LOK SABHA
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SYNOPSIS OF DEBATES
(Proceedings other than Questions and Answers)
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Tuesday, March 19, 2002/Phalguna 28, 1923 (Saka)
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SPECIAL MENTION BY MEMBERS
(i) Re : Attack on the Member by the Police in Pallakad, Kerala
THE MINISTER OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION (SHRI ANANTH KUMAR) responding to the issue raised by several hon. Members, said : I will convey to the hon. Home Minister the sentiments expressed by all the sections of the hon. House.
(ii) Re : Dharna for land rights by tribals of Maharashtra.
THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS
(SHRI T.R. BAALU) responding to the issue raised by several hon. Members, said : I will go through the grievance and see what best can be done.
ELECTION AND OTHER RELATED LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2002
THE MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY) moved for leave to introduce the Bill.
SHRI VARKALA RADHAKRISHNAN opposing the Motion, said : This legislation is beyond the competence of this House. We cannot legislate upon these subjects. It is concerning the relationship between the political parties and the company. Political parties contribute according to their will and pleasure. If the contribution is allowed, definitely that would be a death blow to the Indian democracy. We all know in elections money is a deciding factor. It would be futile exercise if money is made a deciding factor in the matter of elections. So, long as there is no political consensus, any attempt to bring in the idea of contribution of money in the elections by the corporate bodies would not be successful.
SHRI ARUN JAITLEY replying, said : The Bill seeks to amend three legislation – the Representation of People Act, Which is Entry 72 of the Union List, the Companies Act, which is Entry 43 and 44, and the Income Tax Act, which is Entry 82 of the Union List. In all the three matters, this Parliament has the full legislative competence to enact this law.
The Bill was introduced.
MATTERS UNDER RULE 377
(i) Need to lay rail line on Chhatarpur-Sagar-Devari-Kareli-Nagpur route in Madhya Pradesh.
SHRI VIRENDRA KUMAR : Sagar division is quite backward from the development point of view. Granting of junction status to Sagar will usher in development of Chhatarpur-Sahgarh-Makronia-Surki-Devri-Kareli rail route and will felicitate development and setting up of industries based on minerals in the region and will also reduce the distance between Sagar and Nagpur.
(ii) Need to provide adequate irrigation facilities in Bahraich and Shravasti districts of U.P.
SHRI PADAM SEN CHOUDHRY : My Parliament constituency, Bahraich is close to Nepal. There neither exist canals nor boring is successful in some areas. In this area, arrangements for deep boring should be made so that the agricultural production increase and the farmers get remunerative prices. In Sirsia-Harihar-Purani Block of Shravasti district, reservoir had been constructed for irrigation but they are not working well due to which, the farmers are facing problems and their crops are getting affected. The Government should give all necessary assistance for the reconstruction of reservoirs.
(iii) Need to accord clearance to the proposal of Orissa Government prohibiting transfer of Scheduled Tribe land to non-STs with a view to protect their interests.
SHRI ANADI SAHU : In order to protect the Scheduled Tribes from alienation of their land for the non-STs in the scheduled areas of the State of Orissa, Government of Orissa had promulgated the Regulation 2 of 1956. However, because of a saving clause in section 3 of the said regulation land of the STs were being transferred to the non-STs by previous approval of the Competent Authority. This has resulted in mass transfer of the land of the scheduled tribes people. Government of India and the Ministry of Home Affairs, may take immediate steps in the matter to protect the interests of tribals of Orissa.
(iv) Need to lay metro rail network in Cochin city, Kerala
SHRI GEORGE EDEN : Cochin is one of the fast developing city in the country. The traffic block is the regular phenomena in the Cochin city and near by area. The only solution for clearing the traffic block is the Metro Railway network to be introduced in this Area.
(v) Need to introduce a fast passenger train between Durgapur and Kolkata.
SHRI SUNIL KHAN : Durgapur city is growing faster with more industries. Naturally, both industrialists and businessmen are to commute between Durgapur and Kolkata. A large number of students, particularly substantial number of girl students from Durgapur, a particular sub-division of Bankura and from a part of Birbhum, also commute regularly for attending universities. Since most of them come from middle class and lower middle class families, they cannot afford hostel facilities. Considering constraints of all section of people, I urge upon the Government to run a fast passenger train Durgapur to Kolkata.
(vi) Need to give income tax exemption on all donations for National Games to be held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
SHRI RAJAIAH MALYALA : The national games for year 2002 are scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Several new stadiums are to be constructed and other infrastructures are to be put in at an estimated cost of Rs.150 crores. In order to speed up these activities the State Government have approached individuals and the various other institutions to donate liberally for games. As requested by the State Government, the Government of India should grant 100 per cent income tax exemption on donations from institutions and individuals.
(vii) Need to accord environmental clearance for the Bhimili Brach Sand Project of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation in Vishakhapatnam district.
SHRI M.V.V.S. MURTHI : The Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation proposed to have a collaborative Brach Sand Project with IRE and NMDC at Bhimili. The environmental clearances in respect of Transworld Garnet with whom the State Government has signed an MoU is also pending. In view of the fact that these minerals are very rare and unique and it would be in the national interest to exploit them judiciously for the development of the nation. I request the Union Government to accord necessary environmental clearance for the Bhimili Brach Sand Project of APMDC in Vishakhapatnam district.
(viii) Need to accord clearance to the proposal of U.P. Government for increasing honorarium being paid to Lecturers in vocational colleges.
SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN : For the proper development of the country, the expansion of education is very important and much more important than this is vocationalisation of education, to make it employment oriented, to improve standards of education and the setting up of more and more vocational colleges in this regard. In the year 2000, the Central Government had advised the State Governments for appointing Lecturers in these colleges on temporary or permanent basis. Subsequently, four hundred Lecturers were appointed in Uttar Pradesh. The honorarium paid to the Lecturers in these vocational colleges is still Rs.1500/- per month, which the Uttar Pradesh Government had proposed to raise to Rs.5,000/- per month from January, 2001 but it is pending for clearance with the Centre. For improving the educational standards in these vocational colleges, decision should be taken without delay.
(ix) Need to connect Azamgarh in U.P. with other Metropolitan cities by train.
DR. BALIRAM : Azamgarh is the most backward district of Uttar Pradesh because since Independence it has not been connected with different metropolitan cities by rail even when the silk sarees of Mubarkpur of this district are well-known the world over. The people of this area daily travel to various places in connection with employment and business. In the absence of direct train services to various metropolitan cities, the business people face great difficulties. Therefore, I request the Government through you to provide direct train link to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai from Azamgarh.
(x) Need for construction of a dam on Uthra Cauveri river at Anaicut block in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu.
SHRI N.T. SHANMUGAM : Vellore District in Tamil Nadu is highly conducive for a number of agricultural and horticultural crops. The economy of this region has the potential to improve due to agricultural products, provided water resource problem is tackled. The people from this region have to struggle with poor rainfall and inadequate water resources for drinking water and irrigation purpose. A number of villages face acute scarcity of drinking water. I am sure if the entire rain water is harvested and stored in the reservoirs and tanks, the region can very well meet the water demand. This can only be possible if Government of India immediately for construction of Melarasambut Dam on Uthara Cauveri River at Anaicut Block in Vellore District to solve the problem of water scarcity.
(xi) Need to provide financial assistance to Government of Karnataka for development of tourism in the State.
SHRI G. MALLIKARJUNAPPA : In a bid to give new fillip to tourism in Karnataka the hon. Chief Minister held talks with the Union Tourism Minister and urged him to grant special financial assistance to promote tourism in the State. The Chief Minister of Karnataka has urged the Union Minister to sanction special assistance to promote tourism in the world heritage centre of Hampi, as well as Badami, Aihole, Pattadkal, Jog etc. I, therefore, urge that immediate necessary central aid should be provided for tourism projects.
THE BUDGET (GENERAL) – 2002-2003
GENERAL DISCUSSION
DEMANDS FOR GRANTS ON ACCOUNT (GENERAL) – 2002-2003
SUPPLEMENTARY DEMAND FOR GRANTS (GENERAL) – 2001-2002
AND
DEMAND FOR EXCESS GRANTS (GENERAL) – 1998 –99
SHRI MANI SHANKAR AIYAR : The economic Survey that was presented just before the presentation of the Budget gives us the opportunity of comparing the hon. Finance Minister’s four-year economic performance. The growth over the last four years, from 1998 to 2002 has been of the order of 16 per cent. The average annual rate of growth in the last two years, that is, 2000 to 2002 has been of the order of 4.5 per cent per annum. This is lower than the annual average rate of growth of the Fifth Plan, the Sixth Plan, the Seventh Plan and the Eighth Plan, what used to be derogatorily called, ‘the Hindu rate of growth’. When in speech after speech the hon. Minister of Finance repeats this mantra of seven per cent to eight per cent annual growth and the Prime Minister goes all the way to the United States to claim that we would be growing at nine per cent per annum while his actual performance is down to half of that at 4.5 per annum. The sectorial performance is even worse. In the Eighties, the foodgrains output rose at 36 per cent. In the Nineties, the foodgrains output has risen by under half of that figure – just 18 per cent over the entire decade averaging a mere 1.8 per cent per annum which tragically is lower even than our population growth. Is this the way to sustain our self-sufficiency in foodgrains in the 21st century? If the buffer stocks of the Government are too high, it is not because we are producing too much food. It is because this Government has woefully overpriced foodgrains for the consumers who are below the poverty line. The decade of the Nineties has also been the ruin of our oilseed farmers, the poorest of our kisans. It is the worst performance in manufacturing, construction and utilities that we have in the last two decades. Ironically, one industrial sector of all which are listed over here, table called the selected industry has had remarkable growth – synthetics.
The Finance Minister will immediately protest that it is his Government, which has slashed poverty by the highest margin ever – down to 26 per cent. But the Question I pose to this House is, "How can poverty be falling when all indices of growth are falling?" The share of all the three – rural development, anti-poverty programmes and also the social sector spending has hit the rock bottom at just one per cent of the GDP. Then where from does this momentum come for the decline in the poverty ratio?
I demand to know from the Finance Minister why the recommendation of the Lakdavala Committee for an annual State of Poverty Report based on a complexity of parameters set out by Shri Lakdavala, is not being implemented. This Government’s single-most important programme for rural development is the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yajana. For which this Parliament has already sanctioned Rs. 5,000 crore over the last two years. But how is it being implemented? The whole of the first year, 2000-01, was wasted in drafting guidelines. Most of the second year has been spent getting out the sanctions for the first year’s allocations. Out of Rs. 5,000 crore sanctioned, actual expenditure runs into a few hundred crore rupees. I challenge the Finance Minister to reveal in his reply what has been the actual expenditure in the years 2000 to 2002 on the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in comparison to the Rs. 5,000 crore he appropriated from us. This Government boasts of attaining its rural connectivity objectives within the Tenth Plan period. But its own estimates show that a minimum of Rs. 60,000 core is going to be required for this purpose. It will, therefore, take some 25 years to reach this target at the present levels of appropriation. Yet, nothing has been done by the hon. Finance Minister to make rural connectivity the focal point of World Bank, ADB and other international funding in India. The finance minister does not know that the physical achievement in the rural development is dismal. All the programmes are running far behind the physical targets. Nothing has been said in the Budget about the yawning gap between promise and performance for the poor of this nation. I would also like to draw the Government’s attention towards the collapse of silk industry. The subsidy provided by the Government on hank yarn is marred by corruption and misuse. Growth rates are lagging far -far behind. The Government knows only to sell the assets of the country. Private privatization is the most dangerous thing for the country. We in the Congress will not tolerate the surrender of power to the rich. We stand for power to the Panchayats. That is the core of our economic policy.
SHRI VAIKO : I extend my hearty congratulation for Shri Yashwant Sinha for presenting the Budget for the fifth time. Today is the day when our hon. Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee assumed the reign of power at the centre.
When the Finance Minister took the portfolio in 1998 the country had severe economic challenges to be faced. Economic sanctions were imposed on the country but he managed to come out of it. He launched the second-generation economic reforms in the last budget. The 11th September attack on Twin Towers of World Trade Centre started the global recession. Today whatever happens in any remote corner of globe in the economic front it affects the entire globe.
He has presented the budget for strengthening the second generation of reforms. The inflation rate has fallen to 1.1 percent. The advantage of foreign exchange reserve has reached to 50 billion dollar. No doubt we have not solved the unemployment problem but the Government has promised growth for agro sector. The farmers have made the country not only self sufficient in foodgrains but worth exporting the foodgrains. This Government has launched some innovative steps. Freedom to farmers is overreaching the goals. But the amendment of Bill agricultural produce marketing Act is need of the hour. A credit linked subsidy scheme has been announced for the storage of foodgrains. Kisan Credit Card Scheme has been resounding success. A new corporation for agricultural sector is a welcome step. Price of Urea and the other fertilizers have gone up. I want to urge the Government to reconsider it.
Jai Prakash Rozgar GuaranteeYojana is fitting tribute to the memory of Shri Jai Prakash Narayan. Jan Raksha Scheme for ensuring the good health for rural poor is an innovative scheme. He also reduced the excise duty on tea and aids and cancer drugs. He has also enhanced the plan allocation for Women and Child development by 33 per cent. Abolishing the administered price of petroleum products is another welcome step.
Another innovative step taken by our Finance Minister is the dismantling of the Administered Price Mechanism for petroleum products. The price of petroleum products will now become market determined. A Petroleum Regulatory Board will be set up to oversee the sector. The LPG price has been brought down by Rs.20 per cylinder. I would request the Government to consider the demand to reduce the price of Kerosene. There is a demand to restore the status quo ante regarding hank yarn. The entire textile industry is facing a crisis. Our Finance Minister, with a perspective outlook to protect the textile industry has taken steps in this regard. The threat is from China, from our neighbour in every field. He has introduced a very important amendment in the Customs Tariff Act in the Union Budget. Our Finance Minister in his Budget speech mentioned about the broad strategy to enhance public and private investment in infrastructure. He said that the Prime Minister's National Highway Development Programme launched three years ago, is progressing well. The golden quadrilateral would be completed substantial by December, 2003 and the North, South, East and West corridors have a length of 7,300 kms. of which 716 have already been four laned. If you want to strengthen the infrastructure for the future economic prosperity, one major project to be implemented is the Sethu Samuthiram canal project. When Arignar Anna became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in 1967, his first demand was to implement the Sethu Samuthiram canal project not only for the economic prosperity of Tamil Nadu but also for the entire nation. If this project is implemented, the Sethu Samuthiram canal will become more important than Suez and Panama canals and ships from all over the world will be passing through the canal. If this project is implemented, the canal will reduce the distance between the ports in the Eastern and Western coasts of the country. The distance will be reduced, the fuel cost will be less and from security point of view, our ships will be able to go through our navigated canal. Since it is a dream project not only for the Tamils but also for the whole of India, I hope and expect that the name of the Government headed by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee will go into the annals of history for centuries and centuries. When the Suez Canal was opened for the first time, Muslims and Christians celebrated together. Likewise, when this project is implemented, not only the whole of Tamil Nadu but also the whole of India will cherish it. I wish and commend our Finance Minister for presenting an innovative Budget, a development-oriented Budget and a progressive Budget meeting the challenges.
SHRI RUPCHAND PAL : If we look at the Economic Survey presented by this Government, the Economic Survey presents a very bleak picture about the economic performance of this Government. There is unprecedented industrial slow down which is admitted in the Economic Survey. The corporate investment declined from 98-99 to the tune of 32.3 per cent. New projects declined by 54 per cent. Expansion and modernisation dropped by 40 per cent. There is unemployment. The Government has miserably failed to address the burning problems facing this nation--be it industrial slow down, unemployment, stagnation in agriculture, severe demand recession. Even in the rural areas, there is declining productivity and declining profitability. Throughout the length and breadth of this country, unemployment has taken such a dimension that the Government does not take into account this burning problem.
There is stagnation in agriculture. On the one hand, there is huge food stock. On the other hand, repeatedly, the attention of the Government is being drawn to the fact that more than five crore people are starving. They have been saying that poverty has come down from 36 per cent to 26 per cent but according to a latest admission, more than six lakh households are there. Why do you not use the huge food stock for a massive ‘food for work’ programme? Biotechnology is an area where we have very efficient professionals but how to use it for increasing productivity? There is hardly any to be seen in this Budget.
The revenue collection has sharply gone down. According to an estimate only 30 per cent of the income of the Indian rich is disclosed. This Government says that they will raise the revenue to the extent of 21 per cent. Can they ever reach the revenue target unless they have a radical will to touch their friends? What is happening in the name of disinvestment? IOC which is Number one Fortune company, in the public sector is virtually being ruined in the name of disinvestment. This Government wanted to fulfil the target of Rs. 12,000 crore. It is just manipulation.
We are not against reforms, but we have a meaning of reforms, what we are doing in West Bengal. In our country, the people are becoming poorer and poorer. The Government can spend the money for the social sector, elementary education and health care etc. What is the price rise in the service sector? I am just mentioning about medicines. In the post-decontrolled era, the price of 45 per cent of the medicines rose by 20 per cent and the price of 5 per cent of the medicine rose by 45 per cent. There were 76 medicines in the Control List and now, 36 medicines have been taken away. Medicine is becoming costlier. The cost of transport, railway fares have been increased. Ninety per cent of the burden will be borne by the second class and ordinary passengers.
They say that there is very low inflation, unprecedented during the last 25 years. The cost of transport is rising. The fares of railway are rising. The medical cost is rising. Educational cost is rising. The cost of everything is rising. The inflation has come down. It has come down largely because of the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing sector is taking into account the goods that are ordinarily used by the common people. Middle-class people, salaried people, who have been putting their money in the PPF, PF and other small savings like Kisan Vikas Patra, will suffer.
It is the corporate sector that will benefit. It is they who have taken away the money from this country. I was amazed, that US $ 2,500 billion dollars worth of Indian money was deposited in different banks. Ninety per cent of it is household savings. The rebate and concessions that were given earlier under Section 88 of the Income-Tax Act have been withdrawn. It will be a great disincentive to the middle-class people who deposit their money in the banks. Our household savings rate was 25 per cent and, now, it has come down to 20 per cent or 21 per cent.
Physical security is important. But more important is economic security. No country in the history of this world has survived without economic security. Physical security is one thing and economic security is another thing. There is growing unemployment and joblessness. People are being deprived and pauperized. If that is what you call ‘reforms’, then people would love to hate this word called ‘reforms’,
We are in favour of a national consensus. The Government should discuss it with the State Governments. The financial conditions of the States are in doldrums. There are 15 other States in this country that are ruled by Congress Governments. The Congress Government only initiated the reforms process. I am mentioning about the Centre-State relation in general. The recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission have not been effect to. Ours is a federal polity. It is a Union of States.
There was the 93rd amendment of the Constitution with a view to providing free education to students of the age group of six and 14 years. But this year only a sum of Rs.908 crore have been allocated in the Budget. In the name of Defence expenditure, a surcharge has been imposed. What is a surcharge? Collection of funds through levy of surcharge means depriving the States. Agriculture is a State subject and, of course, agriculturists are suffering a lot due to declining productivity and profitability.
Perhaps, there was a study that was conducted by a very important Government agency on this rural wealth. We are not against reforms but it should be in the interest of the nation, in the interest of the people who have suffered the most. In the name of disinvestment, the Government should not sell out the profitable organizations! World over mergers are taking place to add to the financial strength. Even in India Reliance went in for merger with another entity. TATA, AT&T and BPL have merged and we welcome it. Why should not our public sector undertakings be allowed to merge?
The Government is bringing down subsidies on fertilizer, urea, etc. The World over, the European Union countries, America, etc. are providing the highest subsidies under one name or another. How can we be competitive? We are speaking about diversification in agriculture. We have excellent pool of professionals in agriculture but even in such a situation, if the subsidy is withdrawn under one name or another, it will severely hurt our agriculture.
The Finance Minister understands that reforms means lowering of small savings’ interest rates. They attacked the middle class and the salaried class by hiking the rates of fertilizer, kerosene, LPG, candles, tooth paste, etc. thus putting pressure on the States. The financial markets have been opened up and it will have disastrous consequences.
What is happening in the capital market? I know that the Cabinet has considered some amendments to the SEBI Act. I want to know who is the regulator? Is it the Reserve Bank of India? Is it the Department of Company Affairs? Is it the SEBI?
DR. B.B. RAMAIAH : I have to say that the rate of inflation has come down substantially which is below two per cent. This is the greatest achievement. I feel that the Government still has to improve a lot in other sectors. The growth of this country is dependent only on the growth of agriculture. Agriculture is the most basic thing for us. In the field of agriculture you have given substantial amount of support by allowing free movement of agricultural products, liberalizing export restrictions and also removing restrictions on MMP, that is the milk and milk products. Today we have surplus in rice, wheat and sugar but still we have to increase their productivity.
For the last few years the Government has taken a lot of interest on development. The Government has increased the warehouse capacity. That was the main problem. The Government have also provided increased support for cold storage facilities. These are very essential for us. I felt bad when the FCI said that it wants to slowly withdraw from the area of food procurement. This according to me is the biggest danger for us.
Agricultural production can be increased substantially by using bio-technology and various agricultural skills. I feel that the subsidy which is being provided by the developing countries in the WTO regime, has to come down so that we can compete in the export market. Increase in the price of fertilisers should be reconsidered. Soil analysis and various other scientific assistance can be given to the farmers. I agree with the hon. Finance Minister that the import of agricultural products has come down substantially. We have to give enough support for export of agricultural products. If we could develop quality and exportable products, we can definitely compete in any market. Poverty alleviation is a very important thing. As regards rural development, we require drinking water scheme, road development scheme, etc. The Government has given a lot of support for link roads. Already Rs.5000 crore have been allotted. All the MPs want additional amount under MPLADS. This additional amount may go only towards poverty alleviation. So that these poverty alleviation schemes are implemented.
I am happy that this year the allocation for irrigation projects has gone up by Rs.800 crore. With this increase, there would be a marked improvement in the various hydel schemes. You have to take up management of flood water schemes so that the sub-soil water position and the total water resources position will also improve. More and more power generation projects, can minimise the damage caused by floods and allocation for calamity fund will also be reduced to a great extent. Textiles is the biggest exporter in this country but excise duty imposed on the textile products is affecting the people. More than 500 granite industry units have been closed down after the recent hike in the excise duty. You can keep the price fixed for petrol but see that the prices of kerosene and gas are reduced for the sake of the people in rural areas and for poverty alleviation.
Right from 27 per cent today savings have come down to 22 per cent. Salaried people are going to suffer now. Even today, 2.5 per cent people are paying tax. If you are able to bring ten crore people under the net then revenue will increase substantially.
For the last two years, you have imposed some sort of a surcharge and other things. You have put tax on dividend. People are thinking that they are not going to have tax on dividend. We have planned to rise to 10 per cent growth rate. If we reach 6 to 6.5 per cent by whatever method, it will be a great achievement for us. A substantial amount of all these funds is going for non-productive by paying interest on borrowings and repayment of some of the interests. Defence expenditure is of Rs.65,000 crore and on salaries and wages, we cannot do it immediately now.
We have not been able to improve the small scale industries. So far, we have not been able to come out with any successful proposal to remove sickness. If we go into all these aspects, probably we will be able to strengthen our economy and we can improve it.
SHRI RAMJI LAL SUMAN : We are basically a agriculture base nation and our agriculture is protected by our traditional cottage industries. Until cottage industries and agriculture sector is given adequate boost and protection, we can not succeed in elevating poverty and reviving the hopes of our hapless people. This year there is a budget of Rs. four lakh ten thousand crores but the point is that non plan expenditure contains Rs. 2.97 lakh crore whereas the plan expenditure is merely Rs. 1.73 lakh crore. Just to ensure release of Re. one to a common man, how much more money the Government would spend on its bureaucratic network. We should curtail our non -plan expenditure. If persuing the budget declaration, the Government does not continue giving minimum support price the day is not far when middlemen would destroy the entire farmer community. In between, the support price of wheat has witnessed seven times increase whereas the cost of production in agriculture has increased fifteen times. There is no correlation between the input cost and their minimum price. For this purpose a provision of nine hundred crore has been made whereas as per the projections there should have been a provision of Rs. 14 thousand crore and in the present context the provision should have been Rs. 18 thousand crore approximately. In a family where there is an old ailing man and a sick mother, a child has no other option but to go to work instead of going to school. So the basic point to ponder is how to dissolve those condition which compel a child to earn.
Bank loans involving an amount of about Rs. 63 thousand crores are outstanding. A tribunal was made for recovery of these loans which settled 18700 cases but could recover only Rs. 3527 crore so far. If public money is not secure what would be the fate of government. On the other side, in case a cottage industry or small industry owner fails to repay even Rs. 2 or 3 thousand, he is asked to report to tehsil and again the poor fellow have to shelve out additional 10 per cent of the loan amount and spend 14 days in tehsil jail. Effective action should be taken against the rich people.
Primary health service centres are in very poor shape. These centres were started in U.P. in 1972. The salary of technicians and doctors of these centres work out about Rs. 3 lakh per month. But there are no medicines or other basic amenities available in these centres. During U.P. elections our party had in its manifesto had promised that unemployment allowance would be paid to unemployed youth. But the question is, from whom they would mobilise funds for this purpose. Last time there were hundred ministers and if we include the Chairmen also, these VIPs numbers around 200-250 . This is sheer wastage and squandering of public money and if we succeed in checking this extra expenditure only then we can come in a position to do justice to our unemployed youth.
SHRI KIRIT SOMAIYA : Our country do not have adequate storage facility for foodgrains and agro products. As our cost of production is relatively high, our products are not sold either in country or outside. If we do away with the minimum support price policy it will be opposed tooth and nail. There is no mention of development of basic irrigation infrastructure which forms the backbone of our development. In our country only 36 percent land is irrigated and the rest depends on the mercy of rains. About half of the river waters is not harnessed and it flows down waste. In such conditions, the farmer community can not prosper.
Government itself concedes that in our country prices of fertilizers are high and specially the prices of chemical fertilizer is very high as compared to those of WTO. The Government effected hike in Keresone and LPG but later the increase in LPG, prices were partially withdrawn very cleverly. From this increase Government earned a revenue of Rs. 15-20 thousand crores till 31st March.
In 1998, the hon. Prime Minister, from the Red Fort, had assured the nation that during the ensuing ten years ten crores people would be given employment and similarly in Presidential address it was promised that every year one crore people would be provided jobs. But the address of this year has no mention of employment. Meanwhile, unemployment has increased by 2.24 per cent whereas the increase in employment opportunity is merely one per cent. In the name of liberalisation the entire country has been thrown to dogs.
Dr. Joshi was saying that Right to Education would be made a fundamental right and the parents who do not send their children to schools would be taken to task. The Government has given a NPA of Rs.57000 crores to rich people but now they are not able to recover it. Had they given an intensive thought to this issue, they would have known as to what period this NPA pertain to and when this loan was released by banks.
During these 20 years, for the first time inflation has remained only 1.16 percent almost throughout the year. Is it not an indication of our progress? During this period our financial institutions and banks provided agricultural loan of about Rs.64,000 crore and this year our loan target is of Rs.75,000 crore. A credit card scheme has been started for common and small farmers. It was started with Rs.46 lakh two years back and as on date it has more than two crore rupees in it.
The prices of Tea, soap, shampoo, and almost everything has come down by 1 to 7 rupees. One of our national highway projects worth Rs. 7,000 crore is to complete by December 2004. Rates of interest has also come down. I urge upon the Finance Minister to promote small savings of the country, especially of the senior citizens and salaried class.
I am thankful to the Finance Minister for reducing excise duty on anti-AIDS medicines. On 31.3.1999 we had foreign exchange reserve worth Rs. 1,55,000 crore which by 31.3.2001 increased to Rs.2,41,000 crore. This budget is good and an attempt to accelerate our economic growth. A special emphasis has been given on infrastructure development in the power sector. During this period ISD and STD rates have also fallen. In bygone days, the working class people of U.P. could not afford talking to their family on STD, but now they are happy with reduction in STD rates. The subsidy on petroleum products should be withdrawn in a phased manner only.
The Government has launched a good new policy on buy-back which would give full stroke to the capital market. Our experience suggests that the multinationals are misusing the buy-back policy. About 25 MNCs have applied for withdrawal of their names from Bombay Stock Exchange. On the other hand, the Government have setup small industries fund which I duly appreciate. This has been done first time in India. So far as the role of nominee directors in financial institutions is concerned there should be a check on them. The SEBI has not been able to finalise the Takeover Committee Code for the last four years and that’s why all these back door practices are going on. The Government has given lot of incentives to IT industries in India and on its part, our IT industry has also earned reputation in the world. India has new horizons in pharmaceutical sector. The hon. Minister has not touched the tax slabs and for that he deserves our all appreciations. There is a greater need of keeping an eye on the tax evading companies. The way Indian companies are using the tax heaven, that is harming our Indian companies because they relatively pay more tax. We should try to plug such loopholes. We have made a provision for the deficit in US 64 and for that I congratulate the Minister UTI should be made more strong. I urge upon the Government to render help to these people in the same manner as has been given to US 64 people. It is good that this Government has tried to bring transparency in along with the total reforms in the economy.
SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA : This is the fifth General Budget that has been presented by Shri Yashwant Sinha. If we analyse all these five Budgets presented by him, we would get a clear picture of the BJP and their ideology. This is not a Government for the poor, this is for the multinationals, interested lobbies and corporate bodies. The promises made in the Budgets have not been filled. Growth in the industrial, agricultural and in the stock market reflects the economic activities of our country. There has been a slow down in the economic scenario of our country and there is no sign of any revival. The incident of 11th September resulted in global recession. But USA was busy in reviving their economic condition. They have emerged out of that slow down. But still we are talking about economic recession. The point is whether Indian economy would be able to stand up to this challenge and be able to offer a prosperous life to the poor and the down-trodden people of our country. That is the challenge before the Government. I would like to know whether this Government has taken up this challenge. I would like to say that this Government have totally failed in this regard. The Budget has failed in attracting either domestic or Foreign Direct Investment for the country.
The growth rate is slow. Such a growth rate will not help a country like India. Even if the Government sleeps away, this growth rate of 5.4 per cent can be achieved. Lower growth rate and higher fiscal deficit are the contribution of this Government. The Finance Minister was boasting of an eight per cent growth in the Tenth Plan period. How will it be achieved? Congress party has always been in favour of economic reforms and it initiated economic reforms. But, reforms should be carried out with a human face. We are in favour of reforms, but the benefits of reforms should go to the poor people of this country. The process of liberalisation should help the poor and the downtrodden. Through para 162 of the Budget speech, in the name of correcting an anomaly, eight per cent concession was given to the foreign companies. This Government is favouring only the foreign companies and multinational corporate bodies. The Finance Minister mentioned repeatedly that an amount of more than Rs. 10,000 core in the form of outstanding taxes is pending from the corporate houses. I would like to know whether any step has been initiated for collecting this huge amount.
The prices of kerosene, LPG, tooth paste, etc. have been increased. On the one hand, he is giving concession to the foreign companies and on the other hand, he is taxing the poorest of the poor and down-trodden people. Surcharge of five per cent has been levied on all taxpayers. The Finance Minister had not given any concessions to the salaried and fixed income groups. LTC is a privilege for every Government servant to go to his native place. If I remember correctly, late Shrimati Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister has introduced this. But this has been stopped now. Coming to industrial recession, the steps taken by the Finance Minister had not yielded any significant change in the industrial scenario. There is no strategy planned by the Government to arrest this industrial recession. The demand for the industrial goods has come down. The inventory is piling up. The purchasing power of the people is also coming down. The unemployment rate is going up in an alarming proportion. Goods from other countries, especially china and Korea, are being dumped into our market. We have asked the Government to invoke the anti-dumping clause. It feel on the deaf ears.
Under the WTO Agreement, the situation is aggravating day-by-day. Retrenchment of workers, VRS, Golden Hand Shake are the order of the day. Employment scenario is grim. In the case of disinvestment, our Navratnas, are being sold and loss-making companies are being referred to the BIFR. A lot of misgivings are coming up regarding disinvestment. Total transparency should be ensures in this regard. We find there is down-sizing of the Government departments, ban on recruitment, and no step being taken to increase the employment opportunities in rural areas. Agriculture is the core area which has to be given more attention. More private investment is necessary in the agricultural sector. States are in a bad shape. Almost all the State Governments are not in a position to pay salaries to their employees. this is the worst situation as regards food security. Though our godowns are full, starvation deaths are taking place. Even the supreme court has to intervene in this. The PDS has been completely destroyed. It is in disarray. Last time the hon. Finance Minister promised that the import duty on palmolein would be raised t help the poor coconut farmers in our country. Whereas we have entered into a contract for more and more import of palmolein. Out of our total import of agricultural products, only edible oil constitute 60 to 70 per cent. As a result of that, Our farmers are suffering. We do not have a procurement policy.
In the last Budget the Finance Minister introduced the so called decentralised procurement and distribution system which never took off. In every successive budgets we introduce new Rozgar Yojanas which are not really taking off. Central Government is giving 70 per cent grant for the employment schemes. But Bihar does not have money to provide for its share of 30 per cent. Even Kerala does not have money to pay for its 30 per cent. As a result of it, these Rozgar Yojanas are not properly implemented in these States. Shri Chandrababu Naidu suggested that if the Central Government cannot implement it properly, this money should be given to the States. Let the State Governments decide on the programmes according to their geographical conditions. Which, will help strengthen the Central-State relations.
SHRI SUBODH MOHITE : There are four indicators of the budget. Among them the first indicator is growth rate of industry which was 6.3 percent last year and 3.3 percent this year. Export is the second indicator of the budget. Our export has gone down by 97 percent. Revenue receipt is the third indicator of the budget which is short of 17 percent of the target. There has been an increase of 21 percent fiscal deficit from last year. All the four indicators of the budget are negative. The industrial sector is the engine of the economy which decides the state of foreign exchange and international credibility. It is also negative. After year long exercise the fiscal deficit has gone up by 21 percent. It proves that we are backtracking from our promise.
There was a reference to kerosene and LPG. It is really a sensitive sector. I feel that there can be no bigger fun with the poor than this. We cannot tolerate it. What was the need of reducing the price of petrol and diesel?
The duty on foreign liquor has been brought down from 210 percent to 180 percent. Duty on mobile will also be reduced by 16 percent. While on the one hand prices of LPG and kerosene has been increased, on the other hand duty on foreign liquor and mobile has been decreased. What I mean to say is that poor will become poorer and the rich will make merriment at little cost. The poor needs bread, cloth and shelter than drugs for AIDS and Cancer. We are answerable to the farmers. The farmers committed suicide because we enhanced the prices of fertilizers by sitting in the Parliament. The interest rate of the small savings has also been decreasd in the budget. A surcharge has been imposed on Government servant and the tax rebate in their respect has been reduced. Not only this, the postal rates have also been increased.
There was a reference in the Budget Speech that 42,000 Government servants are surplus who would be given VRS. The Government in their agenda had a plan of generating one crore employment opportunities. But on the contrary, they are saying that 42,000 Government servant would be given VRS. I feel that there is something wrong in the planning. This budget is giving impetus to anti-nationalist and anti -social activities. Is it the reformation programme of the NDA that it is retrenching 42,000 Government servant. I suggest that the retirement age should be again be made 58 years instead of 60 years. If the Government want to give VRS, it should be given to one and all. Those who are willing to take VRS, they should be given and there should be no compulsion. They could be redeployed. The silk mills could be restructured. On the one hand we give example of America, while on the other hand we are making employment curtailment. We are talking of the WTO time and again, but nobody talks of Swadeshi.
Our revenue receipt is 50 percent. I have given a number of suggestion to increase revenue receipt. We have to identify the dark areas in it. If revenue collection is made honestly, there will be no need of increasing the prices of kerosene and diesel. For last 50 years we have been repaying World Bank loan. We do not want a development in which the debt burden on us goes on increasing.
SHRI PRABODH PANDA opposing the Budget, said : This Budget has declared a war on the common man. It is harming our self-reliant economy; our domestic industries and our country's agriculture. It could lead to more de-industrialization and more unemployment. It gives a body blow to the poor, the middle-class, to the farmers, to the workers, and even to the upper middle-class people also.
What is the economic scenario of our country? The industrial situation is coming down; there is fall in agriculture production; and there is galloping increase in unemployed people. This Budget has failed to address these problems of our country. Our country is leading towards the debt trap. This Budget would enhance the debt trap.
As far as our country is concerned, the chunk of the kisans, marginal farmers, and agricultural labourers were poor. This Budget does not address them. They claim that they are doing so much to the small and poor farmers, but this is not true. Suicide of peasants has become the order of the day in our country. It is happening because of the debt problem faced by the farmers. As per the rules of the Reserve Bank of India, banks should lend a minimum of 18 percent to the agricultural sector. But is it not a fact that not even a single bank is lending more than 15 percent even today? Fertiliser price has been raised by five percent in the Budget. Taking together with the hike in rail freight, the increase in fertilizer price may go upto 10 percent. This will endanger food security of our country. This Budget, in the name of the helping the farmers in our countryside, is only opening the floodgates for the entry of big capitalists into our agricultural sector. As a result of this, our farmers will be exploited by them and they will be at their mercy.
There are so many words spoken in relation to the schemes. These programmes do not solve the unemployment problem. It will help the middlemen. It will help the contractors. It will help the bureaucrats to control the money. The Prime Minister has talked about the Highways. This is a very good thing. But so far as the construction of the National Highways is concerned, it is the most capital intensive. Lakhs and lakhs of poor people in the villages are not getting jobs. They are only watching the machinery. The machines are working there. This Budget will not help the poor people. This Budget will not even help the workers. Disinvestment is galloping. You are even selling all sorts of assets. It is quite damaging.
DR. SANJAY PASWAN : The Government of Shri Atal ji and the Ministry of Finance deserve kudos for the bold steps the brave Finance Minister has taken in this hour of crises and global economic slowdown. The economic reforms have been made incentive oriented and the States will get more incentives and more share of allocation from the Centre if only they perform in a better way, bring speedy agricultural reforms and facilitate agricultural production and sale. Our country has a surplus foodgrain stock today. We have to spend a lot of amount for the storage of surplus foodgrains. The Government has allocated a huge sum of Rs. 15 thousand crores to the State Governments for making arrangements for storage, marketing etc. The Government of Shri Atal ji has taken a revolutionary step by effecting 93rd amendment to the Constitution, thus making provision for providing free and compulsory education to the children in the age group of 6-14 years. The hon’ble Finance Minister has put an extra burden of Rs. 900 crore on the exchequer in order to support this scheme. This will go a long way to benefit our future generations. In the field of public health, `Janaraksha Scheme' has for the first time been launched. Under this scheme if a person saves a rupee per day, a hefty amount of Rs. 20,000 gets accumulated which can be utilized in case he falls ill and is hospitalised. The Indian healing system has been very effective. The allopathic system of medicines has its own side effects. The hon’ble Finance Minister has drafted a special scheme for promoting the Indian traditional system of medicines i.e. the indigenous system. There is also a provision of setting up an Ayurvedic hospital. All our offices and other such institutions are over staffed. A work accomplished by a hundred people in a Government office is done by a mere 10 people in the private sector. The surplus staff should be absorbed elsewhere. Their skills should be upgraded. The condition of small scale industries is an open secret today. All and sundry taxes are levied on the indigenous consumer products. These include the excise tax, sales tax and entry tax. We wish that not only the excise tax but also sales tax should be levied on all the goods imported in the country.
SHRI C. SREENIVASAN : Our economic growth rate has slowed down due to several factors. At a time when we expected the growth rate to rise from 5.7 per cent to 6 per cent it nose dived to 2.1 per cent. Foreign debt in the fifties was about 2 per cent. Now it has gone up to 8 per cent and above. Our external debt touches almost 10 per cent in the total outlay of our Budget. This Budget lays stress on reducing the non-planned expenditure bringing down the administrative expenses. This Budget also emphasises the need to make our products competitive in the international market. Kerosene price rise, cooking gas price increase, postal tariff enhancement, withdrawal of subsidy to urea and other fertilisers are there in the Budget. These proposals would hit hard the poor and the farmers. The LPG cylinder price rise has been reduced by half. The price of petrol and diesel has come down a bit. We would welcome these steps. But the price rise pertaining to kerosene especially would affect both the people and the Government of Tamil Nadu. I urge upon the Union Government to rescind this move. The buying capacity of the middle class and the poor has weakened. I would expect the hon. Finance Minister to explain the steps that are being taken to enhance the buying power of the poor and the middle class. When our industrial growth has slowed down how the additional loan facility to the small scale sector would benefit them. The announcement by the Government that the funds for cooperative lending would be increased may only add up to the loan burden our agriculturists already have. I urge upon the Union Government to go in for an exclusive Exim policy for agricultural products. Our agro-economy would be severely affected by the withdrawal of agricultural subsidies. Without attending to the basic problems of our farmers you have announced the setting up of a separate insurance corporation for them. This year’s Union Budget is not extending adequate incentive to garment manufacturing sector that may contribute to its growth further.
As far as power sector reforms are concerned, ours is an agricultural country and our ignoring the farmers from getting power at subsidised rates will only do us harm. We do not find adequate fund allocation to ensure proper road links in our rural areas. Wider uniform growth would be possible only when the Centre takes care to release funds to the States in time for the ongoing projects especially in rural areas. Government has not come out with adequate employment generation measures. Delegation and distribution of administrative power, enhanced social welfare measures, committed employment generation schemes are needed throughout the country. No budgetary allocation has been made for the Sethu Samudram project this year. I urge upon the Union Government to allocate adequate funds to ensure the early completion of this project. Eastern coast road scheme has been kept pending. The Union Government must take up this project also along with the ongoing road projects. To construct a second international airport terminal in Chennai, the Centre may heed to our demand and apportion enough funds for this project. The Madurai Municipal Corporation has evolved a plan to lay a 27 km. long ring road. The Madurai Corporation has taken up with the Centre to waive Rs.15 crore of tax that it may have to pay to the Centre to ensure the completion of this project. Centre is yet to release about Rs.49 crore to Tamil Nadu Government for its active participation in the National Malaria Eradication project. In my Dindigul constituency there are many tannery units earning foreign exchange. The Centre must set up an effluent unit to ensure pollution control. Western Ghats Hills development scheme may be provided with additional central funds to provide hill road. The erstwhile Government in Tamil Nadu has taken a loan of Rs.169 crore from the Centre and it’s a burden on us now. The Centre may waive the loans considering the plight of the State now. Tamil Nadu’s share in rural sanitation schemes may be enhanced. It is needless to mention that the Government of Tamil Nadu is committed to wipe out terrorism. There is a need to modernise the police force in Tamil Nadu. Hence, I urge upon the Union Government to set apart adequate funds for this.
SHRI ADHI SANKAR : I rise to support the Budget, which is realistic and growth-oriented. Indian economy is enjoying the lowest rate of inflation of 1.1. percent which is good for the producers and consumers. I welcome some of the schemes announced in the Budget like, ‘Education for All- Sarvasiksha Abhiyan’, ‘Good Health-Janaraksha’, and so on. It is heartening to note that there will be a rollback of the price of LPG which is highly appreciable. Here I would request the Finance Minister to reconsider the rise in price of kerosene and reduce that also. Food stocks have increased to almost 60 million tonnes. Keeping in view the security scenario, hon. Finance Minister has imposed a five per cent surcharge on income-tax. In the Budget, the Finance Minister has proposed three incentive funds. The Government hopes to garner an additional revenue of rs. 6,000 crore through direct taxes. On excise, he is expected to get an additional revenue of Rs. 6,700 crore.
An amount of Rs. 1650 crore has been allotted for universalisation of elementary education. So far, so many employment schemes have been announced by the Government, but the ground result is not encouraging. Day by day, the number of unemployed youths is increasing. The Government should monitor such schemes and see how effectively those schemes can be implemented. Already investments in some public undertakings have been made but the transfer of management and control of the undertakings, issues relating to employees are to be appropriately addressed in terms and conditions of sale, in consultation with all concerned including the employees representatives. Neyveli Lignite Corporation has earned profit of Rs. 4514 crore. Moreover, electricity that is generated through their power stations are sold to the Governments of Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh at a very cheap rate. So, if NLC is privatised then the economy of all the southern States would be affected. Agriculture is the backbone of our Indian economy. The concept of freedom to farmers is highly commendable. It is heartening to know that Rs. 70 crore has been allotted to credit linked subsidy scheme for construction of cold storage. The fruits of the reforms envisaged in this Budget must reach the farmers. Tourism generates more employment and foreign exchange. It is commendable that the plan outlay for tourism has been increased by 50 per cent to Rs. 225 crore for 2002-03. It is unfortunate to find that the rate of interest on GPF is reduced year-by-year which puts a lot of loss on the working class. At the same time the NRI investors are attracted by this Budget.
SHRI K.A. SANGTAM: I would like to point out the statement made by the hon. Finance Minister to increase the allocation from Rs.3457 crore to Rs.5014 crore for the next year for the North-East Special Pool which was created after the announcement of the Prime Minister of India in the year 1998. Further whatever commitment was given by the Prime Minister to the people of the North-East, should be adhered to both in letter and spirit. But it seems that the Central Government has gone back and this commitment has become a farce to the people of the North-East.
The money should be allocated to the States for infrastructure development. I believe the interest rate is extremely high. I would like to request the hon. Finance Minister that it should be brought down. In the North-East, a lot of schemes and projects have been taken up. Some of the projects have been going on for more than ten to fifteen years. What happens is that the money which is allocated in the first instance is so meagre that a project can hardly be started. I would request the Finance Minister to see to it that enough fund is allocated and utilized to complete these projects. I would also request the Government of India to give some special financial package so that people who have accepted to come to the mainstream get sufficient income for themselves. There is a problem in the village telephones. Common people are not able to use the telephones. The Government of India and the Ministry of Defence are asking the villagers to use cellular telephones. How are the people going to live in the absence of means of communication? Therefore, I would request the Government of India to view this very seriously and take it up so that before the damage is done to the nation, it can be avoided.
SHRI BRAHMA NAND MANDAL : The limit of loan for small scale industries has been increased from Rs. 2 lac to 5 lac. This will help in employment generation. The allocation for housing in rural areas has been increased by 13 per cent to Rs. 1725 crore. The allocation for tourism has been increased by 50 per cent to Rs.255 crore. Allocation for power sector has been increased from Rs. 1500 crore to Rs.3500 crore. The allocation for rural development has been increased from 5000 crore to Rs.7500 crore. The allocation for rural electrification has been increased to Rs. 164 crores. The allocation for defence is Rs.65000 crore. The allocation for roads, national highways and railways has been increased by 22, 39 and 23 percent respectively in comparison to previous year. The Prime Minister had given an assurance for the construction of road cum rail bridge on the river Ganges in Munger in Bihar. RITES has estimated that an expenditure of Rs.921 crore will be needed. The Ministry of Railways in 1997-98 had arranged for Rs.600 crore and rest of the allocation was to be made by the Ministry of Surface Transport. In this budget the allocation of the Ministry of Surface Transport is Rs.1500 crore, that is the reason for lack of allocation of funds.
The prices of Urea, DAP and other eatables have been increased by 5 per cent which is a blow to the farmers. In our country 35 per cent population is of agricultural labourers. Even now power has not reached the homes of labourers and they continue to use kerosene. The price of kerosene has been increased by Rs.1.50, which is a matter of concern and should be withdrawn. About 35 per cent poor people of the country need to be given relief. The burden of recession on capital market is being shifted to the industrious hard working people. I would like to know the logic behind it. The capital base of public sector banks is Rs.9000 crore. Fake companies are mushrooming and misusing the money of these banks in the name of liberalization and globalisation. There is a need to ponder over the path on which we are treading to save the country from the ills of liberalization and globalisation.
KUNWAR AKHILESH SINGH : Even after 55 years of independence majority population of the country is devoid of basic amenities. The nation is facing the consequences of economic liberalization. 70 per cent population of the country consists of farmers and labourers. We condemn the attempt made in the budget to bring about slow down in agriculture. In the world of competitiveness the farmers need to reduce cost of production, increase production and improve quality to face the challenges of global market. Countries like America, European Union and Japan are increasing subsidy to agriculture while we are reducing subsidy, which is adversely affecting agriculture in the country.
In the budget the price of kerosene has been increased by Rs1.50 . Even now the poor use kerosene for lighting. The increase in price of kerosene is a cruel joke on the poor. The major problem before the country is of growing population. If population growth is not checked then we will not be able to face the challenges from the world. Thousands of crores of rupees are being spent on Defence while the allocation for education is Rs.900 crore. If this is the scenario then how will the nation progress. In Kerala, the population as per the latest census have reduced by 0.7 per cent. The reason for it is high rate of literacy. For controlling population growth, there is a need to remove poverty and illiteracy and to ensure security.
Farmers are not in a position to pay interest payable on Kisan Credit Card. This budget is meant for the elite class. MNCs are being welcomed in the country. MNCs are coming to earn profit and not to work for the development of the country. Because of this the nation is suffering. Under the pressure of WTO, agriculture and industry are facing recession. There is a need to check wasteful expenditure. The money thus saved could be used for strengthening the economic condition. In Eastern Uttar Pradesh, 20 sugar mills are lying closed. The money saved from controlling wasteful expenditure should be used for reconstruction of the sugar mills which provide employment to lakhs of persons and help lakhs of farmers. The dream of the Government to check unemployment is not going to be fulfilled. If the condition of the farmers is not improved and crops of the farmers are not protected then how will the condition of people will improve. If all this is not done then anarchy will prevail in the country of 100 crore population and nation will disintegrate.
Discussion not concluded
G.C. MALHOTRA,
Secretary-General.
© 2002 BY LOK SABHA SECRETARIAT
NOTE: It is the verbatim Debates of the Lok Sabha and not the Synopsis that should be considered authoritative.