवराज पाटिल जी अभी यहां नहीं है। वह बजट की परिभाषा और मुख्य व्याख्या कर रहे थे। बजट की भाषा सामान्य व्यक्ति के शब्दों में अगर कहें तो यह होती है किthe last day of February is not only the occasion for the Government to throw open its accounts books to public audit, it is also the moment for it to speak its mind on economic policy to draw the roadmap for how Government, industry, even ordinary citizens, will earn, spend, and save their money.
"A commentator on a News Channel has said: "The Budget is like a Christmas tree. It had something for everyone, for every section of the society. It showed the strength of political and economic strength of India."माननीय सभापति जी, ऐसा बजट माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी ने प्रस्तुत करने का प्रयत्न किया है। शिवराज जी नहीं हैं। मैंने एक बार पहले भी सदन में एक मराठी कहावत कही थी। मराठी में कहते हैं -- " निन्दकाचे घर असावेत शेजारी। " यानी जो आलोचक होता है, जो हमारी निन्दा करता है उसका घर अपने पड़ोस में होना चाहिए ताकि हम जागरूक रह सकें। मैं कांग्रेस पार्टी की इस पॉज़टिव आलोचना का तो स्वागत करता हूँ लेकिन मैं साथ ही यह भी सोचने का प्रयत्न कर रहा था कि बजट में कहीं तो कुछ अच्छा लिखा होगा। क्या इस बजट में यह नहीं है -- For the first time, the Finance Minister has said: "health for the poor". महोदय, १९८९ से अभी तक के सभी वित्त मंत्रियों के जो भाषण और इकोनॉमिक सर्वेज़ हैं, उनको पिछले दो-तीन दिनों से मैंने लाइब्रेरी में बैठकर देखने का प्रयत्न किया। यहां हमारे वित्त मंत्री हैं और प्रधान मंत्री हैं जिन्होंने गरीबों के स्वास्थ्य के बारे में और आम आदमी के बारे में चिन्ता व्यक्त की है। उन्होंने क्या कहा है - With regard to "health for the poor", it says, ‘just contribute one rupee a day, the Government is there - the General Insurance Corporation is a Government institution – to take care of your health’. कितनी अच्छी कल्पना की है मैं चाहूंगा कि इस बजट में जो गलतियां हैं वे हमारे ध्यान में लाएं और कुछ अच्छे पॉइंट हैं तो उनको और मजबूत करने के लिए क्या प्रयत्न करने चाहिए, उस बारे में भी सुझाव दें।
मैं जब वित्त मंत्री जी का भाषण सुन रहा था तो उन्होंने रुककर कहा कि मैं सदन से अपील करूँगा कि हम एक नई कल्पना लेकर सामने आए हैं - हैल्थ इन्श्योरेन्स। हमारे देश में, समाज में, हमारे फाइनेन्स में, हमारी इकोनॉमी में यह टोटली अनएक्सप्लॉइटेड सैक्टर है। What is the Health Insurance Scheme -- कि समाज साथ मिलकर एक एक रुपया कंट्रीब्यूट करे और जो भी बीमार होगा, उसे उस समय ३०हजार रुपये मिलेंगे। अगर वह काम पर नहीं जा पाया तो १५ दिन के लिए उसको ५० रुपये रोज़ाना दिए जाएंगे और जो घाटा उसमें होगा, वह सरकार देगी। The concept of ‘health for the poor’ has come for the first time. आज हम सब लोक सभा में प्रश्न पूछते हैं, अपनी पार्टी के मैनिफैस्टो में लिखते हैं। हम अपने बच्चों को यह संस्कार देते हैं कि बुज़ुर्गों की सेवा करो, आदर करो -- ये हमारे देश के संस्कार हैं, हमारे देश की संस्कृति है लेकिन अगर बुज़ुर्गों का ख्याल रखने का प्रयत्न वित्त मंत्री जी ने किया तो हमें उसकी कुछ तो सराहना करनी चाहिए थी For the first time, the Government of India has announced a policy, a financial package and support for the senior citizens. जो हमारे पालक हैं, पेरेन्ट्स हैं, गार्जियन्स हैं क्योंकिThis credit goes to all of us कि हिन्दुस्तान में १९४७ में आम आदमी का लाइफ-स्पैन ३७-३८ साल का था।In 2001 Census, it has gone up to 64 years. This is the achievement of our democracy. लेकिन साथ- साथ हमें यह भी सोचना पड़ेगा कि उसके कारण समाज में ऐसी परिस्थिति निर्मित हो गई है कि आज हमारे देश में पौने आठ करोड़ सीनियर सटिजन्स हैं।
महोदय, २००७ में उनकी संख्या १० करोड़ हो जाएंगे। जो रिटायर्ड हैं, जो सीनियर हैं, उन्हें आर्थिक सपोर्ट किस प्रकार से देना, उनके लिए क्या करना है। इस हेतु हम एक स्कीम लेकर आए हैं। Life Insurance Corporation is a Government organisation. बहुत अच्छी तरह से चल रहा है। आज उसमें सवा दो लाख या जो भी रकम आती है उससे उनकी मदद की जाएगी।This has come for the first time. ९ परसेंट इंटरैस्ट सरकार देगी और हर महीने की एक तारीख को २००० रुपए का चैक उसके एकाउंट में जमा हो जाएगा।This is a concept. यह बात मैं आपके सामने दावे के साथ कहता हूं कि कुछ भी हो, लेकिन सीनियर सिटीजन में एक उत्कंठा थी, प्रतीक्षा थी और वे सोच रहे हैं कि कब ऐसी कोई योजना आए। वे प्रतीक्षा कर रहे थे कि कब १ अप्रेल आए और हम इस योजना के सदस्य बनें। मैं बताना चाहता हूं कि १ अप्रेल के बाद एल.आई.सी. के कार्यालयों के सामने लाइन लगेगी, क्योंकि लोगों को लाइफ कार्पोरेशन में विश्वास है। वे जानते हैं कि उनका भविष्य आपके हाथों सुरक्षित है। The Minister of Finance has said about ‘vishvas’. Let us change the concept of taxation from suspicion to trust. Let us give a thrust to trust.कोई भी व्यक्ति चाहे वह किसी भी प्रकार का व्यवसाय करता है, चाहे वह नौकरी करता है, चाहे वह कांट्रेक्ट बेस पर कार्य करता है, कोई भी अपना छोटा-मोटा व्यवसाय करता है, उसे इन्कम टैक्स डिपार्टमेंट के लोग बड़ी शंका की निगाह से देखते हैं और उससे कहते थे कि तुमने टैक्स भरा है या नहीं, लेकिन हमारे वित्त मंत्री जी ने पहली बार उन्हें प्रतिष्ठा प्रदान की है। यह देश मेरा और आपका नहीं है। यह देश उनका है जो अपना व्यवसाय करने वाले लोग हैं, वे अपने पैरों पर खड़े होंगे। जो नौकरी करते हैं। उन्हें इन्कम टैक्स डिपार्टमेंट को शंका की द्ृष्टि से देखना बन्द करना पड़ेगा। उनके लिए क्या-क्या नहीं दिया वित्त मंत्री जी ने, उन्होंने कहा कि जो मध्यम वर्ग है, जो मेहनत करता है, उसे फायदा मिलना चाहिए। मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि वित्त मंत्री जी ने उनका बहुत ध्यान रखा है। जो मध्यम वर्ग है, जो नौकरी करता है, जो ऑनैस्ट है, जिसका टैक्स एम्पलायर तनखा देने से पहले काट लेता है।I think, that is the capital of India. He said: "You are honest." What is our capital? Our capital is human resources. आप नौकरी करने जाते हो, आपका पैसा कटता है, आपको उसका हिस्सा मिलना चाहिए।
महोदय, स्टैंडर्ड डिडैक्शन २० हजार से बढ़ाकर ३० हजार कर दिया। इतना ही नहीं वित्त मंत्री जी ने कहा कि हिन्दुस्तान के कल के भविष्य को यदि देखना है, आने वाले भविष्य को देखना है, यदि २१वीं सदी का भारत बनाना है, तो हमें आने वाली पीढ़ी को अधिक सुसंस्कारित और सुशक्षित करना पड़ेगा।
The NDA Government has recognised it. They have said: "We are going to give importance to IT, biotech, pharmacy and education."मैं एक भाषण सुन रहा था जो महाराष्ट्र में दिया गया उसमें हमारी आर्थिक स्थिति का बहुत अच्छा वर्णन किया गया है।
महोदय, हमारा एक्सपोर्ट बढ़ा है। हमारी हर क्षेत्र में प्रगति हो रही है। इन्फर्मेशन टैक्नौलोजी के क्षेत्र में बहुत प्रगति हो रही है। आज हमारा फॉरेन एक्सचेंज दिनोंदिन ऊपर चढ़ता जा रहा है। यह किस के कारण हो रहा है, यह हमारे लोग जो विदेश गए हैं, जो वहां नौकरी कर रहे हैं, उनके कारण हो रहा है। वे वहां से यहां पैसा भेज रहे हैं। हमारे देश के लोग फार्मास्युटिकल, बायौ-टैक्नौलौजी इंडस्ट्रीज में बहुत आगे बढ़ रहे हैं। हमारे पास ज्ञान है, विद्या है, शिक्षा है, जो हमारी अक्ल है, उसके कारण देश आगे जाने वाला है। एन.डी.ए. गवर्नमेंट ने इसे रिकॉगनाइज किया है। इसलिए वित्त मंत्री जी ने कहा है कि अपने बच्चों को उच्च शिक्षा दिलाने के लिए खर्च करो और १२ हजार रुपए तक हम आपको टैक्स में रिबेट देंगे। मुम्बई में एक इकनौमिस्ट ने अपने भाषण में एक बहुत अच्छी बात कही, उन्होंने कहा कि The 19th century belonged to the Britishers. क्योंकि ब्रटिशर्स पूरे विश्व के नैचुरल रिसोर्सेस की मानिटरिंग करते थे, उनका नियंत्रण थाThe 20th century belonged to the Americans. क्योंकि अमरीका का कंट्रोल पूरी दुनिया के मटीरियल पर था। They have said: "The 19th century belonged to the Britishers due to natural resources. The 20th century belonged to the Americans due to material resources. The 21st century is going to belong to India because of its human resources." यह हमारे हयूमन रिसोर्स के कारण है। हम विश्व में सर्वोच्च स्थान पर पहुंचेंगे। हम पहुंच रहे हैं। इसको रिकॉगनाइज करने का काम इस बजट में हुआ है ।
बजट में मंत्री जी ने क्या नहीं दिया? वित्त मंत्री जी ने कहा कि केपिटल मार्केट सुधारनी होगी, कैपिटल मार्केट सुधरेगी तो सेविंग बढ़ेगी, केपिटल मार्केट में आएगी, सेविंग ज्यादा मोबलाइज़, चेनलाइज़ होगी, केपिटल मार्केट में, फाइनेंस मार्केट में आएगी। फिर उसके द्वारा इंडस्ट्री में जाएगी और इंडस्ट्री का प्रोडक्शन बढ़ेगा तथा लोगों के हाथ में ज्यादा पैसा आएगा, बचत ज्यादा होगी। इसके लिए उन्होंने केपिटल गेन्स टैक्स, जो लोंग टर्म के ऊपर था, उसे छूट दे दी। इसके साथ डविडेंड टैक्स के बारे में एक नई भूमिका अपनाई। मुझे आश्चर्य हुआ कि वित्त मंत्री जी ने एक बार सामान्य छोटे निवेशक के हाथ में इंकम टैक्स ८०एल की जो डविडेंड में रिबेट मिलती है, इन्होंने एक तरफ डविडेंड को कम्पनी के हाथ में टैक्सेबल किया। इन्होंने ८०-एल के अंतर्गत मर्यादा ९००० रुपए की कम नहीं की, इन्होंने कहा कि आप ज्यादा बचाओ, इनवेस्ट करो। ये ९००० रुपए की मर्यादा १२,००० तक लेकर गए।A total benefit of Rs.50,000 will be allowed. इन्होंने मेडीकल ट्रीटमेंट के लिए, अपंग बच्चों और लेखकों के लिए, गवर्नमेंट सर्वेंट को इन्होंने अलग-अलग प्रकार के लीव ट्रेवल एलाउंस दिए। इंटरस्ट बर्डन कम किया, लाइफ सेविंग ड्रग्स में छूट दे दी।
That is why when the economist of India, the renowned, the famous, the expert, Shrimati Indira Rajaraman, Professor of IEG, she gave 7 marks out of 10. Another Economist, Chief Economist, Shri Subhir Gokharna 8 marks out of 10; Shri Bibek Debroy 7 out of 10; Shri Kirit Pari 8 out of 10; and Shri Siddharth Roy 7 out of 10. यह किस ने दिया और यह कौन है? एक चीफ इकोनोमिस्ट, प्रोफेसर, आईजीडीआर, डायरेक्टर हैं, छोटे-छोटे और अलग-अलग प्रकार के लोग हैं। अलग-अलग कारण दिए हैं। टैक्सटाइल सैक्टर को अच्छा पैकेज दिया। एक्साइज़ डयूटी का रेशनालाइजेशन किया। Incentive to road and construction. किसी ने कहा टूरिज़म को इनडायरेक्ट टैक्सेस का रेश्नलाइजेशन का और किसी ने कहा हैल्थ सैक्टर को भी आपने बढ़ावा दिया, यानी डिफरेंट टाइप के लोगों ने दिया। किसी ने कहा यह देखने का प्रयत्न किया। इसके लिए मैं वास्तव में यहां कहना चाहूंगा कि सबसे बड़ी महत्व की बात इन्होंने डिब्यूरोक्रेटाइजेशन की करी। आज तक यह होता था कि इंकम टैक्स का नोटिस आता था तो लोग भागते थे। मैं चार्टर्ड एकाउटेंट की प्रेक्टिस करता था और अभी भी थोड़ी-बहुत करता हूं। मुझे पता है कि जब इंकम टैक्स और सैल्स टैक्स का एक छोटा से लेटर आता है तो लोग कांपते हैं। पहली बार इस प्रकार का प्रयत्न किया गया। जो इंस्पेक्टर राज है, टैक्सेशन सैक्शन में उसे रोकना। There are random sampling, outsourcing of Income Tax Department, refund will be available within six months. ये अलग-अलग प्रकार की कल्पना लेकर आए हैं। सबसे अच्छा एक प्रयत्न यह हुआ है, जिसके प्रति बहुत कम लोगों का ध्यान गया है। वास्तव में भारत हमारा देश है। What has the Finance Minis2ter given? It is a good and new idea, and concept is ‘Brand India’. हम जब विदेश में जाएंगे या वहां के लोग यहां आएंगे, क्योंकि अभी हमें अलग-अलग प्रकार का एक्सपोर्ट बढ़ाना है। देश को मजबूत करना है। What we will have to develop? We will have to create a ‘Brand India’. इसके लिए २०० करोड़ रुपए का प्रावधान करके एक नयी कल्पना देने का प्रयत्न किया है।
महोदय, मेरे सहयोगी ने कहा है कि इंकम टैक्स में सरचार्ज आदि में जो कुछ किया। मैं एक उदाहरण देना चाहूंगा कि जो छोटा व्यक्ति है, सामान्य नौकरी करने वाला है, he will have tax benefit. He will have nearly 35 per cent tax savings per annum.जो १०,००० रुपए टैक्स भरता है, ९०३० रुपए साल का इंकम टैक्स भरने वाला है, उसे अब खाली ३,४०० रुपए टैक्स भरना पड़ेगा।
नौ हजार रुपए टैक्स देने वाले को ३४०० रुपये टैक्स देना पड़ेगा, He is going to save 65 per cent tax. मित्रो, मैं सोच रहा था कि कभी-कभी एक वचित्र परिस्थिति निर्मित होती है। कुछ दिन पहले मैंने वर्तमान पत्र में पढ़ा था कि हमारे वित्त मंत्री ने जब यह पदभार संभाला था, तब भी उन्होंने कहा था कि मैं राजपूत हूं, मैं लड़ाई करना जानता हूं। यह आर्मी में बहुत बड़े पद पर थे, पद से निवृत्त हो गये तो आर्मी का व्यक्ति का सम्मान कौन करना चाहता है, डिफेंस के लोग करना चाहते हैं। मैंने अखबार में पढ़ा तो मुझे लग रहा है, भारत सरकार ने भी लगभग अनुमति दे दी है। डिफेंस के लोग माननीय जसवन्त सिंह जी का सम्मान करना चाहते हैं, उन्हें कारगिल मैडल देना चाहते हैं। कारगिल मैडल किसलिए, क्योंकि उन्होंने कारगिल के युद्ध के समय पर विदेश मंत्री के नाते जो भूमिका निभाई, उसके लिए उन्हें मैडल मिल रहा है। मैं सोच रहा था कि डिफेंस के व्यक्ति उन्हें वित्त मंत्री के नाते मैडल दे रहे हैं तो इतना सुन्दर बजट देने के नाते अगर जनता ने वित्त मंत्री करके उनका सम्मान किया तो उन्हें कितने मैडल देने चाहिए और किस प्रकार के मैडल देने चाहिए। हमें एक ऐसा वित्त मंत्री मिला है कि जिसने आम आदमी का बेलैंस बनाने का प्रयत्न किया है।
यह बात सही है कि इस वर्ष एग्रीकल्चर में थोड़ी सी कमी होने के कारण हमारा जी.डी.पी. रेट थोड़ा कम हुआ है। Yes, we have to accept it. लेकिन क्या पहली बार ऐसा हुआ है कि एग्रीकल्चर ग्रोथ जो बरसात के कारण कम हुई है। हमारे देश में मानसून के ऊपर हम इतना डिपेंड करते हैं। इकोनोमिक सर्वे का यहां रैफरेंस दिया गया, मैं उसके प्रति आपका ध्यान आकृष्ट करना चाहूंगा, From 1997 to 2002, the monsoon performance in India has been given. उसमें उन्होंने दिया कि नोर्मल है या एक्सेस। १९९७ में डैफीसिएंट जोन तीन थे, १९९८ में दो, १९९९ में सात, २००० में सात, २००१ में पांच और २००२ में २१ जोन में बरसात ठीक नहीं थी। इसके कारण अगर हमारी एग्रीकल्चर ग्रोथ माइनस तीन परसेंट हुई और उसके कारण अगर हमारे डवलपमेंट पर असर हुआ है तो चिन्ता करना स्वाभाविक है। लेकिन चिन्ता करते समय हमने शायद इसके साथ यह कहा होता कि जो माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने नदियों को जोड़ने की योजना घोषित की है, उसके लिए हम कैसे आगे बढ़ें। इस प्रकार की जो वचित्र परिस्थिति होती है कि एक साल अगर मानसून खराब गया तो एग्रीकल्चर में निगेटिव ग्रोथ होगी, उसके कारण Though your industrial growth is six per cent, though your service sector has shown a growth rate of more than seven per cent, your GDP has been limited to four per cent. तो इसके लिए हमें क्या करना पड़ेगा। हमें इन नदियों को जोड़ने का प्रयत्न करना पड़ेगा। माननीय कांग्रेस के नेता ने, जब हमारे धनंजय कुमार जी बोल रहे थे, तब उन्होंने बीच में एक विषय उपस्थित किया, अगर वे यहां होते तो मैं उन्हें बताता कि आपने अपने भाषण में यह कहा कThis Government is not taking care of the farmers and the agriculturists. He was talking about the agricultural finance. I would also like to refer to the same Economic Survey which he was referring to. इकोनोमिक सर्वे में क्या कहा,I will read out the figure in regard to the flow of institutional credit to agriculture. "In 1997-98, the total institutional credit available to agriculture was Rs.31,956 crore." अभी १९९७-९८ में, यानी सरकार जिस दिन आई, उस समय की मैं बात कर रहा हूं, उसके पहले तो भारतीय जनता पार्टी और एन.डी.ए. की सरकार नहीं थी, उसके पहले तो कांग्रेस या कांग्रेस समर्थित सरकारें थीं तो आपने कितना एग्रीकल्चर फाइनेंस दिया था। It was Rs.31,956 crore.
The amount has gone up to Rs.82,073 crore in 2002-03.यह सरकार मानती है कि इस देश में आज एग्रीक्लचर का अपना एक महत्व है और इसके कारण किसान क्रेडिट कार्ड योजना प्रारम्भ की।Under the Kisan Credit Card Yojana, Rs.64,000 crore have been disbursed and 271 cards have been distributed. २००४ तक इन सभी को कवर करने का हम प्रयत्न करने वाले हैं। मुझे मंजूर है कि अनेक बार टीका-टिप्पणी होती है और कहा जाता है कि ८ परसेंट जी.डी.पी. ग्रोथ रेट आप कैसे करेंगे । मैं यह कहना चाहूंगा किthough sometimes it seems difficult अगर हमें अपने देश को आगे ले जाना है तो हमें इसी प्रकार का कोई टारगेट लेना पड़ेगा। जिस देश में हम ६.४ प्रतिशत ग्रोथ रेट तक जा सकते हैं तो वही देश उसी शक्ति के आधार पर व्यवस्थित करके, आयोजन करके, प्लानिंग करके और यदि मानसून थोड़ा साथ दे तो We can even cross eight per cent. हम सपना देखते हैं। क्यों सपना देखते हैं ? जिस देश में सर्विस ग्रोथ रेट ७ परसेंट हो सकती है, मैनुफैक्चरिंग ग्रोथ वल्र्ड में गलूम है। उसी परिस्थिति में अगर इंडस्टि्रयल ग्रोथ हम ६ परसेंट के करीब ला सकते हैं तो हम सब प्रयत्न करके इसे ८ परसेंट तक ला सकते हैं। हां, हमें मान्य है। प्रधान मंत्री श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी ने कहा था कि हमें हमारे अतीत का अभिमान है। हम अपने अतीत से प्रेरणा लें और हमारी आंख में भविष्य के स्वर्णीम सपने हैं लेकिन हमें वर्तमान की चुनौती भी स्वीकार है। वह वर्तमान की चुनौती क्या है ? वर्तमान की चुनौती यह है कि जो इंटरनैशनल डैट है। What is the situation of our internal debt?यह इंटरनल डैट किसके कारण हुआ ? क्या भारतीय जनता पार्टी के कारण हुआ ? किसके कारण हुआ ? इस प्रकार की परिस्थिति पैदा हुई। वर्तमान में चुनौती को स्वीकार करके माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी ने कहा कि हमारी जो वित्त नीतियां हैं, उसको बदलेंगे कि आज उधार लो और कल के भविष्य की पीढ़ी के ऊपर हम बोझा या कर्जा डालें, यह हमें मंजूर नहीं है। I will read out the figures. For the first time, in 1980, the total interest burden of the country was somewhere around seven per cent. वहइंटरैस्ट बर्डन आगे बढ़कर कहां तक पहुंच गया ? It has been mentioned in The Economic Survey: ‘Interest payment is the single largest expenditure item at 34.5 per cent.’ It is mentioned that the borrowing was considerably increased in 1990s. The interest rate was seven per cent in 1980-81 and it went up to a peak level of 13.8 per cent in 1995-96. अगर आप १४ परसेंट के बयाज पर पैसा लेंगे और कर्जा उतारने के लिए दूसरा कर्जा लेंगे, इंटरैस्ट की पैमेंट करने के लिए आप लोन लेंगे, इंटरनल या एक्सटर्नल कर्जा लें तो देश के भविष्य का क्या होगा? This is the Government which has decided that we have to curtail and stop this. इसके कारण इस सरकार ने चार साल में इंटरैस्ट रेट कम करते-करते In the year 2001-02, the average interest rate of market borrowings came down to 9.4 per cent and in the current year the average cost of market borrowings is just 7.5 per cent. इसके लिए मैं एन.डी.ए. सरकार, माननीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी और श्री जसवंस सिंह जी को बधाई देना चाहूंगा कि बहुत अच्छा काम करके भविष्य की पीढ़ी को सुरक्षित करने का काम उन्होंने किया। इसी के साथ मैं आपका ध्यान इस तऱफ भी दिलाना चाहूंगा कि अनेक बार हमारे जो कांग्रेस के मित्र हैं, वे भूल जाते हैं कि जो वह न कर सके, वह काम इस सरकार ने करके दिखाया है।
I would like to quote hon. former Minister of Finance Dr. Manmohan Singh. In his Budget Speech of 1994-95, Dr. Manmohan Singh said this on the interest burden:
"The provision for interest payment next year is placed at Rs.46,000 crore."
18.00 hrs. "…This is an increase of Rs. 8,000 crore over the current year’s Budget Estimates. Hon. Members will appreciate that the major part of the interest burden – I would like to repeat, hon. Members will appreciate that the major part of the interest burden -- is a legacy from the past and it continues to grow because of continued high-level of Government borrowings. " … (Interruptions) यह मेरा वाक्य नहीं है, यह मनमोहन सिंह जी का वाक्य है। १९९४-९५ में अगर इतना हैवी बर्डन था तो उन्होंने कम करने का प्रयत्न क्यों नहीं किया? …( व्यवधान)पार्टी ने भी मुझे ज्यादा समय देने के लिए कहा है।…( व्यवधान)
सभापति महोदय : कितना समय और लीजिएगा?
श्री किरीट सोमैया:या तो मुझे पूरा करने दें नहीं तो मैं कल बोलूंगा।
सभापति महोदय : अभी दो और माननीय सदस्य बोलने वाले हैं। सभा की सहमति हो तो दो और माननीय सदस्य श्री पी.एच.पांडियन और श्री रघुनाथ झा का भी सूची में नाम है। उनके बोलने तक सभा की कार्यवाही बढ़ाई जाए।
…( व्यवधान)
सभापति महोदय : श्री रघुनाथ झा जी, क्या आप आज बोलेंगे?
श्री रघुनाथ झा (गोपालगंज):बोल लेंगे।
सभापति महोदय : श्री रघुनाथ झा के बोलने तक सभा की कार्यवाही बढ़ाई जाती है।
SHRI KIRIT SOMAIYA : At the same time, he further mentioned, out of the total gross receipts of Rs. 87,136 crore, Rs. 46,000 crore is interest payment, which amounts to 53 per cent. माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी मनमोहन सिंह जी ने १९९३-९४ के बजट में भी इसी प्रकार की बात कही।He further mentioned:
"The provision for 1993-94 on account of interest payment is Rs. 38,000 crore. The high interest burden is due to the rising volume of Government debts which itself reflects the large fiscal deficit of the past incurred year after year. "
He further mentioned:
"The average rate of interest on internal liabilities rose from 9.3 per cent in 1994-95 to 9.7 per cent in 1995-96 and budgeted to 9.9 per cent in 1996-97. "
मैं कहना चाहता था कि यह बात सही है कि आज हमारे देश के ऊपर इतना कर्जा है। For the first time, the Government has tried to swap the external and internal loans. Do we know the total fiscal deficit of the Centre and the States? It has crossed ten per cent. ८३००० करोड़ हमारे वित्त मंत्री जी ने राज्यों को ऑफर किया है कि आपका १५ प्रतिशत, १७ प्रतिशत और १८ प्रतिशत का जो लोन है, उसका बोझा कम करो। इतना ही नहीं, एक्सटरनल फाइनेंस के संबंध में उन्होंने तीन लाख डॉलर का स्वैपिंग करने का प्रयत्न किया। इसी के साथ मैं एक और विषय के ऊपर ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहूंगा। कांग्रेस के एक सदस्य ने प्रयत्न किया।He has made certain observations regarding the small scale sector. Now I would like to quote again the Economic Survey.
"In 1994-95, in small scale sector, the number of units was 25 lakh and total employment provided was 146 lakh. In 2002-03, it went up to 36 lakh. "
यानी १९९४-९५ में जब कांग्रेस की विदाई हुई, वहां से लेकर आज तक दस लाख और अधिक स्मॉल स्केल सैक्टर यूनिट्स खड़े किये गये। इतना ही नहीं, एम्पलॉयमेंट १९९ लाख हुआ है। इसके साथ मैं एक और विषय के प्रति आपका ध्यान आकृष्ट करना चाहूंगा। जो गरीबी की बात करते हैं और गरीबी हटाओ का नारा देते हैं, गरीबी हटाओ का नारा जिन्होंने दिया था, उनके क्या आकड़े थे। वही इकोनॉमिक सर्वे जो हमारे लिए कोट किया गया और एक बहुत अच्छी संस्था ने प्रयत्न किया है। The estimated poverty in India in percentage term was 55 per cent in 1973-74. यानी गरीब लोगों की संख्या कुल देश की जनसंख्या की ५५ प्रतिशत थी, आज वह घटकर २३ प्रतिशत पर आ गई है।
हमारी कल्पना है कि २००७ तक उसे १९ प्रतिशत तक लाने का प्रयत्न करेंगे। हम इसके लिए प्रयासरत हैं। गरीब चाहे दस प्रतिशत हों या एक प्रतिशत हो, हमें सबके प्रति संवेदना प्रकट करनी चाहिए और गरीबी दूर करने के लिए तथा रोजगार देने के लिए क्या करना चाहिए, इसकी बात जरूर करें। मेरे पास रोजगार के भी आंकड़े हैं। मैं सबसे पहले कांग्रेस पार्टी के राज के ये आंकड़े कोट करूंगा।
"The total employment has gone up from 187 million to 250 million in the year 20000."
इस प्रकार का एक अच्छा बजट देश की जनता को देने का वित्त मंत्री जी ने प्रयत्न किया है। मैं उनको कुछ सुझाव देना चाहूंगा।One thing is regarding the VAT. उस वैट के बारे में कांग्रेस पार्टी ने जो सपना देखा था, वह सपना उनके समय में पूरा नहीं हुआ। मनमोहन सिंह जी ने उस समय कहा था VAT is the system which should br brought in.लेकिन उन्होंने १९९३-९४ में जो सपना उन्होंने देखा था, वह पूरा नहीं कर पाए। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से प्रार्थना करूंगा, यह ठीक है कि कांग्रेस पार्टी ने यह पोजटिव एटीटयूट लोगों को देने का प्रयत्न किया और आश्वासन दिया कि हमें देश में वैट प्रणाली लागू करनी चाहिए। VAT and services are the two segments. हम जीडीपी पांच प्रतिशत से अधिक कंट्रीब्यूट करके दिखाएंगे। इसमें कुछ राज्यों को दिक्कत हो सकती है, उसको दूर किया जा सकता है,but here is the system. हम नए रिसोर्सेज कहां से लाएंगे। यह मैं इकोनॉमिक सर्वे से आंकड़े दिखा सकता हूं कि कांग्रेस पार्टी के शासन ने जब विदा ली तो तब से अब तक टोटल गवर्नमेंट रेवेन्यू डबल हो गया है। But that is not enough to cross eight per cent growth.अगर आठ प्रतिशत जीडीपी की ग्रोथ करनी है तो service sector and VAT are the two concepts. उससे आधुनिकीकरण होगा, सरल होगा, लेकिन साथ ही मैं वित्त मंत्री जी का ध्यान इस बात की ओर भी आकर्षित करना चाहता हूं कि मनमोहन सिंह जी ने १९९३-९४ की स्पीच में कहा था --
"Our excise duty is also to be simplified with fewer rates and our long-term aim should be to move to a value added tax system as in the case of most countries. However, a nation-wide value added tax system cannot be introduced overnight."
कांग्रेस पार्टी जो १९९३ से सपना देख रही थी, अगर कांग्रेस पार्टी का वह सपना मनमोहन सिंह जी पूरा नहीं कर सके, जसवंत सिंह जी ने उसे पूरा किया। हमें इसके लिए उनको बधाई देनी चाहिए और मैं उनको बधाई देता हूं।
श्री प्रवीण राष्ट्रपाल : जैसा प्रधान मंत्री जी ने कहा कि सपना देखना अच्छी बात है, उसी तरह मनमोहन सिंह जी भी सपना देख रहे थे, तो यह अच्छी बात है।
श्री किरीट सोमैया: अगर मनमोहन सिंह जी ने १९९३ में कुछ विचार रखे, वह अगर उनको पांच या दस साल में पूरा नहीं कर सके तो मैं प्रार्थना करना चाहूंगा कि दिल्ली में जो कांग्रेस शासित राज्य है या अन्य राज्यों में भी जो इसको लेकर विरोध है, मैं उन सभी से अपील करना चाहूंगा। They should ask their State Governments that they should come forward for introduction of VAT from 1st of April.
SHRI PRAVIN RASHTRAPAL : My dear friend, all the Chief Ministers have agreed to it in the Conference. You should know it.
श्री किरीट सोमैया:आपकी बात एकदम सही है। इसलिए मैं उसका स्वागत करता हूं। लेकिन बाद में दिल्ली की मुख्य मंत्री कहती हैं कि हम वैट लागू नहीं करेंगे। शायद और भी राज्य ऐसा कहते होंगे। हमें इसे राजनीतिक विषय नहीं बनाना चाहिए। वैट अच्छी चीज है। मैं आपको सर्विस टैक्स के बारे में उदाहरण देना चाहता हूं और केबल आपरेटर्स की बात करना चाहता हूं। मुम्बई में २० लाख कनेक्शन हैं। इनसे सर्विस टैक्स ये आपरेटर इकट्ठा करते हैं, एंटरटेनमेंट टैक्स इकट्ठा करते हैं, लेकिन राज्य सरकार के हिसाब से एंटरटेनमैंट टैक्स चार लाख सैंतालीस हजार ही भरते हैं और आपके सर्विस टैक्स विभाग में ४७,००० कस्टमर हैं जो सर्विस टैक्स भरते हैं। इस तरह से जो आपकी प्रशासनिक मशीनरी है, जो प्रशासनिक सिस्टम है, उसमें भी सुधार करना होगा। लोगों से सर्विस टैक्स वसूल किया जाता है, लेकिन सरकारी खजाने में नहीं आता। उसके लिए क्या करना चाहिए, यह सोचना चाहिए। मैं हाउसिंग के बारे में कहना चाहूंगा।The Government should make up its mind very clearly. मैं बधाई दूंगा कि आपने स्पष्टत: से सदन में कहा था कि १९९७ में सात हजार करोड़ रुपए हाउसिंग फाइनेंस में लगा था, जो अब बढ़कर ३७,००० करोड़ रुपए हो गया है।
उसके कारण स्टील इंडस्ट्री में अनेक वर्षों की मंदी के बावजूद भी ५० प्रतिशत ज्यादा ग्रोथ दिखाई दे रही है और सीमेंट इंडस्ट्री में १० प्रतिशत ज्यादा ग्रोथ दिखाई दे रही है। These industries are major parts of our economy. आपने इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर के लिए ६० लाख रुपये के प्रोजैक्ट्स तैयार किये हैं। We should make our own mind very clear. आज सामान्य व्यक्ति घर बनाने के लिए आपकी ओर देखता है। आपने टैक्स छूट दी है। वह १०-१५ साल के लिए लोन लेता है लेकिन अगर दूसरे साल आपकी ओर से कोई स्टेटमेंट आ जाती है तो वह हमसे प्रश्न पूछता है। मैं आपका अभिनंदन और धन्यवाद करना चाहता हूं कि इस प्रकार की स्थिति के लिए आपने स्थिति पहले ही स्पष्ट कर दी है। डायरेक्ट टैक्स रैवेन्यू को बढाने के लिए मैंने पहले भी सुझाव दिये हैं किyou will have to appoint some study group. भारत के अनेक कोरपोरेट्स अपनी प्रमोटर्स होल्िंडग्स मॉरिशस बेस्ड इंवैस्टमेंट कंपनी के नाम शिफ्ट कर रहे हैं। मैं आपको अनेक नाम दे सकता हूं। उसके कारण कोरपोरेट अंशदान यहां से शिफ्ट हो रहा है। इसके बारे में मॉरिशस सरकार ने ३२ पेट का नोट सर्कूलेट किया था। You shift your promoter company, you shift your headquarter, you shift your registered company and we will charge one percent tax. इनके लिए मॉरिशस का रास्ता बंद होगा तो कोई और खुल जाएगा। इसलिए इसके बारे में आपको गंभीरता से सोचना होगा।
जो पे-चैनल्स हैं। यहां से तो एडवरटाइजमेंट रैवेन्यू ले जाते हैं लेकिन एक पैसा भी रैवेन्यू में अंशदान नहीं करते हैं। इस बात को मैं पिछले तीन सालों से लगातार कह रहा हूं। You will have to appoint a study group which should go into details of this. मैं साथ में सजेशन देना चाहता हूं।Our foreign exchange reserves are going to cross US $ 80 billion in the next one month. उसके कारण रुपया भी पहली बार मजबूत हुआ है। लेकिन आपने जो सजेशन दिया है जो वल्र्ड बैंक और बाकी के एक्सटर्नल फाइनेंशियल इंस्टीटयूशन्स हैं उनको आप प्रेस करने का काम जारी रखेंगे। मेरा कहना इतना ही है कि सोशल जिम्मेदारियों की ओर उनको और गति देनी चाहिए।
दो साल पहले गुजरात में भुकम्प आया था। मुम्बई के संस्थानों ने कच्छ के अनेक गांवों को एडॉप्ट किया था, लेकिन वहां पर जो अर्बन एरियाज हैं उनका जो रि-डैवलेपमेंट करना था, गुजरात सरकार ने उसका प्लॉन अभी चार महीने पहले मंजूर किया है। डोनेशन लोगों ने दिया है और आपने उनके लिए टैक्स कंसेशन एनाउंस किया था। लेकिन इस साल आपने उसको एक्सटेंशन नहीं दी है। What would happen? सरकार के पास पैसा पड़ा है। गुजरात सरकार ने टाऊन-प्लॉनिंग स्कीम की अभी मंजूरी दी है। लोगों का पोजीटिव-रैस्पोन्स देना बाकी है। मान्यवर, आप जब बजट चर्चा का समापन करें, तो उसमें इस परिस्थिति को स्पष्ट करें।
एक गलत-फहमी अखबारों में पैदा हो रही है।…( व्यवधान) Let us go for positive things. खाने के तेल के बारे में, पामोलिव के बारे में तरह-तरह की गलत-फहमियां फैलाई जा रही हैं। You have tried to bring inside the tax net the branded oil only. मैं आपको एक उदाहरण देना चाहता हूं। गोदरेज कंपनी का मूंगफली का ब्रॉडेड तेल है जिसकी एक लीटर की कीमत ६४ रुपये है। अगर गोदरेज का नाम निकाल देंगे तो वह आपको ५४ रुपये में मिल जाएगा। वह ब्रांडेड आयल बड़ी कंपनियां बनाती हैं और उसके ऊपर एक प्रतिशत एक्साईज लागू होती है तो उसके बारे में ज्यादा आपत्ति नहीं होनी चाहिए।Because we will have to increase our tax net. मीडिया में एक कैम्पेन कुछ लोग चला रहे है। उनके ऊपर ध्यान देना पड़ेगा क्योंकि आम आदमी को, आम जनता को, मध्यम वर्ग के लोगों को उससे नुकसान होने वाला नहीं है। मैं आपको एक और सजेशन देना चाहूंगा।Cash management of the Government. अलग-अलग कमेटियों में जब हम बैठते हैं और क्योंकि में चार्टेड एकाउंट ऑडिटर हूं, उस नाते अनेक कोरपोरेशन मैंने देखें हैं। कैश आइडल पड़ा रहता है और दूसरी तरफ वे गवर्नमेंट की ओर से लोन दिखाते हैं। Cash in hand and cash at bank is in lakhs of rupees.
मैंने इसके बारे में पहले आपसे सुना था और मैं उसकी ओर सदन का ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहता हूं। अचानक मार्च के अंतिम सप्ताह में बैंक में कैश भरा जाता है, जब तक वह कैश-इन-हैन्ड रहता है। मेरी आपसे प्रार्थना है कि you ask some persons to see that the annual expenditure of autonomous corporation is Rs. 4 crores.इसमें से दो करोड़ रुपया करन्ट एकाउन्ट में रहना चाहिए। मैं आपको अनेक कार्पोरेशन्स के नाम दे सकता हूं। मैं आपको एक और छोटा सा उदाहरण देना चाहता हूं। पोस्टल सेविंग्स में १२ करोड़ इन्वैस्टर्स हैं। मैं जहां रहता हूं, वहां एक पोस्ट आफिस पिछले ४० साल से है, जहां पर ११ हजार मंथली इनकम एकाउन्ट्स हैं। हर महीने वहां पर लोग ब्याज लेने के लिए आते हैं। प्रतदिन करीब-करीब ४०० लोग लाइन में खड़े रहते हैं, जिनमें विधवायें होती है और सीनियर सीटिजन्स होते हैं, जो ८० से ९० मिनट तक खड़े रहते हैं। हमने फाइनेंस मनिस्ट्री से कहा है कि इसको माड्रनाइज किया जाए। डी-मैट या एटीम आदि, जो कुछ भी कहना है, वह कर देना चाहिए। इससे दो चीजें होंगी। मैं डी-मैट को स्टडी किया है। अभी एनएससी पर २७ रुपए खर्च आता है, यदि इसे डी-मैट कर दिया जाता है, तो ७ रुपए कास्ट कम आएगी। साथ में जो छोटे इन्वैस्टर्स हैं, उनको फायदा होगा।
मैं आपके ध्यान में दो-तीन चीजें और ध्यान में लाकर अपनी बात समाप्त करूंगा। हम टैक्सेबल सिस्टम को सुधारना चाहते हैं। पिछली बार भी हमने यह मुद्दा उठाया था। बैकवर्ड रीजन्स में विकास के लिए आप पैकेज डिक्लेयर करें। लेकिन इसमें मिसयूज होता है। गुजरात के लिए आपने पैकेज डिक्लेयर किया है। एक कम्पनी है, सिग्रेट एंड टुबेको, जिसको आपने निकाल दिया है। लेकिन सुना है कि नार्थ-ईस्ट में फोर्ड के नाम से वह कम्पनी फायदा उठा रही है। एक बार आपके पास से तीन करोड़ रुपया निकल गया, तो दो हजार करोड़ रुपए सालाना आपको खर्च करना पड़ेगा। इस प्रकार कुछ लोग पूरे सिस्टम को खराब करना चाहते हैं, लेकिन उस पर रोक लगाने का प्रयत्न करना चाहिए।
महोदय, अंत में, मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि वित्त मंत्री जी ने देश को प्रगति के पथ पर लाने का प्रयत्न किया है। मैं पुन: वित्त मंत्री जी से निवेदन करना चाहता हूं कि उन्होंने एक अलग प्रकार का बजट जन भावनाओं को ध्यान में रखकर, आर्थिक गति बढ़ाने वाला बजट प्रस्तुत किया है। मैं विश्वास के साथ कह सकता हूं कि माननीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी के नेतृत्व में एनडीए की सरकार इस प्रकार की पालिसीजं को अमल में लाएगी, तो हम २१वीं सदी में विश्व में पांचवें स्थान पर पहुंच जायेंगे। मै ऐसा विश्वास व्यक्त करता हूं।
श्री रघुनाथ झा (गोपालगंज): सभापति महोदय, माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी द्वारा प्रस्तुत बजट का मैं समर्थन और स्वागत करता हूं। मुझे प्रसन्नता है कि इन्होंने बजट के जरिए देश के सवार्ंगीण विकास की एक रुपरेखा को प्रस्तुत किया है। मैं जब बजट को देखता हूं तो सभी वर्ग और क्षेत्र को जहां इन्होंने आगे बढ़ाने का काम किया है, उसी में देखने से जब हमारा ध्यान किसानों की तरफ जाता है और खाद व डीजल में मूल्य वृद्धि और सब्सिडी में कमी तथा इससे होने वाले नुकसान पर जब नजर डालते हैं, तो लगता है कि वित्त मंत्री जी की निगाह से इतनी बड़ी आबादी और इतनी बड़ी जनसंख्या कैसे ओझल हो गई।
महोदय, हम इस ख्यालात के हैं कि खाद फैक्टि्रयों को लूटने का मौका नहीं मिलना चाहिए और न ही इसका लाभ मिलना चाहिए। हम किसानों की भरपाई कैसे करेंगे, यह देखना होगा। इससे किसानों का नुकसान हो रहा है। हमें उम्मीद है कि माननीय मंत्री जी जब उत्तर देंगे तो किसानों के बारे में जरूर कुछ न कुछ विचार करेंगे।
दूसरी बात यह है कि आज देश में विकास की द्ृष्टि से क्षेत्रीय असंतुलन है और इसका घोर अभाव बजट में देखने को मिल रहा है। आपको स्मरण होगा जब बिहार के बंटवारे से संबंधित पुनर्गठन बिल सदन में आया तो हम लोगों ने उसका घोर विरोध किया। चर्चा के समय सरकार की ओर से माननीय उपप्रधान मंत्री और गृह मंत्री जी ने इस बात का जिक्र किया था कि बिहार की भरपाई की जाएगी और हम यह नहीं होने देंगे कि एक राज्य अमीर हो जाए और दूसरा राज्य गरीब हो जाए। आप अच्छी तरह से जानते हैं कि जितने बड़े-बड़े उद्योग धंधे थे, वे सभी झारखंड चले गए। झारखंड विकास करे, तरक्की करे, हमारा उसके साथ कोई कम्पीटिशन नहीं है लेकिन भारत सरकार को हमारी तरफ भी ध्यान देना चाहिए। भारत सरकार हमारी तरफ आंख मूंदे है। हम तर्को और आंकड़ों के आधार पर ऐसी बात कह रहे हैं।
माननीय प्रधान मंत्री जी ने और माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी ने बजट भाषण में नदियों के जोड़ने की बात कही है। वह एक अच्छी योजना है। जो इलाके पानी के बिना परेशान रहते हैं जिससे उनकी फसल को क्षति होती है, उन इलाकों में ऐसी योजना से लाभ होगा, यह एक खुशी की बात है लेकिन जो इलाके हर साल नेपाल से आने वाली नदियों के कारण बाढ़ से बरबाद होते हैं जिस में उत्तर बिहार, पूर्वी बंगाल, उत्तरी बंगाल और पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश के इलाके शामिल हैं उनकी तरफ माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी ने कोई ध्यान नहीं दिया है। हम मांग करेंगे कि नेपाल से आने वाली नदियों से होने वाले नुकसान का कोई स्थायी समाधान भारत सरकार को ढूंढना चाहिए। इस बारे में नेपाल सरकार से वार्ता करके कोई हल निकालना चाहिए। बिहार जैसे गरीब प्रदेश जो इनफ्रास्ट्रक्चर पैदा करते हैं या जो है, वे बाढ़ के कारण बिल्कुल बरबाद हो जाते हैं। हमारे यहां केवल कृषि बच गई है लेकिन वह भी बाढ़ के कारण फरक्का से लेकर बक्सर तक बरबाद हो जाती है। गंगा के दोनों तरफ की जमीन का प्रति वर्ष भयंकर रूप से कटाव होता है और दर्जनों गांव गंगा में विलीन हो जाते हैं। हमारी उपजाऊ जमीन गंगा में चली जाती है। राज्य सरकार के पास इतने संसाधन नहीं हैं कि उसे बचा सके। हम माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी से आग्रह करेंगे कि इसका सर्वेक्षण करा कर आर्थिक पैकेज राज्य सरकार को दिया जाए ताकि इससे लाभ हो सके। देश में ९१ लाख हैक्टयेर जमीन इससे बरबाद होती है जिस में से ६८ लाख हैक्टेयर जमीन बिहार में बाढ़ से बरबाद होती है। अफसोस के साथ कहना पड़ता है कि हमें जो सहायता मिलनी चाहिए, वह नहीं मिलती है। मैं फिर इस बात को दोहराना चाहता हूं कि नेपाल से आनी वाली नदियों का नियंत्रण करने का अधिकार न राज्य सरकार के पास है और न ही उसके बारे में वार्ता करने का अधिकार है। हमने सदन में और कमेटियों में इस सवाल को कई बात उठाया लेकिन हमें इसका कोई ठोस निदान नहीं मिल रहा है।
माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी ने कृषि के क्षेत्र में बागवानी, फल-फूल के बारे में नई तकनीकों का ज़िक्र किया है। उत्तर बिहार के बहुत बड़े इलाके में केला, लीची, और आम तथा व्यापक ढंग से फल होते हैं लेकिन उसके प्रोसेसिंग का कोई इंतजाम नहीं है। करीब ४० प्रतिशत फल इससे बरबाद हो जाते हैं। हमने पहले भी मांग की थी कि अगर कार्गो की कोई व्यवस्था हो जाए तो आसानी से पटना से, गया से और मुजफ्फरपुर से इन फलों को दूसरी जगह ले जाया जा सकता है और उसका लाभ लिया जा सकता है। लेकिन यह काम नहीं हो रहा है। मखाना की खेती बहुत बड़े पैमाने पर बिहार में होती है। लीची की बहुत खेती होती है और इन चीजों में हमें नुकसान झेलना पड़ता है।
महोदय, माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी यहां बैठे हैं। बिहार में वित्तीय संसाधनों का जो निवेश है, अगर देखेंगे तो उसका राष्ट्रीय औसत जहां ५३.४ है, वहीं बिहार का बंटवारा हो जाने के बाद मात्र २० रह गया है। हमारा क्रैडिट डिपॉजिट रेशियो जो बैंकों में है, उसमें भी बिहार के साथ न्याय नहीं होता है। बिहार के पैसे दूसरी जगह चले जाते हैं और बिहार में उसका निवेश नहीं होता है। उसी तरह से आपकी योजनाओं में बैंकों को जो सहयोग देना चाहिए, हम लोग भी जिला स्तर पर मीटिंगों में बैठते हैं, बैंकों का जो सहयोग होना चाहिए, वह सहयोग बैंकों को नहीं मिलता है। इसलिए इस पर आपका ध्यान जाना चाहिए।
महोदय, हमारे यहां शुगर इंडस्ट्री बहुत अच्छी थी और चीनी उत्पादन में हम देश के दूसरे-तीसरे नंबर के राज्य थे लेकिन आज हमारा चीनी उद्योग समाप्त हो रहा है। हमारे यहां ३२ शुगर फैक्टि्रयां थीं आज़ादी के समय -- २९ उत्तर बिहार में और ३ दक्षिण बिहार में और आज लगभग छ:-सात फैक्ट्री प्राइवेट क्षेत्र में चल रही हैं लेकिन उनका भी रेट ऑफ रिकवरी कम है, उसमें अच्छा काम नहीं हो रहा है। विशेष पैकेज देकर जब देश के दूसरे राज्यों में चीनी उद्योग को सहायता दी गई तो बिहार उससे भी अछूता रह गया। हम माननीय मंत्री जी से मांग करेंगे कि वहां की शुगर इंडस्ट्री का उद्धार करने के लिए कोई कारगर कदम उठाया जाए। बहुत सी शुगर फैक्टि्रयों में मज़दूरों का बकाया बाकी है, किसानों का गन्ना मूल्य बाकी है और आज भी जो न्यूनतम प्राइस भारत सरकार ने तय किया और प्रधान मंत्री जी ने इस सदन में घोषित किया, वह भी नहीं मिल रहा है। हम जिस क्षेत्र गोपालगंज से आते हैं, वहां सासामुरा, सिदवलिया शुगर फैक्ट्री है जिनमें किसानों को गन्ने का न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य भी नहीं दिया जा रहा है। इसके अलावा जो चार-पांच रुपया राज्य सरकार का न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य है, वह भी नहीं मिल रहा है। जो न्यूनतम प्राइस घोषित किया, उसके बाद रिकवरी रेट के हिसाब से वह भी बढ़ता जाएगा मगर वह भी नहीं दे रहे हैं। किसानों की इस तरह की परेशानी आज है।
महोदय, मैं माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी से एक निवेदन करना चाहूँगा कि बिहार की जो आर्थिक स्थिति है और संसाधनों की जो कमी है, उसको देखते हुए बिहार के लिए जरूरी होगा कि राज्य सरकार पर जो केन्द्र सरकार का कर्ज़ है, उसको माफ करने पर विचार किया जाए। बिहार की हालत आज सचमुच खराब है। हम नहीं मानते हैं कि सारी केन्द्र सरकार की जवाबदेही है, राज्य सरकार भी इसमें जवाबदेह है। लेकिन आज दो कारणों से हमारी स्थिति जर्जर हो गई है। एक तरफ जो हमारा आमदनी वाला इलाका था, जहां कल-कारखाने थे, खदानें थीं, वह सब झारखंड में चला गया और दूसरी ओर जो हमारी आमदनी होती है, हम खेती कर सकते थे, उसमें हर साल आने वाली बाढ़ से हमारा भयंकर नुकसान होता है।
इससे सारा इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर बर्बाद हो जाता है, सड़कें टूट जाती हैं, खेती बर्बाद हो जाती है, सारी चीजें चली जाती हैं। इसलिए राज्य सरकार की जो स्थिति और परिस्थिति है, उसमें वह किसी की मदद करने की हालत में नहीं है। इसलिए मैं आपसे निवेदन करूंगा कि बिहार को भी, जो एक प्रकार से पिछड़ा राज्य है, विशेष पैकेज देने का काम किया जाए, उसे आगे बढ़ाने का काम किया जाए।
इन्हीं शब्दों के साथ मैं अपनी बात समाप्त करता हूं।
श्री तिलकधारी प्रसाद सिंह (कोडरमा):सभापति जी, आपको बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद। मैं बहुत समय नहीं लेना चाहता हूं। जो बजट माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी ने प्रस्तुत किया है और जो धरातल पर स्थिति है, मैं उस पर चर्चा करना चाहता हूं। जो योजनाएं यहां से जा रही हैं, विशेषकर ग्रामीण विकास के मामले में, उनका ठीक प्रकार से क्रियान्वयन प्रदेशों में नहीं हो रहा है।
अभी प्रधान मंत्री ग्रामीण सड़क योजना के बारे में तरह-तरह की अनेक बातें हर राज्य के अलग-अलग माननीय सदस्यों ने यहां कहीं, जिन्हें मैंने सुना, लेकिन धरातल पर क्या स्थिति है, वह मैं जानता हू और उसे बताना चाहता हूं। इस योजना के अभी तक तीन फेज गुजर गए हैं। मेरा क्षेत्र झारखंड में आता है, मैं वहां के बारे में जानता हूं और आपको बताना चाहता हूं कि अभी तक एक फेज भी पूरा नहीं हो पाया है। इसमें सबसे बड़ी खामी इस योजना को कार्यान्वित करने वाली एजेंसी की कमी है। वहां काम करने वाले, योजना को कार्यान्वित करने वाले लोगों की कमी है। जो जानकारी मुझे है उसके अनुसार मुझे बताया गया कि जिस एजेंसी के माध्यम से इस योजना को क्रियान्वित किया जाना है, वह नहीं है। इसी प्रकार से राज्य सरकार की अनेक योजनाएं हैं उन्हें भी क्रियान्वित करने वाली एजेंसी नहीं है। एजेंसी की कमी के कारण राज्य और केन्द्र सरकार की योजनाएं पूरी नहीं हो पाती हैं। इसलिए मेरा निवेदन है कि इस तरफ भी ध्यान देने की जरूरत है।
महोदय, दूसरी बात मुझे जो कहनी है, वह यह है कि कल ही प्रधान मंत्री जी ने राष्ट्रपति महोदय के अभिभाषण पर धन्यवाद के प्रस्ताव का उत्तर देते हुए बताई कि संपूर्ण ग्रामोदय योजना के तहत अनाज भी मुहैया करा रहे हैं। यह अच्छी बात है, लेकिन यह अनाज वहां पहुंच रहा है या नहीं, इसको भी जानने की जरूरत है। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी को बताना चाहता हूं कि झारखंड राज्य के गिरीडीह जिले में अनाज चला गया, यहां से आबंटित कर दिया गया, लेकिन उसे ले जाने के लिए रैक नहीं है और जिलाधीश तथा एफ.सी.आई. के अधिकारियों से कहा गया कि अनाज को लिफ्ट करो। उन्होंने लिख कर दिया कि अनाज ले जाने के लिए रैक ही उपलब्ध नहीं है। इस बात को तीन महीने हो गए। करीब तीन महीने से अनाज ले जाने के लिए रैक नहीं मिल रहा है। आपकी ओर से अच्छा प्रयास हो रहा है, लोगों को अनाज मिले, यह अच्छी बात है, लेकिन अनाज पहुंचाने के लिए रैक ही नहीं मिल रहा है और रैक उपलब्ध कराना रेलवे का काम है। इसलिए इस तरफ भी ध्यान देने की जरूरत है।
महोदय, झारखंड के बारे में अभी रघुनाथ झा जी ने बहुत कहा कि वहां बहुत खनिज संपदा है, कल-कारखाने हैं, लेकिन मैं बताना चाहता हूं कि झारखंड के मूल निवासी खेती पर निर्भर करते हैं। ऐसा नहीं है कि झारखंड के सभी लोग कल-कारखानों में काम करते हैं। वहां खेती के लिए सिंचाई की कोई व्यवस्था नहीं है। पानी नहीं होने के कारण खेतों की सिंचाई नहीं हो पा रही है। इसलिए मेरा सुझाव है कि सिंचाई के लिए बड़े-बड़े और गहरे-गहरे कुएं बनाए जाएं। पठारी और पहाड़ी इलाकों में जगह-जगह चैक डैम बनाए जाएं और इस प्रकार से सरकार की ओर से किसानों के खेतों की सिंचाई की व्यवस्था करनी चाहिए।
महोदय, किसानों के लिए अनेक सुविधाएं उपलब्ध कराने की बात कही जाती है। कहा जाता है कि किसानों को बैंकों से ऋण मिलेगा, लेकिन वस्तुस्थिति यह है कि बैंक किसानों को ऋण नहीं देना चाहते हैं। हम लोग जिले में जाते हैं, हमें मालूम है किसानों की क्या स्थिति है और बैंकों के मैनेजर किस प्रकार से किसानों के साथ व्यवहार करते हैं और किस प्रकार से उन्हें ऋण देने से मना करते हैं। यह ठीक है कि किसान क्रैडिट कार्ड जारी किए गए हैं, लेकिन मैं कहना चाहता हूं कि ये सब योजनाएं कागजों में हैं। किसानों को बैंकों से कोई सुविधा या ऋण नहीं मिलता है।
महोदय, नौजवानों की बात कही गई कि नौकरियां दे रहे हैं और ७० लाख या शायद ८४ लाख का आंकड़ा बताया गया। प्रधान मंत्री रोजगार योजना चली थी। उसमें भी हम लोगों ने देखा कि जितना टारगैट रखा था, वह पूरा नहीं हुआ। हम देखते हैं कि जिस योजना में जो भी टारगैट रखा जाता है, वह पूरा नहीं किया जाता है। इन सब बातों पर केन्द्र सरकार को निश्चित रूप से ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। यहां चर्चाएं बहुत होती हैं। अभी खाद और डीजल के बारे में कई माननीय सदस्यों अपनी-अपनी ने बात कही।
यहां जब भी सामान्य बजट पेश किया गया, निश्चित रूप से बजट में किसानों पर मार पड़ती रही है और इस बार भी वही हुआ। आपने डीजल का दाम बढ़ाया, किसान उससे प्रभावित होंगे। खाद पर जिस तरह से दाम बढ़ाए गए हैं, उन्हें आप घटाइए।
महोदय, जहां तक फोरेस्ट की बात है। फोरेस्ट डिपार्टमंट से जितना पैसा जंगल लगाने के लिए जाता है वह टारगेट में होता है लेकिन एक साल के बाद कुछ भी दिखाई नहीं देता है। निश्चित रूप से इस तरफ आप ध्यान दें कि आप जो पैसा देते हैं उसका सही ढंग से उपयोग हो। जहां तक ऊर्जा और बिजली की बात है, आप देते हैं, आपका टारगेट है लेकिन बिजली लग नहीं पाती है। गांवों में उस टारगेट को पूरा नहीं कर पाते हैं। जितना उत्पादन करना चाहिए, उतना नहीं हो पाता है। किसान को निश्चित रूप से ठीक से बिजली मिलनी चाहिए ताकि वह उत्पादन बढ़ा सके। इन्ही शब्दों के साथ मैं अपनी बात समाप्त करता हूं।
महोदय, आपने मुझे बोलने का मौका दिया, इसके लिए आपका बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद।
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Sir, I rise to congratulate the hon. Finance Minister for presenting such an excellent Budget. The main thrust of this Budget is to attain an 8% growth rate. Most of the people may say that when last year we had attained the GDP growth of only 4.4%, all of a sudden, how do we expect, to rise to the level of 8% next year? To double our per capita income, we require 8% growth rate for consecutively next 10 years.
Sir, last year, we could have attained the growth rate of more than 6%. It was Indra Dev who went against the fate of India after about 12 years because of which the growth in agriculture came down from + 5.7% to – 3.1%. I do not think that in any way, any Government, could have done anything about this; and could have improved the position of agriculture, when there was an acute drought throughout India. But, in the given situation, the hon. Finance Minister has done his best.
Secondly, he has retired three billion dollars of high-cost external debt. This has happened for the first time in independent India. There is a Debt Swap Scheme with the State Governments. It will help the State Governments in retiring their high cost debt for Rs. 81,000 crore.
Thirdly, he has looked after the middle-class. Sir, middle-classconstitutes about 1/3 of the population of India, of the voters, and by the next decade, middle-class will constitute 45% of the Indian population. About half of the people of India constitute middle-class. They have a life style. They have an aspiration. This is the sign of resurgent India. This is the economic resurgence. It is because from the days of bicycle, from the days of bullock-carts, we have now come to the age of cars, air-conditioners and refrigerators. Now, about 4.5 crore households in India have Cable TV, and about 6.6 crore households have the refrigerators.
If the Finance Minister – for that matter, any Finance Minister – does not look after the interest of the middle class, then naturally he will be doomed. So, the Finance Minister has looked after the middle class people who are the opinion-makers of this country. Many people criticise him for lowering the costs of cars, air-conditioners etc. Why? Is the Finance Minister looking after the interests of rich people or the people who own cars and air-conditioners? Nowadays, it is not the rich people alone who own cars and air-conditioners. It is the middle class people who own them. Nowadays, these have become the commodities of middle class people. So, that has got to be kept in mind.
Let me tell you that one car provides employment, directly or indirectly, to about ten people. A tourist who comes to India – or to any country – provides employment to about seven local persons. Do not think that it is the rich person for whom the car is required nowadays. Car is not only required for him, but it is also required for a garrage-walla, car is required for a petrol pump owner and since it is, most of the times, used as a commercial vehicle, it provides employment, directly or indirectly, to many people. So, there is absolutely nothing wrong in reducing the taxes and duties on cars.
There is a criticism made against this Government that the interest rate on small savings has been reduced by one per cent. Many people say that what shall we do now, we earn money and keep it so that this money will revive them during their retirement period, and that it will keep them alive. This is what they say.
But take the case of real return. There is something called real return too. This interest rate is closely associated with inflation. If you take this and adjust it with inflation, most of the saving instruments are coming close to 6.3 per cent, as high as what they were during the early 1990s. In the early 1990s, the rate of interest in the small savings was quite high, but so was the higher rate of inflation. If you deduct the rate of inflation from the rate of interest, you will come to a figure which is called the real return. The real return is actually more, though it seems that it has been reduced. But actually, a person gets more from this. I thank the hon. Finance Minister for doing this. Shri Prakash Paranjpe was comparing the figures of China with that of India. He was saying that this is the lending rate in China and this is the lending rate in India. Why was the lending rate in India so high? It is because we are also giving a very high rate of interest to a person who is depositing the money with banks. Unless you reduce that you cannot give a lower lending rate to industrialists. What the hon. Finance Minister has done would ultimately lead to revival of industry and it will also increase employment potential of this country. So, from the core of my heart, I thank and congratulate the hon. Finance Minister for having done this.
He has tried to boost the stock market; he has tried to build confidence among the small investors; he has tried to bring back investors into the stock market, who otherwise had lost confidence in stock market.
Now, the dividends have been made tax-free. The shares of the listed companies bought after February 28 will be exempted from long-term capital gains tax. Mutual Funds will become unbeatable destinations for investors as they can now offer seven per cent tax-free returns on some schemes. So, these are the basic things by which the hon. Finance Minister has been able to attract the small investors which were running away from the share market.
Generally, the monetary activities in India are debt-oriented. If you go to a village and tell that somebody has invested his money in the stock market, he will say that that person is gambling. Stock market is synonymous with gambling in our country. Everybody takes loan from the village money-lender only. But now to bring more liquidity, more depth to the stock market, the country must congratulate the Finance Minister for whatever he has done in this regard. I also congratulate the Minister for having revamped the tax regime. From a suspicion ridden , coercive-driven system, he has tried to bring green-channel system where the basis is the trust and faith.
You will be surprised to know that the cost of tax-compliance in India is 48 per cent. For paying one rupee income tax, you have to pay another 48 paise as consultation fee of the Chartered Accountant. Shri Kirit Somaiya is the Chartered Accountant and he will charge the tax consultancy fee. Similarly, you may require other such information for which you may have to pay these 48 paise. So, when you are paying one rupee as the income tax, you are actually paying one rupee forty-eight paise. Why is this happening? This is happening because the tax process is totally complicated. The hon. Finance Minister has tried to make tax payment easier, tax evasion harder and has kept the tax rates low. This is how it will boost the demand in the market and lessen the harassment of the tax payers. The tax payers can now file their returns on-line, by using computer. Simplification of tax procedure is one of the best things that has happened in India and I would like to congratulate the hon. Finance Minister for that.
I support the introduction of VAT, the ultimate abolition of CST, additional introduction of Excise duty and Service Tax. The Government is now going to compensate the States. Initially, some States were apprehending that because of introduction of VAT they would be losing the Sales Tax. But when the Government has come forward to pay for the difference in loss, I do not think anybody will lose on this account. As per VAT, there will be a uniform rate all over India. Do you not like this? Suppose I want to buy a car. I know that the sales tax is more in Orissa and it is less in Calcutta, I will go to Calcutta and buy it from there. But now, with the introduction of VAT you will have to pay a uniform sales tax all over India. Is it not a good system for a country like India? Should we have different rates in different States? I am happy that all the Chief Ministers have agreed. I am thankful to them and I strongly support the initiative taken by the hon. Finance Minister in this regard and I hope that this should be continued.
Sir, as regards Health Insurance Scheme, I need not repeat it. After paying just Re.1 or Rs.1.50 or Rs.2 per day, one can get about Rs.30,000 in a year for his treatment. The just retired people could also get around nine per cent interest out of some Government Scheme. These are the things which I fully support. The hon. Finance Minister has done this for the good of the people, and for people who depend on their pension benefits as well as interest on their deposits after their retirement.
Now, I would come to the subsidy. The total subsidy in India was Rs.41,474.43 crore last year. This year, it has gone up to Rs.48,636.23 crore and 30 per cent of this accounts for food subsidy. We are providing 30 per cent food subsidy when the godowns of the Food Corporation of India are filled with foodgrains such as rice and wheat. We do not know what to do with this rice and wheat. Even at this time, we are paying 30 per cent food subsidy.
As regards fertiliser subsidy, there is a hue and cry everywhere that किसान विरोधी सरकार है। It is said that this Government is against the farmers. I would just make a small point that out of the total subsidy of Rs.48,636 crore, only a small portion of Rs.12,700 crore accounts for fertiliser subsidy. This has been done only peripherally. I would like to ask one thing. Who should get subsidy on fertiliser? Should it not be the farmer? But is it the farmer who is actually getting it? I will give you one example. You import the fertiliser from a foreign country. They will give you fertiliser at a cost of 140 to 150 dollar per tonne. But in India, the price varies. There are six types of fertiliser manufacturing units. In every factory, the manufacturing cost is different. It varies from Rs.6000 to Rs.12,000 per tonne and the Government is paying for that. Why should we pay for the inefficiency of the fertiliser companies? This is one of the questions. But I fully agree that if we import fertiliser from outside, many of these fertiliser units would be closed. We do not want that they should be closed. But we want that there should be uniformity in the production cost. I congratulate the Government for dividing the fertiliser factories into six groups. Naturally and gradually, after some time in 2004, a stage would come where the cost could be fixed uniformly. I am very happy about it. I would also appeal that in order to reduce the fiscal deposit, a little portion of burden of Rs.12,700 crore may also be moved to the farming sector.
We do not charge any tax on agricultural income. There are many people who are not farmers but they show a lot of money as income from farming. Should they not be taxed? There are many people in this country who have farm houses and they show a lot of money to have been earned from the agricultural sector. They are also getting exemptions. So, I would appeal to the hon. Finance Minister that even if he does not want to tax the farming community and the farmers, he should think about taxing the non-agriculturist farmers who -- in the name of farming – are converting their black money into white money.
So, he should think about it. He should consider whether this sector should be touched or not in the future.
Sir, I am very happy that the Finance Minister has gone in for re-structuring the debt. Shri Kirit Somaiya has already enumerated the facts with regard to debt swapping with the States so that the States could retire their very high cost debts.
Sir, the point about infrastructure has already been touched upon. I know that it is economic growth alone that can bring prosperity to this country and this alone can help generate employment. All the time we say as to how many jobs have been provided within the last one year. Can any one provide Government jobs to everybody? Is it possible? If you go to any place in the world, you would see that it is only by way of building infrastructure that there has been an economic revival of a country. If we have economic growth, then automatically employment would be generated and people would stand on their own legs. They would try to earn money and they would not have to go to the private factories or Government institutions begging for jobs. This is exactly what the Government has tried to do.
Sir, I would like to say two to three sentences with regard to disinvestment. Sometimes we race at a very high speed and then it seems we have to put a break. Today,we say, let us carry the entire country because the political community would have to be carried. I fully agree with it. But what happens if the political community willingly refuses to co-operate?
18.57 hrs. (Mr. Speaker in the Chair) MR. SPEAKER: Shri Swain, would you like to continue for another five minutes?
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : Sir, I would need another five to seven minutes.
MR. SPEAKER: All right. You can continue next day. You would be on your legs when the debate resumes next time.
कुंवर अखिलेश सिंह (महाराजगंज, उ.प्र.) : माननीय अध्यक्ष जी, अभी लंच ऑवर के पश्चात इस सदन के अंदर जो संसद सदस्य स्थानीय क्षेत्र विकास नधि योजना के अंतर्गत संसद सदस्यों पर आरोप लगाए गए थे, उस पर सदन में चर्चा चल रही थी। मान्यवर, उस समय चर्चा के दौरान मुझे और एक माननीय सदस्य को इंगित करके आरोप लगाए गए, तो उससे मैं उत्तेजित हो गया। इससे यदि आपकी भावना को, सदन की भावना को ठेस पहुंची हो, तो मैं उसके लिए क्षमाप्रार्थी हूं। मेरा इरादा कतई पीठ के प्रति अनादर का भाव नहीं था। संसदीय लोकतंत्र के अंदर जिस तरह से आरोप लग रहे हैं, उन आरोपों के निराकरण के लिए हमने अपनी बात रखी थी और नियमों के अंतर्गत हम अपनी बात रखना चाहते थे। आप स्वयं जानते हैं कि यदि किसी भी मुद्दे को उठाते हैं तो नियमों के अनुसार प्रतदिन सूचनाएं देते हैं। उन सूचनाओं के अंतर्गत ही आपसे अपनी बात रखने की हम अपेक्षा करते हैं। उस समय भी जो हमने अपनी बात रखी थी, उस कार्य स्थगन प्रस्ताव के अंतर्गत ही अपनी बात रखना चाहते थे। कुछ माननीय सदस्य, जिन्होंने अपने कार्य स्थगन प्रस्ताव का या किसी तरह का नोटिस नहीं दिया था, वे बोल रहे थे। उनके बोलने पर मुझे कोई आपत्ति नहीं थी। लेकिन जिस तरह से उन्होंने प्रवोक किया, उससे मैं उत्तेजित हुआ। यदि इससे सदन या किसी को भी ठेस पहुंची हो तो मैं उसके लिए क्षमा चाहता हूं।
अध्यक्ष महोदय : एक बात है, आपने जो कुछ किया इसके लिए आपने जो निवेदन किया है, वह मैं स्वीकृत करता हूं। लेकिन फिर कभी ऐसी बात नहीं हो, इसके ऊपर ध्यान देना होगा।
The House now stands adjourned to meet again tomorrow.
18.59 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock on Friday, March 7, 2003/Phalguna 16, 1924 (Saka).
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