Budget 2014 lacks focus in crucial areas: Naveen Patnaik

BHUBANESHWAR: “Except for the the promise for an IIM, there is nothing for Odisha in this Budget,” said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Reacting to the Modi governments budget for 2014-15, Patnaik found it lacking in focus. “Under the prevailing circumstances with high inflation coupled with drought like scenario greater focus should have been given on agriculture, irrigation and social sector.

However, the Union Budget lacks focus in all these crucial areas.” A nominal increase in allocation for flagship schemes would hurt the development process of the states according to Patnaik.

Patnaik’s BJD government which is represented by 20 MP’s in the Lok Sabha is not part of the government at the Centre. The Odisha Chief Minister said, states’ demands for adequate compensation for loss in Central Sales Tax has not been tackled. “Fiscal consolidation without revenue gain through introduction of GST is a misnomer,” he said.

Pointing out that as usual plans for textile mega-clusters had by passed Odisha, the CM added, “Meagre allocation on ambitious programmes like Rural Electrification speaks of tokenism.”