Lok Sabha Debates
Further Discussion On Demands For Supplementary Grants In Respect Of The Budget ... on 21 December, 2004
Title: Further discussion on Demands for Supplementary Grants in respect of the Budget (General) for the year 2004-2005.
16.26½ hrs. DEMANDS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS – (GENERAL) 2004-05-Contd.
MR. SPEAKER: Now, the House will take up item No. 25 - further discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2004-2005. Shri Dushyant Singh.
SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH (JHALAWAR): Sir, I rise to speak on the Supplementary Demands for Grants, 2004-2005.
In the Demands, the UPA Government has asked for 56 Grants and the net outgo amounts to Rs. 5,063.06 crore.
16.27 hrs (Mr. Deputy-Speaker in the Chair ) Under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, a demand has been sought for Rs. 300 crore. When this Government came to power, they said that they would be working for the common man and the common people. They said that they were with the common man but till now they have not provided proper drugs to the people. We still have adulterated, sub-standard drugs provided to the people of India. They have not brought in rules and regulations to control that.
I must say at this point that a large section of India’s population is from the farming community. They live in the villages. The farmers should be given fertiliser subsidies. I must say at this point that no fertiliser subsidy has been given to them. Instead, the prices of fertilisers have been increased and the bottomline of cost of production of agricultural produce has gone up.
At this stage, I should also mention that the UPA Government had said that they were concerned with the welfare of the Bhopal gas tragedy victims. For those victims, they have provided only Rs. 1 crore. I must say at this stage that they must think for the people who have been devastated by this incident and provide enough money so that a lumpsum is given to them.
I must say at this stage that the State Government had asked for an amendment of the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula but till now the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula has not been considered by the Government as such.
The Government of Rajasthan had reviewed and asked for a loan grant pattern from the Centre. But still it has not been considered. But, at this stage, I must also put it to you that there are some States who have been given a favourable status like Bihar. There, under Indira Awas Yojna, under rural housing, you have given a sum of Rs. 400 crore. But where it might go? We have stated about it n the House.
We had such an incident in the House earlier today where people were fully saddened by the hon. Minister of Railways of donning out the money because of elections. I must also put it to you, at this stage, that there is a regional imbalance and Rajasthan has not been given a proper share of what it should have been given. States like Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal have been special attention whereas Rajasthan is not getting enough due for inter-State hydropower. I, once again, seek the assistance of the UPA Government to give proper power to the farmers of our State. When the UPA Government came in, the hon. Minister said that in five years we would make sure that each village will have power and light connections. It is a totally Utopian idea. So, you might need to change that and you need to put at least Rs. 9 lakh crores in five years to make that happen.
At this stage, I must also say that Rajasthan is the largest State in the area-wise and being the largest State, it has population divided very sparsely in the whole region. The Railways have not given proper assistance and the railway line has not been put up there, especially in the constituency of Jhalawar which connects Jhalawar-Ramganj Mandi line which goes up to Bhopal. There, out of Rs. 712 crore, the Government has only sanctioned Rs. 27 crore. How we can implement the project as soon as possible? The roads within the State are also not been given the importance and, at this stage, the road density within the State of Rajasthan has also not been given proper importance. So, I urge upon the Government, once again, to increase the money and increase the road share for our State.
We have the hon. Minister of Telecommunications present in the House. The hon. Minister had mentioned that he would look into the matter. I must put to his notice, at this stage that in Rajasthan, the telecommunication lines is in utter disorder. He had always mentioned that he would help people and he would help the common man.
Now, you have asked for Rs. 1,058 crore from the Supplementary Budget. But where will you put it? It needs to be put in a correct way.
Rajasthan is a tourism-bound State. The Government of Rajasthan has asked for a Convention Centre, but you have disallowed the Convention Centre. … (Interruptions)
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Please conclude.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH : I want five minutes more because you have given time to other hon. Members. … (Interruptions)
Rajasthan has asked for a Convention Centre which has been disallowed. It has been disallowed because it is in close proximity to Delhi. I must say that the amount of tourists coming into Rajasthan is a major tourists inflow within the country. The country like Singapore has got seven million tourists coming in vis-à-vis India having 2.5 million to 2.6 million per year. I must say that the Ministries of Culture and Tourism can increase instead of asking for Supplementary Budget; they can increase from the internal resources and make it happen out there. The Government of Rajasthan has asked for water and they have asked for Rs. 200 crore under the Rural Drinking Water Supply and other Supply Schemes. But in the Supplementary Budget, only Rs. 73.2 crore have been provided and under the Desert Development Programme only Rs. 12.33 crore have been provided.
I would urge upon the Government to help the common man out there.
I must once again say that the Ministry of Textiles, under the handloom sector, has asked for Rs. 14.5 crore. Under the heading of self-help groups for the common man, through the women’s self-help groups, you can increase the handicrafts sector especially for a State like Rajasthan.
At this stage, I want to say that in the Union Territory of Delhi, where people fall sick having food, they have been sanctioned Rs. 36 crore. What is the Government’s sanction where people are still getting sick? You need to look at that.
I must say about the Ministry of Labour. When the Budget was presented, the hon. Minister said that for the scheme for it is, 500 ITIs will get an amount of Rs. 2 crore. How can you disburse the amount of Rs. 2 crore to five hundred I.T.Is.? I would say that you just need to help people out there.
In the end, I would say that during the debate in the House on the Supplementary Grants, there was a consensus for the backward people. For the socially economic and backward sections and for the minorities, the Government of India has kept an amount of Rs. 0.40 crore. हम पिछड़े वर्गों के लिए हैं, हम माइनोरिटीज के लिए हैं, लेकिन लगता नहीं है कि आप उनकी तरफ कोई निगाह करते हैं। केवल वोट लेने की राजनीति करते हैं।
SHRI P. RAJENDRAN (QUILON): Thank you, Sir, for giving me the opportunity. It is too early to evaluate this Government. Within six months, we cannot evaluate a Government’s performance. But, the Budget was passed and these Supplementary Demands do not fully satisfy the expectations expressed by the millions of people who voted for this Government. Even the goals enshrined in the National CMP are not kept in mind when the new policies are announced. The policies of globalisation and privatisation are followed at the risk and cost of 70 to 80 per cent of the people. What is the situation prevailing now in the country? What is the plight of the farmers in the country? The propagation of the spokespersons of globalisation is that the capital and technology are streamlined to the nation and the industry and agriculture will prosper and unemployment problem is going to be solved and that the GDP and per capita income is going to be improved fully and marginally.
16.38 hrs (Shri Arjun Sethi in the Chair) But, what has happened? The farmers are thrown to starvation and suicide. Several industries are closed and lakhs of workers are thrown to unemployment. What is the progress achieved for the lower strata of the people?
Our Vice-President of India, in an Address on 16th of November said :
"Despite our significant progress since Independence, we are still a developing nation. Our 26 crore people still live below the poverty line. Lakhs of lives are lost because of malaria and tuberculosis. Many areas do not have access to safe drinking water. Our 35 crore people are still illiterate. We have four crore people dwelling in slums. More than four crore people are unemployed. Distress of poverty is even causing farmers’ suicide, forcing people to resort to social evils such as child trafficking and kidney transplant racketing.
It is a matter of serious introspection whether these rights guaranteed under the law have any meaning for the poor and the deprived. What meaning these rights have for them who do not have access even to basic healthcare, education, safe drinking water or shelter?"
Sir, in a report published by UNICEF recently, they have narrated and explained the position of the country that out of the 140 million children who have never been to school in the developing world, 33 million are in India.
Sir, out of 640 million children who have no shelter, 147 million children are in India. Out of 300 million children who have no access to information, one-third is in India. Out of 400 million children who do not have access to safe water, 77 million are Indian children. Out of 270 million children who do not have access to health care facilities, 85 million are Indian children.
Out of this secular scenario, we have to give thrust to the poor people. Now, the present polices are giving thrust to the higher set of people. Even State like Kerala, which is the most developed State, is not considered in tourism, in infrastructure, in industrial and agrarian areas. It is not considered at all. Earlier policy pronouncements made by our earlier Prime Minister, like Kumarakom Package, were not at all implemented. As part of this package was announced a collaboration between KMML and NMDC there for installing a joint-venture for an investment of Rs. 10,000 crore. That was not at all implemented. We have requested to upgrade a medical college at Trivandrum to the standard of AIIMS. That was not implemented at all. Kerala is discriminated against. We are fighting for the solution of this discrimination.
We have to give thrust to the poor people. We welcome the last legislation which has been introduced in this House. We have to give more opportunities for employment, education and health care in the country. This Budget is only a start. As such, I welcome these proposals. I do support these proposals.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Shri Kirip Chaliha. You have to finish in only three minutes.
SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA (GUWAHATI): Sir, I will take less than that time.
Mr. Chairman, Sir, I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants and do share the optimism of many of my friends on this side as well as some on the other side who had, of course, given credit to themselves for the development and good tidings that have happened over a period of last seven months of our governance. I share their optimism. I would have liked to deal with a number of issues and liked to talk about a number of areas, but because of paucity of time - the moment I stood up, the hon. Chairman gave me three minutes - I have to prioritise everything a bit, within three minutes or so. I would like to emphasise only on one point.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Thank you.
SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : I would like to draw attention of the Finance Minister to a particular aspect. That aspect, of course, is of regional imbalance.
Now, this Government has the mandate for five years. When you have a life-span of five years, the first six or seven months are very crucial and very significant. As you know, morning shows the day. Now, regional imbalance is and has been a matter of concern for this Government. In fact, the hon. President also in his speech had referred to the imbalances at the regional level by saying that it is a matter of concern that regional imbalances have been accentuated not only by historical neglect but also by distortions in Plan allocations.
When liberalization started in this country, our present Prime Minister was the prime architect and I think, the present Finance Minister was one of the prime movers. We were young Members of Parliament who hardly had any knowledge about economics as compared to what the Finance Minister has, but there was no need for us to be great geniuses in economics to understand that the process of liberalisation had one danger for backward States like ours. Foreign direct investments, market access etc. are all Greek and Latin to the North-Eastern States including the people of our State.
We do not have any infrastructure. Forget about foreign investment, we do not even have national investors. Investments coming from inside the country are lacking in the North-East.
How can we have market access when we suffer from so many bottlenecks? We merely have 10 or 15 miles, which connect us to rest of the country, where there is huge historical backlog, geographical isolation, psychological alienation, etc. Naturally, when liberalisation took place, it was incumbent on us to say that liberalisation should not mean that Mumbai will prosper, Kolkata will prosper, Bangalore will prosper, and places like Guwahati and Shillong will become the dustbins of Indian civilisation. It ought not to have been so, and we have spoken about it. Our Finance Minister, in fact, should remember what his mentor said in 1985 during his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi said:
"We must see that regional imbalance in the growth of various parts of our country are removed, and all States progress evenly. We must ensure all citizens of the country get full opportunity to contribute their might towards India’s progress."
Sir, I am concluding. I think, it was our Finance Minister, who was one of the brains behind Shri H. D. Deve Gowda, when he was the Prime Minister. It was his historic decision to allocate 10 per cent of the budgeted money of each department to be spent for the North-East. This 10 per cent money has not been spent properly over the last four or five years, and the total accrual today is about Rs. 3,600 crore. … (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.
SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Sir, I am concluding. Mr. Finance Minister, the total accrual of this money has now reached the proportion of Rs. 3,600 crore. This money is not being given to DoNER, and the DoNER or NEC is not spending this money. You do not have a timeframe, and, as such, you have not even evolved a plan to spend this money. After all, you were one of the architects, who had prepared many of the draft plans for the development of the North-East.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Please conclude.
SHRI KIRIP CHALIHA : Sir, I am concluding. Places like the North-East, and Assam need a plan like the Marshall plan of the post-second world war, or we need something like the Roosevelt plan for the regeneration of the North-East.
Assam immediately needs among other things a proper industrial policy. It should be done, specifically, for Assam, and the North-East. Preference to the North-East must not be diluted by giving the same concessions to other States because the North-East has special type of problems and peculiarities.
Sir, I am coming to my last two points. The gap between North-East, and the rest of the country should be reduced. The chasm has become very wide, and it is becoming alarmingly wide now. The hon. Finance Minister can think of giving us a debt relief or at least a five-year moratorium on the loans at 4 per cent interest. Can it be considered?
Sir, I am coming to the last point with regard to the oil cess. As regards oil cess, will the hon. Finance Minister think of sharing the profits of oil cess on a 50 – 50 basis with the States, and not use the entire money for the benefit of the national exchequer? Can something be done in this regard also? We hope that you will do something about it.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Next, Shri Brajesh Pathak. But before Shri Brajesh Pathak begins his speech, I would like to make an announcement. A decision has been taken that the hon. Minister of Finance should reply to the debate before 1730 hours. So, I would request the hon. Members, who wish to speak here, that they should complete their speech within three minutes. This is a request to all the hon. Members.
श्री ब्रजेश पाठक (उन्नाव) : माननीय सभापति महोदय, आज सदन में हम भारत सरकार के बजट की अनुपूरक मांगों के संबंध में चर्चा कर रहे हैं। माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी की विद्वता पर किसी को कोई शक नहीं है। हिंदुस्तान में सभी लोग उनकी विद्वता के कायल हैं। लेकिन सदन में बजट रखते हुए प्रावधान किया जाना चाहिए था कि पूरे साल में क्या खर्चा होगा और सरकार कैसे चलेगी। लेकिन अभी छ: माह गुजरे हैं कि ३९ हजार करोड़ रुपये की अनुपूरक अनुदानों की मांगें हमारे सामने रखी गई हैं। इसका मतलब यह है कि बजट रखते समय जनता के सामने गलत तस्वीर पेश की गई। हमने लोगों को महसूस नहीं होने दिया कि हमारे देश की क्या जरूरतें हैं, क्या आवश्यकताएं हैं। हम इस बात पर खेद व्यक्त करते हैं कि पूरे बजट को बनाते समय इस बात को ध्यान रखा जाना चाहिए था।
सभापति महोदय, आज बहुराष्ट्रीय कंपनियां हिंदुस्तान को लूटने का काम कर रही हैं। उसी क्रम में कंप्यूटर, टेलीविजन, मोबाइल फोन और इलैक्ट्रोनिक वस्तुओं के दामों में कमी हुई है, जबकि किसानों द्वारा इस्तेमाल की जाने वाली वस्तुओं के दामों में वृद्धि हुई है। किसानों द्वारा उत्पादित गेहूं, चावल, दाल और तिलहन बिचौलियों द्वारा खरीदकर सस्ते दामों पर बेचा जा रहा है। इस तरह से आज किसानों का सरेआम शोषण हो रहा है। हिंदुस्तान के बजट में जब तक सरकार समाज के दबाये गए, कुचले गये, पछाड़े गये लोगों, किसानों और बेरोजगार नौजवानों के बारे में समुचित प्रावधान नहीं किया जायेगा, तब तक कुछ नहीं होगा। आज हिंदुस्तान में लगभग ५० करोड़ लोग बेरोजगार हैं, जब तक वित्त मंत्री जी सदन में विस्तृत रूप से चर्चा कराकर नौजवानों को रोजगार देने के बारे में नहीं सोचेंगे, किसानों के बारे में नहीं सोचेंगे, जब तक इन सब लोगों के लिए बजट में पूर्ण रूप से धन का प्रावधान नहीं किया जायेगा, तब तक हम हिंदुस्तान के लोगों को इस बजट का सम्पूर्ण लाभ नहीं दे पायेंगे। इस बजट का लाभ हम गांवों तक नहीं पहुंचा पायेंगे। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से अनुरोध करना चाहता हूं कि केन्द्र सरकार की ओर से करोड़ों रुपया उन्नाव जनपद के लिए जाता है, लेकिन दलालों और एन.जी.ओज. के माध्यम से काम करवाकर उस पैसे को लूटने का काम किया जाता है। हमारे अनैतिक खर्चों को रोका जा सकता है। इन खर्चों को रोककर हम भारत सरकार के रोजगारोन्मुखी कामों और गरीब जनता के कल्याण के कार्यों को कर सकते हैं। ये सब कार्य कुछ विशेष एजेन्सीज के माध्यम से कराये जाने चाहिए, ताकि गरीब जनता को समुचित रूप से इनका लाभ मिल सके।
सभापति महोदय, हिंदुस्तान के नौजवान आज बेचारगी की ओर जा रहे हैं। वे देश की मुख्य धारा से कट रहे हैं। आज उनके अंदर फ्रस्ट्रेशन डेवलप कर गई है। जब तक उन्हें देश की मुख्य धारा से नहीं जोड़ा जाता है, देश की मुख्य धारा से जोड़ने के लिए आपको उन्हें रोजगार उपलब्ध कराना होगा। आज देश में चारों तरफ अशांति फैली हुई है। कुछ बाहरी तत्व देश के नौजवानों को चंद पैसों का लालच देकर पूरे हिंदुस्तान में अशांति फैलाने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं। चाहे जम्मू-कश्मीर हो, चाहे पूर्वोत्तर के राज्य हों, हमारे नौजवानों के रास्ते रोजगार के साधन उपलब्ध न होने के कारण आज बदल गये हैं। मैं आपके माध्यम से सरकार से अनुरोध करना चाहूंगा कि नौजवानों के लिए बजट में अलग से प्रावधान करना पड़ेगा। हमें समाज के दबाये गये, कुचले गये और पिछड़े लोगों के लिए विचार करना पड़ेगा। इनके लिए हमें दिल से सोचना पड़ेगा, जिनके लिए हमारी नेता बहन मायावती जी ने हमेशा संघर्ष करने का काम किया है। यदि हम इन सब लोगों के बारे में सोचेंगे तभी हम आम आदमी सुख-सुविधाएं उपलब्ध करा सकते हैं।
अंत में, मैं केवल इतना ही कहना चाहूंगा कि जब तक देश के बजट में दबाये गये, कुचले गये, पिछड़े लोगों और बेरोजगार नौजवानों के लिए समुचित प्रावधान नहीं किया जाता, तब तक हम लोग सुंदर भारत का निर्माण नहीं कर पायेंगे। अगर इन सब बातों को बजट की अनुपूरक मांगों के साथ शामिल किया जाता है और शिक्षा के क्षेत्र को भी इसमें विशेष तरीके से जोड़ा जाता है तो बहुजन समाज पार्टी इसका समर्थऩ करेगी।
श्री फग्गन सिंह कुलस्ते (मण्डला) : माननीय सभापति जी, सदन में अनुपूरक अनुदानों की मांगों पर चर्चा हो रही है। मुझे कुछ विशेष नहीं कहना है। परंतु मैं वित्त मंत्री जी का ध्यान कुछ विशेष बातों की तरफ जरूर आकर्षित करना चाहता हूं। यहां पर विशेष रूप से इस बात का उल्लेख हुआ कि जब यू.पी.ए. की सरकार बनी तो हमेशा अमीरों और गरीबों के बारे में बात हुई तथा बेरोजगारों के बारे में बात हुई। इसमें सबसे महत्वपूर्ण सवाल यह है कि आप अपने आंकड़े देखें, वर्ष २००३-२००४ में जब एन.डी.ए. की सरकार थी तो गरीबों और बेरोजगार नौजवानों के लिए १३२८३ करोड़ रुपये का प्रावधान किया गया था। लेकिन जब यू.पी.ए. की सरकार बनी तो केवल ९२३९ करोड़ रुपये का प्रावधान किया गया। इस तरह से दोनों को मिलाकर देखने से मालूम पड़ता है कि चार हजार करोड़ कम रुपये का प्रावधान इस सरकार द्वारा किया गया है।
दूसरी बात यह है कि जब हम गरीबों के बारे में बात करते हैं तो जब एन.डी.ए. की सरकार थी, उस समय एक महत्वपूर्ण अंत्योदय योजना शुरू की गई थी।
अगर आप देखें तो आपकी सर्वे रिपोर्ट में ऐसा उल्लेख किया गया है कि इस कार्य को और आगे बढ़ाना चाहते हैं, परंतु वस्तुस्थिति यह है कि इन छ:-सात महीनों में उन गरीबों की क्या हालत है जिनको हमने बीपीएल में आइडैन्टिफाइ किया है। आज नीचे के स्तर पर क्या स्थिति है, इस पर हमने कभी विचार किया? मैं माननीय वित्त मंत्री जी का ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहता हूँ कि अगर इस योजना को हम वास्तव में प्रभावी बनाना चाहते हैं तो हमें ये सारे काम थोड़े तेज़ी से चलाने होंगे। आज दो-तीन महीने का समय रह गया है परंतु हम अभी तक इसमें कोई कार्रवाई नहीं कर पाए हैं और इस प्रकार का प्रावधान नहीं कर पाए हैं। ऐसे बहुत सारे आँकड़े हैं। ग्रामीण विकास मंत्रालय के बारे में पिछली सरकार की तुलना में आंकड़े देखें तो पिछले समय १९२०० करोड़ रुपये खर्च हुए और यूपीए सरकार आई तो १५९९८ करोड़ रुपये का प्रावधान वित्त मंत्री जी ने रखा है। कुल मिलाकर ३२०० करोड़ रुपये कम हैं। एक तरफ हम सरकार की उपलब्धियों के बारे में बात करते हैं तो यह कहाँ तक सत्य है? किसानों की ऐसी परिस्थिति के बारे में विचार करना आवश्यक है। किसान क्रैडिट कार्ड पिछली एनडीए की सरकार ने प्रारंभ किया था, इस प्रकार की जो महत्वपूर्ण योजनाएं हैं, उनको और भी प्रभावी बनाने की जरूरत है। मुझे लगता है कि आप इन आँकडाँ को देखेंगे तो पाएँगे कि वास्तव में यह सच्चाई है। मैं कहना चाहता हूँ कि तकनीकी शिक्षा का प्रावधान आपने किया है और कहा है कि हम पाँच साल में ५०० आईटीआई टैक्निकल एजुकेशन के लिए खोलेंगे, उसके तहत आपने प्रतिवर्ष १०० का लक्ष्य रखा है। मैं बताना चाहता हूँ कि देश में जितने भी इस प्रकार के विद्यालय जहां-जहां प्रारंभ हुए हैं, पिछले समय में ही उनके भवनों का निर्माण हुआ, परंतु उनके जितने भी ट्रेड हैं, जितना भी ट्रेनिंग देने का प्रावधान आपने किया है, वहाँ आज तक स्टाफ की भर्ती नहीं हो पाई है। फजिकली देश के वभिन्न हिस्सों में देखें तो यह सच्चाई है। एक तरफ हम तकनीकी विद्यालय और आईटीआई खोलना चाहते हैं जिनकी रोज़गार की द्ृष्टि से महत्ता है। आज स्थिति यह है कि वहां ट्रेड प्रारंभ नहीं कर पा रहे हैं। स्थानीय स्तर पर जिन तकनीकों के लिए हम योजना को प्रारंभ करना चाहते हैं, इस बारे में भी कुछ नहीं हो पाया।
मैं आपके माध्यम से वित्त मंत्री जी का ध्यान आकर्षित करना चाहता हूँ कि ऐसी योजनाओं के बारे में जरूर विचार किया जाना चाहिए। स्कीम तो ठीक है पर उस स्कीम को प्रभावी बनाना है और लोगों को रोज़गार देना है। आज हम बेरोज़गारी मिटाने की बात करते हैं। मैं अपने क्षेत्र की कुछ महत्वपूर्ण योजनाओं के बारे में कहना चाहता हूँ। पर्यटन विकास के क्षेत्र में मंडला निर्वाचन में पर्यटन की द्ृष्टि से कान्हा नेशनल पार्क है, जबलपुर में भेड़ाघाट और धुआधार आदि हैं पर इनसे हम टूरिज़्म का जितना विकास करना चाहते हैं, उतना नहीं कर पाए हैं। मैं वित्त मंत्री जी से आग्रह करना चाहता हूँ कि ऐसे आदिवासी इलाकों में जो पर्यटन केन्द्र बनाए गए हैं, उन पर विचार करना चाहिए। इसके लिए जो कदम उठाए गए हैं, उनको प्रभावी बनाने की आवश्यकता है। पिछली सरकार ने जो किया है, मैं चाहता हूँ कि उस काम को आगे बढ़ाया जाए। सिर्फ कहने से काम नहीं चलेगा। कथनी और करनी में अंतर दिख रहा है। इसलिए मैं चाहता हूँ कि सरकार इसके लिए प्रभावी कदम उठाए।
DR. COL. (RETD.) DHANI RAM SHANDIL (SHIMLA): Mr. Chairman, Sir, I rise to support the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2004-05.
I must compliment the UPA Government for its strategies of development under the chairpersonship of Soniaji and headed by Dr. Manmohan Singhji. Today, we have a very competent Finance Minister in Shri Shri P. Chidambaram who has expert knowledge of financial management and the fiscal planning. He deserves all the compliments for maintaining the growth proces.
17.00 hrs. With the Common Minimum Programme at the top, several initiatives have been taken in the field of education. For example, two per cent cess for education is a praiseworthy step in the process of nation building. There are other steps taken in the area of health, to strengthen the rural economy, to re-charge water bodies and also in many other areas. For the first time, agriculture has been put on the top of national planning.
I would like to submit that I come from Himachal Pradesh which is also called Dev Bhoomi. We have the blessings of all the Gods and Godesses. We have been blessed with all the bounties of nature and all the natural resources but they need to be harvested. It is, in this context, that we would like to submit in front of the Finance Minister that we have this development syndrome in order to have a pragmatic plan for our hill State of Himachal Pradesh. Certain areas have to be addressed which are important. The first important thing is communication. Then, we have two narrow railway lines one in the Kalka-Shimla sector and the other in Pathankot-Joginder Nagar sector. The first railway line, which was of importance, was made in the year 1903. At that time, Lord Curzon was the Viceray. It is not a mean feat. It has 103 tunnels. It is a marvel of engineering. But after that nothing much has happened in this field.
We need to have good railways, airways, and a good network of roads because Himachal Pradesh is an apple State and the economy of it revolves around apple. If we have to really come at the international level and also want to draw tourists from foreign countries, we have to have good infrastructure. For that, we need your help. Not only that, we can be a model State for others if we can develop in the field of natural resources like hydel power. At the moment, we have some private parties. But if I say that our public participation should be encouraged, that can only happen if we have a Hill Development Board. For that, we need special blessings from you. Only then, good infrastructure will develop. We should have a forest hill, which would have medicinal plants, wasteland development and the unemployed youth will get jobs. Today, unemployment is rampant in our area. That can be attended to if we have the Centre’s blessings. With your blessings, Mr. Finance Minister, I can assure you that one day the State of Himachal Pradesh could become a model State. You have always been encouraging us to have rain harvesting. We have plans for that. Even from the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Fund, we are funding such schemes. I have tried to tell our people that we must have rain harvesting because natural water, when stored, can be used for floriculture and can also be used for vegetable farming. That is what actually is a realistic thing.
With these words, I once again request the hon. Finance Minister to pay special attention towards the State of Himachal Pradesh so that our infrastructure improves and we should have a special package for the development of the State.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Now the hon. Minister will speak.
… (Interruptions)
श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार (चायल) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैंने भी बोलने के लिए नोटिस दिया है।
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Sir, there are only two more Members who want to speak. Please give them three minutes each.
MR. CHAIRMAN: All right.
श्री शैलेन्द्र कुमार : माननीय सभापति जी, आपने मुझे वर्ष २००४-०५ की अनुदान की अनुपूरक मांगों पर सामान्य चर्चा के लिए समय दिया, इसके लिए मैं आपका आभारी हूं। विशेषरूप से मंत्री जी का, जिन्होंनें समय दिलाया।
मैं कुछ सुझाव अपने उत्तर प्रदेश के बारे में देना चाहता हूं। केन्द्र सरकार की हमेशा यह नीति रही है कि संघ के जो भी राज्य हैं, उनकी जो भी समस्याएं हैं, उनके समाधान हेतु सभी राज्यों को समान सुविधाएं दी जाए।
आपने कुछ राज्यों को स्पेशल पैकेज दिया है, मैं उसका विरोध नहीं करता। वहां की अपनी भौगोलिक और आर्थिक परिस्थितियां रही होंगी। लेकिन उत्तर प्रदेश सरकार ने १८,००० करोड़ रुपये को विशेष पैकेज की मांग की थी। अभी आप उत्तर प्रदेश के दौरे पर गये थे। उत्तरांचल क्योंकि उत्तर प्रदेश का ही एक अंग था, अब वह अलग प्रदेश बन गया है, लेकिन वहां जो औद्योगिक इकाइयां स्थापित हो रही हैं, उनका विपरीत प्रभाव उत्तर प्रदेश पर पड़ रहा है। मेरे कहने का मतलब यह है कि आपने उत्तरांचल में जो भी पैकेज दिये हैं, उसका उत्तर प्रदेश पर विपरीत प्रभाव पड़ रहा है। आप उत्तर प्रदेश की तरफ विशेष ध्यान दें, खासकर उत्तर प्रदेश में चाहे पूवार्ंचल हो या बुन्देलखंड का एरिया, वह बहुत पिछड़ा हुआ है। वहां गरीबी है, बेरोजगारी है। वहां ज्यादातर पथरीला एरिया है। वहां साक्षरता नहीं है, इसलिए विशेष ध्यान देने की जरूरत है। अभी मंत्री जी वहां गये थे। आपने उत्तरांचल के लिए जो विशेष पैकेज की सुविधा दी है, २००३ से लेकर मार्च २००७ के मध्य, उत्तरांचल में स्थापित होने वाली इकाइयों का विस्तार करने हेतु कुछ सुविधाएं दी हैं, जैसे केन्द्रीय उत्पादन शुल्क ८ प्रतिशत से २४ प्रतिशत बढ़ाकर, दस वर्ष के लिए उसे मुक्ति दी है। इसी प्रकार प्रथम पांच वर्ष के लिए आय कर से छूट व अगले पांच वर्ष में ३० प्रतिशत छूट अभी आपने दी है। पूंजी निवेश पर १५ प्रतिशत और अधिकतम ३० लाख की सबसिडी दी है।…( व्यवधान) ट्रांसपोर्ट सबसिडी की अवधि २००७ तक बढ़ा दी है। उत्तर प्रदेश के लिए कम से कम इतना कर दें कि केन्द्रीय उत्पादन शुल्क व आय कर से छूट केवल ऐसी इकाइयों को उपलब्ध कराई जाये जो समुद्र तल से एक हजार मीटर या इससे अधिक ऊंचाई पर स्थापित की जाए, अथवा उत्तरांचल की सीमा से जुड़े १०० किलोमीटर की परधि के उत्तर प्रदेश के क्षेत्र में भी उत्तरांचल के समान उत्पादन शुल्क व आय कर में छूट उपलब्ध कराई जाये ताकि वहां भी औद्योगिक इकाइयां स्थापित हो सकें और जो बेरोजगारी है, पिछड़ापन है, वह दूर हो सके।
इन्हीं बातों के साथ आपने मुझे बोलने का समय दिया, उसके लिए मैं विशेष रूप से आपको धन्यवाद देता हूं।
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO (KALAHANDI): Mr. Chairman, Sir, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to speak. I am the last speaker of this debate and I have been directed by you to be brief and I would not have much time to speak. So, I would request you kindly not to interrupt me till I finish my submission.
Sir, I rise to oppose the Demands for Supplementary Grants for the year 2004-05. It is because this Government has totally failed to abide by the principles of fiscal responsibility and Budget management. It has already gone in the red. The Revenue Deficit is already Rs. 59,911 crore at this time of the year. It should have been around 35,000 crore, and at the end of the year it was expected to be around Rs. 76,000 crore.
Sir, the foreign exchange reserves of our country during the regime of the NDA Government had touched a billion mark, but now it has gone down. For the past few days I have been reading in the newspapers that our foreign exchange reserves have come down.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: The foreign exchange reserves of India are the highest ever today in the history of India.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO : But it has come down now in the sense that the growth of Forex Reserve was moving fast during NDA Govt. as compared to last 6 months of the UPA Govt. Therefore, I would like to suggest here that there should be proper fiscal management and financial discipline which has been lagging since long.
Sir, it is an irony of fate that the States like Bihar and Orissa which have been endowed with natural resources are the poorest States in the country. Economic indicators have shown that we have the highest infant mortality rate, we have the highest number of people living below the poverty line. What are the reasons for this? It is because this country for the last 42 years has been ruled by one single party, namely the Congress Party and they have completely mismanaged the show. Today, in the whole world India has the highest number of anaemic pregnant mothers.
So, how do we fight all these great evils which are attacking our people? The Government has to take stringent measures for fighting these evils.
MR. CHAIRMAN : There is no time available for you to speak. Please try to conclude.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO : Sir, you have just given me a minute to speak and you are asking me to complete.
MR. CHAIRMAN: He has to go to the other House also. Please bear it in mind.
SHRI BIKRAM KESHARI DEO : Sir, I thank you for giving me an opportunity to speak. The GDP growth, at the current price and constant price, is the most in the case of service sector which is at five to six per cent. It is the least in the case of agriculture which is less than two per cent. The high rate of inflation is more a cost push factor, as crude oil prices are rising etc. But food prices do not rise. That is why, during the entire debate, we have been stressing on one thing. There has been a lot of clamour from all the hon. Members regarding the problems of agriculturists. Prices of agricultural products are not going up. Their produce is being sold below the market rate. They are not getting the minimum support price. There is nobody to cry or shout for the agriculturists. And from the sense of the House, we have come to know that the agriculturists are not being properly protected by the Government. Today, has the Government thought of giving some type of subsidy to them? After signing the WTO agreement, after the winding up of GATT, WTO has coming into the scene. Today, India has become globally competitive and we consider our country to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world. But today the agreement of agriculture in the WTO has not yet been drawn out. Developed nations are giving subsidies to their farmers. I would like to know from the Government whether they would give subsidies to our farmers who are languishing under poverty, under drought and under flood. Who will protect them? Where is the protective shield? It was during the NDA Government that the Crop Insurance Scheme and the kisan credit cards were brought.
The second largest employers are the small scale industries. But the small scale industries are not getting proper protection. Who will protect them? You will see that most of the small scale industries have become NPAs. We have to bail them out.
As you have given me some time to speak, I thank you, Sir. But, at the same time, I oppose the Demands for Supplementary Grants. Before closing my speech, I would like to talk about my constituency, Kalahandi.
There is another very good programme which had been initiated by the NDA Government. This Government has allotted some funds for it. It is called the PURA Programme. This Programme is to improve urban amenities in rural areas. The Government has given very less funds. You have given Rs. 8 crore only. Today, we know that there has been a big drift from the rural areas. There has been migration of a higher level from the rural areas to the urban areas. The urban areas have become crowded. Nearly 40 per cent of the population of the country lives in urban areas. So, the PURA Scheme should be strengthened.… (Interruptions) I request the hon. Finance Minister to make PURA more vibrant. I request to make Kalahandi as a model district to implement the PURA scheme. The KVK programme should also be strengthened in the State of Orissa.
PROF. M. RAMADASS (PONDICHERRY) : * Sir, I rise to support the first batch of supplementary demands for Grants moved by the Hon’ble Finance Minister. The demands require authorization of this House to incur a gross additional expenditure of Rs. 38,621.77 crore. If we consider the proposals involving net cash outgo of Rs. 5,063.06 crore, the technical supplementary demand would be to the extent of Rs. 33,558.23 crore. In my view there is abundant justification to allow for this expenditure and hence this House should accord its approval to authorize this quantum of expenditure.
This expenditure is needed to complete the new programme initiatives contained in the Budget for 2004–2005 and the implementation of various ongoing schemes of the X plan which have now become a matter of priority.
Besides this normal requirement of funds, there are four more additional requirements:
1. Increased requirement of Government funded supply of food grains for employment programme such as National Food for Work Programme and Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana, due to expanded coverage including as part of calamity relief works.
2. Increased requirement of fertilizer subsidy due to increase in the amount of inputs, especially petroleum related feedstocks. Essentially the commitments are on account of subsidies on food and fertilizers.
3. Additional amount of expenditure will also be required because of the Centre’s commitment to help the fiscal consolidation efforts of the States by extending the facility of Debt Swap Scheme to high cost loans taken from NABARD and other agencies.
4. The Government will also have to help the States under the Fiscal Reforms facility.
All these and other commitments require additional expenditure which is being requested through these Supplementary Grants.
While Supporting this expenditure, I also wish to compliment the Finance Minister for the Action Taken by him to implement the various initiatives announced in the Budget presented in July this year.
As the hon. Members are aware, the hon’ble Finance Minister has introduced 39 select reform measures of which 20 have been implemented completely, the important among them being National Employment Guarantee Act, extending the coverage of Antodaya Anna Yojana; facilitating educational loans; revival of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund; nationwide water harvesting scheme, bringing all drinking water schemes under Rajiv Gandhi Drinking Water Mission, reducing refinancing rates of the National Housing Bank, setting-up of the Investment Commission, enhancing FDI ceiling in Civil Aviation, setting up a Board for reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises and introducing a new Senior Citizens’ Savings Scheme.
Implementation is nearing 75 per cent in the case of about 19 reform measures. A number of legislative and administrative measures have also been taken in the sphere of direct and indirect taxes. Guidelines on expenditure management have been issued on Ist October 2004 to reduce relatively low priority expenditure and boost non-tax revenues.
These prompt measures taken within a short span of six months show the alacrity and dynamism with which the Finance Minister is working and his genuine desire to fulfil his Budgetary Promises and make himself really accountable to the people and Parliament.
Now, if his initiatives are to continue and to fulfil the remaining promises in the Budget, his demand for expenditure is justifiable.
However his spending decision should also be based on certain considerations of vital importance.
1. This expenditure should not increase the fiscal and revenue deficit. If we go by the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Rules, 2004; the fiscal deficit in the first half of the current year at 40 per cent, of B.E. is better than 45 per cent prescribed. But the revenue deficit at 78.7 per cent more than the stipulated 45 per cent of B.E. really causes concern. This may be due to low growth in over all tax revenue; higher tax devolution to States and reduction in the duties on crude and petroleum products, non-alloy steel and ships. Under this circumstance expenditure sought now should not widen the revenue deficit. If it happens all our expectations on fiscal consolidation would be belied and the country would be moving from creeping inflation to running inflation. The objectives of FRBM would also be defeated.
2. The second consideration is that the Government should find savings in expenditure by appropriately targeting subsidies to the deserving persons in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, small scale industries, etc. The draft Report from National Institute of Public Finance and Policy should be finalized and its recommendations should be acted upon.
3. The number of austerity measures announced by the Government to curtail expenditure should be implemented with earnestness without affecting the quantum of real expenditure required for reviving the forces of growth in various sectors. The expenditure management authority should be judicious enough to distinguish between useful expenditure and non-useful expenditure. One measure of importance is that the Government should keep a close watch on the position of unspent balances with the State Governments and implementing agencies and to insist upon furnishing of utilization certificates for funds released earlier.
4. Wherever possible investment expenditure or plan-expenditure should not be curtailed. I notice that for the period April – September 2004, under current Plan an amount of only Rs. 33,657 crore has been spent while the total plan outlay is Rs. 87,886 crore. Under the State Plan only Rs. 19,617 crore has been booked against a proposed amount of Rs. 57,704 crore. For the corresponding period last year, this amount was Rs. 20,056 crore. Further, for a ten year period the plan assistance has came down to only 33 per cent of the total Plan allocation. This should be raised.
5. Finally, this expenditure should correct the deficiencies noted in the economy today. The expenditure should reduce the stress on agricultural diversification and promote the greater role of agriculture. The twin issues of insufficient investment and inadequate infrastructure should be properly addressed by the expenditure.
THE MINISTER OF FINANCE (SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM): Mr. Chairman Sir, I am grateful to a large number of Members who have participated in this mini-budget debate over the last two-and-a-half days. In fact, this Session has become a mini-budget Session. Bulk of the work of this Session is that of the Ministry of Finance. Sir, you have kindly passed five bills, we have had discussions on four Calling Attention Motions and several other discussions. We are concluding this Session with a mini debate on a mini-budget.
Sir, I can do no better than to quote the first speaker in this debate, Mr. Kharabela Swain. He said:
"There has been greater growth in agriculture, industry and in the services in the first quarter of this fiscal year. Buffer stock is 2.2 million tonnes more than the normal. In the balance of payments case, there is a surplus in the Current Account and the Capital Account. External debt has not risen. It remains at 112.6 billion dollars. Long-term debt has declined by 1.1 billion dollars. The Indian rupee has appreciated now. Electricity grew by 8.7 per cent and electricity shortage came down from 6.4 per cent to 6 per cent.
The number of mobile phones has increased by 81 per cent; the number of families covered under Antyodaya Anna Yojana has increased from 1.5 crores to 2 crores; tax collection is buoyant; expenditure has reduced; plan expenditure has increased by Rs. 638 crore; fiscal deficit is lower and revenue deficit is also lower by Rs. 5,473 crore. "
I cannot expect a better word of appreciation from the Opposition benches and I am deeply grateful to the Opposition benches for fielding a lead speaker who appreciates that the economy has done well and is doing well. Thank you very much.
Hon. Members, if I may say with great respect, should take the opportunity to read the Mid-Year Review. A lot of work has gone into it. Without a Mid-Year Review, it would have been difficult to understand where the economy stands. With the Mid-Year Review, I think, you get a fair picture of where the economy stands. On page 5, we have given figures of April to September performance. Let me straightaway say that for the performance between April and May, I give the credit to the NDA Government. Therefore, for the performance during the months of June, July, August and September, and now October, you will have to give credit to the UPA Government.
In our rivalry to share the credit or to apportion blame, let us not run down the economy, let us not run down the country. The real producers in this country are our farmers, our workers in the industrial sector and the service providers. They are the producers of wealth. They produce wealth in the form of goods and services. In the process of sharing credit or apportioning the blame, I do not think, we should run down the tremendous effort put in by our farmers, our workers and our service providers. It is their work, not yours and not mine. It is their work, their determination, their sweat, their toil which is reflected in these figures. On page 5, I have given you figures for April to September. Now, I have figures for April to October. In April to October, the general industrial growth has been 8.4 per cent as against last year"s 6.2 per cent; manufacturing grew by 8.8 per cent as against 6.8 per cent in the corresponding period last fiscal; electricity grew by 7.1 per cent as against 2.9 per cent; mining grew by 5 per cent as against 3.9 per cent; and capital goods grew by 15.1 per cent as against 9.2 per cent. What does it indicate? This indicates that the economic activity has picked up. This indicates that the industrial activity is robust and growing. This indicates the growing confidence of not only in the present but also in the future. Above everything, this indicates that the people of this country, farmers, workers, industrialists, have faith and confidence in the durability and stability of this Government headed by Dr. Manmohan Singh and the UPA headed by Shrimati Sonia Gandhi.
That is what these figures indicate.
Let me give some more figures. The hon. Member said that foreign exchange reserves have declined. Now, where are you getting the figures from? On the 14th of May, on the date when election results came out, much to your regret, the reserves were to the tune of $ 118 billion.
SHRI VIJAYENDRA PAL SINGH (BHILWARA): That is a small figure.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: That is not a small figure. I am answering his criticism that it is declining. Today, the reserves are to the tune of $ 129.7 billion. That is what I want to point out. Non-Food Credit last year, for the period ended up to the end of November-early December, increased by Rs. 53,014 crore. This year, Non-Food Credit has increased by Rs.1,26,423 crore. Food credit, last year, was negative at Rs.13,018 crore for the period ended November. This year, it is positive at Rs. 6419 crore. … (Interruptions) Let us not have a running commentary. Even a good rainfall requires good rulers! FDI inflow, last year in the period April-October, 2003, was $1.45 billion. This year, in the period April-October 2004, it is $ 3.46 billion. FII inflow in calendar 2003, was $ 7.59 billion and in calendar 2004, which has still another 12 days to go, it is already $ 8.77 billion. By any parameter, by any measure, by any standard, by any statistic, I am not taking credit, all I am saying is that the economy is doing well, thanks to our farmers, thanks to our workers, thanks to our producers and thanks to our service providers.
This is a Supplementary Demand. Therefore, let me focus on the items for which we are asking for more money. It is true that the Supplementary Demands are submitted because when we present a Budget, whether it is in February or in July, some activities are not anticipated or some activities are not yet quite prepared, cooked and completed. Therefore, when one makes an estimate where the Ministry or Department concerned is able to fully prepare that activity, we come to Parliament and ask for more money. But the point to remember is: how much money are we asking and what are we asking for?
We talk about priorities. I am here to talk about the UPA Government’s priorities. What I am asking and the heads I am asking for reflect this Government’s priorities. That is what I want to take a few minutes on. Sir, we are asking for a technical supplementary grant which is purely a matter of accounting. But the additional cash flow that we are asking is only Rs.5063 crore. It is not a very large sum. Out of this Rs. 5063 crore, Plan Expenditure – not Non-Plan Expenditure – is to the tune of Rs. 2930 crore. The point I am making is, of the additional amount that I am asking you to authorise, 60 per cent is for Plan Expenditure, not for wasteful expenditure of the Government of India.
Let me go through the major items. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, last year, under the Revised Estimates, was given Rs.2732 crore. When I presented the Budget, I asked and got Rs.3,057 crore. Today, I am asking you to give me another Rs.2000 crore. So, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan expenditure will go from Rs.2732 crore last year to Rs.5057 crore this year – an increaseof 85 per cent, which I believe, shows the commitment of this Government to elementary and primary education.
The next item is the Mid-day Meal Scheme. Last year, according to Revised Estimates, Rs. 1,375 crore was spent on the Mid-day Meal Scheme. In July, I asked and you gave me Rs. 1,675 crore. Today, I ask you to give me another Rs. 1,210 crore, taking the total to Rs. 2,885 crore, which is more than double of what the previous Government spent on the Mid-day Meal Scheme last year. That shows our commitment to the Mid-day Meal Scheme and the children of India.
For Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana, the Food-for-Work Programme, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 220 crore. This programme was launched on November 14 in Andhra Pradesh. This programme will eventually be subsumed in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme. The Food-for-Work Programme is, therefore, slated to get a total provision of Rs. 7,120 crore, another historical high.
For the Department of Health, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 408 crore, for the Department of Agriculture, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 440 crore, for the Department of Science and Technology, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 200 crore, for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 50 crore, for the Department of Biotechnology, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 40 crore, for the Department of Ocean Development, I am asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 36 crore. Each one of these heads shows the commitment of this Government to education, to the Mid-day Meal Scheme, to health care, to science and technology, to research and to the frontline areas like biotechnology and ocean development.
Sir, some comment was made about my distinguished colleague, the Minister of Communications. We are asking for Rs. 1,000 crore additional allocation for rural telephony. … (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Nothing will go on record except the speech of the hon. Finance Minister.
(Interruptions)* SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: I have already taken from you Rs. 200 crore in the Budget. Last year, for rural telephony, the Government spent altogether only Rs.
*Not Recorded.
200 crore. This year, in the Budget you gave me Rs. 200 crore and today I am asking you to give me another Rs. 1,000 crore for rural telephony. So, we will spend Rs. 1,200 crore as against Rs. 200 crore spent during the last year. … (Interruptions) First you give us money and then we will spend.
MR. CHAIRMAN: No interruption please.
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : It is because of our opening up of the telecom sector. … (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record except the speech of the hon. Finance Minister.
(Interruptions)* SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Please understand that the telecom sector was opened up in 1991 and successive Governments have opened it up further and further.
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : How much did you open up?
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: You were not there in 1991.
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : I was not there, but I watched it from outside. … (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Swain, please take your seat. Nothing will go on record except the speech of the hon. Finance Minister.
(Interruptions)* SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: I have already paid my compliment to you by thanking you for the very gracious and very generous compliments that you gave while you opened your speech. … (Interruptions) I have listened to you. You must listen to me.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Minister, how much time will you take?
*Not Recorded.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Sir, I will finish quickly.
For Indira Awas Yojana, we are asking for an additional allocation of Rs. 400 crore. Where is this money going? It is going to rural areas.
Therefore, Sir, the bulk of this Rs. 5,063 crore goes for education, health schemes, Mid-day Meal Scheme, rural telephony, science and technology, research, all areas which this Government holds in highest priority. The priorities of this Government are reflected in the Supplementary Demands that we make today.
A comment was made about the allegedly low allocation.
MR. CHAIRMAN : There is one announcement. After these Supplementary Demands are passed, the House will take up the half-an-hour discussion listed in today’s List of Business.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: I had answered this in the main debate on the Budget. I am sorry, I have to repeat it and let me repeat it. The Department of Rural Development -- if you kindly have this book again, you will find under Plan Expenditure, which is at page 50 – last year got an allocation of Rs.10,270 crore and this year in the Budget it has been given Rs.11,437 crore.
Now, sometimes a figure of Rs.15,518 crore is quoted. What is this figure of Rs.15,518 crore? This figure of Rs.15,518 crore includes the Budget allocation last year plus an additional Rs.5,230 crore, which was given as drought relief. It is nobody’s desire that drought must hit India every year. Nobody wants drought to come to India every year. Last year, there was a drought and because of drought rice and wheat were given. The price of rice and wheat has to be counted. When there was drought an additional allocation was made and Rs.5,238 crore, which is the price of foodgrains that was supplied was added to Rural Development. It is nobody’s case that every year we must have a drought and every year we must give rice and wheat and add that to Rural Development. The actual allocation to Rural Development this year is greater than the allocation last year.
Let me also point out another thing. In Revised Estimates 2003-04 last year, Central Assistance to States and Union Territory Plans -- all of us represent States, all of us passionately plead for our respective States and State plans are funded partly by Central assistance -- was Rs.48,660 crore. In the Budget Estimate of this year, in July, I asked and obtained from you Rs.57,704 crore and because that is found insufficient, today, I am asking you another Rs.4,703 crore, taking the total Central assistance to Rs.62,407 crore, which represents a 28 per cent increase over the allocation last year. It again shows that we are committed to fund State plans and UT plans so that they can implement all that we dream should be done in this country.
Sir, very briefly, some questions were asked about the AIIMS to be established in several places. Now, it is proposed to set up AIIMS type medical institutions in the most under-served States of Bihar at Patna, Madhya Pradesh at Bhopal, Rajasthan at Jodhpur, Orissa at Bhubaneswar, Uttranchal at Rishikesh and Chhatisgarh at Raipur. Simultaneously, seven medical colleges in seven States will be upgraded. The main criteria for selection includes hospital and bed-to- population ratio, socio-economic status of the State, prevalent rate of illness, availability of super-speciality department, etc. My information is that as far as Jodhpur is concerned, the land has not yet been made available by the State Government. I am hopeful that the State Government will make available the land in Jodhpur as early as possible.
SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY (KOKRAJHAR): What about tribal areas?
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record, except hon. Finance Minister’s speech.
(Interruptions)* SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: A comment was made about the State of Orissa and PMGSY. Under PMGSY, a sum of Rs.700 crore was allocated to the State of Orissa between 2000-01 and 2004-05, out of which Rs. 699 crore, that is virtually the whole amount, has been released by the Ministry of Rural Development.
The expenditure reported by the State till date is only Rs. 489 crore, and the unspent balance with the State of Orissa, according to my records, is Rs. 210 crore. Therefore, the State of Orissa must take steps to spend the money allocated to it over the past few years.
Sir, I think, an hon. Member mentioned about the procurement of cotton in Maharashtra. When this was brought to my notice and the notice of the hon. Prime Minister, we have issued instructions. Based on our instructions, on the request of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, which is the banker for the Cooperative Cotton Marketing Federation, the RBI has, over the last couple of days, conveyed its approval for a credit limit of Rs. 643 crore. This is to enable the Cooperative Cotton Marketing Federation to buy, procure cotton from farmers. RBI’s orders were issued on 16th of December, 2004. … (Interruptions) I cannot answer offhand.
MR. CHAIRMAN : No interruptions please.
SHRI KINJARAPU YERRANNAIDU (SRIKAKULAM): Sir, I mentioned about the cotton growers of Andhra Pradesh.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: I am talking about monopoly procurement of cotton. I am not talking about MSP, I am talking about monopoly procurement of cotton through Cotton Corporation of Maharashtra on which a comment was made that funds are not being made available.
Sir, a comment was made about releases to Rajasthan under Central Sector, Centrally-sponsored Schemes. In 2003-04, Rs. 59.43 crore were released. There is an unspent balance of Rs. 14.96 crore. In the current year, up to date, Rs. 68.91 crore has been released. There is an unspent balance of Rs. 56.77 crore. I hope, my young friend, Shri Dushyant will take this information to the right quarters and see that it is spent.
Finally, something was said about the National Highway Development Programme. It is completely wrong to say that either the Golden Quadrilateral or the North-South Corridor or the East-West Corridor has been slowed or stopped. That is completely wrong. The Golden Quadrilateral is 5,846 kilometres in length. The target date was originally December, 2003 but – even the previous Government realised – that could not be completed in December 2003. The target date was revised and the revised date for completion is December, 2005. As on the 30th of November, 2004, the overall progress is 76 per cent, that is about 4,203 kilometres of road has been completed or is partially completed. NHAI has spent Rs. 19,500 crore. The problems that remain to be tackled for the remainder are land acquisition, environment and forest clearance, and Railway clearance for RoB design.… (Interruptions)
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN : Mr. Minister, you said… (Interruptions)
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: I am not yielding to him, Sir.
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record except what hon. Finance Minister says.
(Interruptions)* *Not Recorded.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: I am not yielding to you Mr. Swain, in your favour.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record except what hon. Finance Minister says.
(Interruptions)* MR. CHAIRMAN: Mr. Swain, please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Mr. Swain must respect the Chair. Nobody has given him permission to speak.… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Do not interrupt Mr. Swain, please sit down.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Mr. Swain must respect the Chair. He has not been permitted to speak. I am not yielding to him.
MR. CHAIRMAN: You please continue.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: The NHDP, the North South East West Corridor is 7,300 kilometres long, both ways. This will connect Srinagar to Kanyakumari and Silchar to Porbandar. The deadline for completion is December, 2007. It has just begun. The deadline is December, 2007. Now, Sir, I have information about how it is financed. But, I do not think that is necessary to give now.
The one point that I wish to make is about the textile sector. Sir, in about 8-9 days from today, the quota regime will be abolished.
Indian textile industry must gear itself to meet competition worldwide. I think, the Ministry of Textiles and the Ministry of Commerce are making efforts to prepare Indian industry, and Indian industry itself is preparing to meet the worldwide challenge.
Sir, we have tremendous strengths. We have strengths in cotton. The raw *Not Recorded.
material base is very strong in India for cotton, jute, silk and man made fibre. 21 per cent of the world’s capacity in spinning is in India. 33 per cent of the world’s capacity in weaving is in India. We have a vast pool of skilled manpower, entrepreneurship and flexibility in production process. We have a competitive advantage in terms of labour cost. There are some constraints. The constraints are the poor quality of cotton and the very low share of cloth production in the organised sector. Most cloth is produced in the decentralised sector. We have a large number of hand-processing units where technological upgradation is required. Some of them have outdated technology. There are concerns about power cost. There are some demands for labour reforms. However, in order to create for our textile industry not only a level-playing field but also a competitive-playing field, you will recall that we have abolished CENVAT right through from fibre to garment. I want to assure the textile industry that as far as cotton, silk and natural fibres are concerned, the extraordinary step of abolishing CENVAT and the tax regime that was introduced in July will remain stable for five years throughout the period of the UPA Government. … (Interruptions)
I am not yielding. How can you interrupt me like this? Please do not interrupt my process of thinking.
The textile industry must be fully assured that we are not going to tinker, we are not going to fiddle with the tax regime, and an assured tax regime is there for them and they must take advantage of this and become competitive.
As far as man-made fibre is concerned, I said in my reply to the Budget debate that the man-made fibre sector does bear a heavy tax burden. Last July, I was not able to deal with that because of the complexity of the subject and because of revenue considerations. But I am looking into the matter and we will find ways and means in which the man-made textile sector will also have a helpful tax regime in order to make it globally competitive. I want all our textile producers to take heart from my statement today and prepare to face the global challenges beginning from the first of January, 2005.
Sir, a number of other steps have been taken by the Ministry of Textiles and by the Ministry of Commerce. I am not narrating these steps but these steps are intended to make India a global leader in the textile sector.
SHRI SANSUMA KHUNGGUR BWISWMUTHIARY : What about wild silk? … (Interruptions)
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Sir, as far as North-East is concerned, the hon. Member has correctly remarked that the special allocation for the North-East is …(Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN : Nothing will go on record except what the hon. Finance Minister says.
(Interruptions) * *Not Recorded.
SHRI P. CHIDAMBARAM: Sir, as far as North-East is concerned, the special component was introduced for the first time by the United Front Government. That has been continued. That component will continue. We have a separate Ministry now called ‘DONER’. We have a very seasoned political leader from that area as the Minister. I will ensure to the best of my ability that the money allocated to the North-East is spent this year and year after year after year.
Finally, let me conclude by referring to the Twelfth Finance Commission. I cannot give you the details. I have to place the Report on the Table of the House. The Twelfth Finance Commission has come out with its recommendations. The Prime Minister is already on record that we will implement the recommendations in true letter and spirit. It is our desire to build co-operative federalism in this country. The Central Government and the State Governments together must work to make this country strong, and one of the ways of doing that is to devolve more money to the State Governments.
Some sketchy reports have appeared in the Press. The Twelfth Finance Commission has, I think, been very kind and generous to the States, but I accept that. We accept the recommendation of the Twelfth Finance Commission. We will come before this House, lay the Report on the Table and then we will say what action we are taking. But I appeal to all the States, irrespective of which Party rules that State, to please join hands with the Central Government to make India’s economy a strong economy and India an economic power house.
I humbly appeal to all the sections of the House to pass the Supplementary Demands for Grants.
MR. CHAIRMAN : Thank you, hon. Minister.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI KHARABELA SWAIN (BALASORE): Sir, the hon. Minister is misleading the House. In his Mid-term Review, he has mentioned that by the end of October, 56 per cent of the Golden Quadrilateral work is over. Now he says by the end of November, 76 per cent of the work has been completed. … (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: Nothing will go on record.
(Interruptions)* MR. CHAIRMAN: Please sit down.
… (Interruptions)
MR. CHAIRMAN: I shall now put the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2004-05 to vote.
"That the respective supplementary sums not exceeding the amounts on Revenue Account and Capital Account shown in the third column of the Order Paper be granted to the President out of the Consolidated Fund of India to defray the charges that will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 2005, in respect of the following demands entered in the second column thereof – Demand Nos. 1, 3, 5 to 7, 12 to 15, 18, 20 and 21, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 42, 44, 47 to 50, 56 to 59, 61, 65 and 66, 68 to 70, 72 and 73, 80, 82 to 93, 95 to 100 and 104."
The motion was adopted.
MR. CHAIRMAN : The Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2004-05 are passed.
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*Not Recorded.