CM Biren, predecessor Ibobi spar on Budget-2023-24
Biren: Budget people friendly, Focus on public welfare; Ibobi: Nothing for poor
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 22 2023: While claiming that the Budget Estimates for the year 2023-24 he tabled in the House on Tuesday is people friendly with focus on public welfare, chief minister N Biren has said that the present government cannot work on the line followed by the past Congress government and there has been change in the governance for the better.

Clarifying points raised by Opposition members during the general discussion on Budget Estimates-2023-24 on the second day of the Budget Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, CM Biren asserted that there will be difference in the system of governance of the Manmohan Singh-led past government at the Centre and present government under Narendra Modi.

The Narendra Modi government works as per aspirations of the people and people's leader must have ability to understand mindset of the people and work accordingly, Biren said.

While advising the Opposition members to minutely exam the budget tabled in the House rather than criticising the same without merit, the chief minister opined that Opposition members seem infatuated to gain popularity by terming the budget as unrealistic through the media.

According to CM Biren, the total amount received by the state for Central sponsored scheme from the year 2012-13 to 2016-17 was only Rs 1538 crore but the state received a total of Rs 3411 crore from the year 2017-18 to 2021-22 .

During the Congress government, there were only 25 mandays but BJP government increased mandays of MGNREGS to 60, he pointed out, adding that government is preparing to clear the pending MGNREGS bills within March, 2023.He also said that the present government is able to move forward due to strict financial management and there is no pending salary for government employees now.

There is no harm in criticising the budget but making a mockery of the same should be avoided, Biren said while claiming that government has managed to bring uniform development in both hills and valley through various people-oriented programmes like 'Go to hills', 'Go to village' and others.

He also maintained people of the state are now able to avail benefits of government schemes at their doorsteps unlike in the past.

According to CM Biren, the budget tabled in the House on Tuesday did not differentiate male or female but it is for welfare of entire people of the state.

The budget even allocates fund for welfare activities of weaker sections of the society including widows, he said.

While terming as unfortunate the manner in which the Opposition members are repeatedly misinforming that the state is facing Rs 18,000 crore deficit, the chief minister contended that there is nothing to worry about construction projects being taken up with loan from different funding agencies as these loans will be cleared automatically when the projects are completed and revenue earned.

Apart from this, the completed projects would be the state's assets after 10-20 years, he explained.

Leader of the Opposition O Ibobi Singh, MLA Meghachandra and MLA Th Lokeshwar took part in the discussion on Budget Esti-mates-2023-24 and they contended that the budget would not be able to bring real and speedy development in the state.

Clarifying to a point raised by Th Lokeshwar regarding delay in construction of Imphal East district hospital at Sagolmang years after laying of the foundation stone, the chief minister said that the land dispute led to delay in construction work and there is a corpus fund for the hospital.

He also informed the House that proposal for construction of the hospital had already been made to NEC.

Meanwhile, opposition leader and former chief minister O Ibobi said that the budget 2023-24 introduced by the government has nothing to hope for the poor class of the society.

Taking part in the general discussion of the budget estimates 2023-24, Ibobi said that opposition will always support the initiatives of the government to bring development and address the issues faced by the common people.

However, the budget estimates tabled in the House is nothing but a propaganda or gimmick to seek popularity and it does not offer any hope for the poor class of the society.

Opposition understands the hardships being faced by the government due to the financial trend that the state is passing through for the last few years.

The same situation has been plaguing the state since long.

In 2005, FRPM Act was implemented in about five states on trial basis before the same was passed in the parliament.

Some suggested for conducting the trial in some major states.

However, the then government insisted that views and opinions of all the states should be taken before finalising the trial since India has a federal structured government.

The state also par ticipated in sharing opinions and Manipur was among the few trial states.

While introducing the budget estimates, the CM informed the House that the government follows the FRPM rules, but the budget lacks positive view for the poor class, Ibobi countered.

Asserting that the budget is unrealistic, the former CM said that the resources shown in the budget are superficial and people will definitely feel elated momentarily on seeing a budget of Rs 35,022 crore but the real question will be on the implementation.

During the Congress regime, the public had also queried if the state exchequer has enough fund to implement the budget shown in the paper.

Since Manipur lacks resources, the state has always been depending on central funding.

As preparing and submission of DPR, project sanction and fund release are time consuming processes, the government always put priority on timely release of fund by submitting relevant documents in time.

Even though the government is gloating over its Go to Hills and Go to Village programmes, it has not been able to conduct elections to the ADCs and local bodies.

Earlier, the election was postponed citing Covid-19 pandemic but all states have already conducted their local body elections and the inability of the state government to conduct the elections raises questions, he said.

Recalling how he addressed issues of all irrespective of ruling or opposition during his tenure and how he entertained visits of opposition MLAs even in midnight, the former CM drew attention of the House to ensure early conduct of the ADC and local bodies elections.

Regarding the expenditure and fiscal deficit, which will be around Rs 890 crore as shown in the budget, Ibobi said that Shirui Festival, Sangai Festival and international polo tournament are calendar programmes continued from previous government.

Ethnic Park is not a new idea as similar features were incorporated at the Hapta Kangjeibung venue.

The present government simply relocated the park as permanent structure near Keibul Lamjao.

Though the government boasted of the grand celebration of Sangai Festival, some sections of the public felt it rather incomplete due to multiple venues at long distance, Ibobi remarked.

Commenting on the im piementation of the budget of the current financial year, the opposition leader said that the government is not issuing work orders and expenditure sanction for various projects under state PWD even though the financial year is about to end.

There is not much time to implement the promises made in the budget 2022-23 .

During the Congress term, the government accorded priority on completing tender process by the end of July to ensure completion of projects before the end of the financial year.

Even though six years have passed, the government has not been able to complete the capitol project.

As the govern -ment is planning to complete the project with financial assistance from NABARD, it will definitely entail more expenditure in paying interest, he said.

Joining the discussion, MLA Th Lokeshwar said that the budget lacks fund for women empowerment despite the image shown by the state and its women power.

There is no provision for developing major district roads, without which tourism development will be a distant dream, he said.

Meanwhile, the Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Supplementary Demand for Grant 2022-23 amounting to Rs 3111,58,01,000 for 48 departments.

The chief minister also introduced "The Manipur Appropriation (No 1) Bill, 2023" in the House.

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