The House continued general discussion on Budget 2016-17 for the second day today.Initiating the second day’s discussion, Mr Bashir Ahmad Dar today appreciated the element of rationalization included in the State’s annual budget. He said that the same would go a long way in ensuring judicious use of state’s resources.He said that Kupwara district has a huge potential to be developed as a hub of Walnut production in the country and urged for setting up of Walnut town in the district. He also demanded promotion of pilgrim tourism in Kupwara district besides enhancement of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).Mr. Dar appreciated the Government for including measures for women empowerment in the budget. He demanded up gradation and construction of 4-Lane road in addition to connecting the district with Railway network that will give boost to the local economy.Mr. Ajaz Ahmed Khan said that there is no mention about the welfare of the farmers in the budget. He said that the Government had neglected the key agriculture sector by not earmarking anything for purchase of Agriculture machinery. He also demanded adequate funds for development of crops like Basmati and Apricot, and promotion of hi-density fruit production.
Mr. Khan appreciated Industrial Policy Initiatives and pleaded for enhancement of a start-up fund of Rs 5 crore. He also demanded early implementation of 7th Pay Commission in favour of State Government Employees.Choudhary Sukhnandan appreciated the Budget and said it is a Kissan and poor people friendly budget. He suggested waiving-off of toll tax on tractors and tillers. He appreciated the steps taken by the coalition Government for opening of procurement mandis and said that farmers are getting good price for their produce. He demanded enhancement of CDF from Rs 1.5 crore to Rs 3 crore.Mr Mubarak Gul said no concrete measure has been taken up for minimizing power losses. He suggested steps for strengthening LoC trade.Mr. Noor Mohammad Sheikh appreciated the budget 2016-17 and pleaded for enhancement of Chief Minister’s Medical Relief Fund, and ban on the sale of alcohol. He also demanded early settlement of pending pension cases of widows. He stressed up gradation of industrial sector in the State.
Mr. Pawan Kumar Gupta said that no economic survey was published during the current year which could have provided clear picture of the state’s economy.
Mr. Ranbir Singh Pathania termed it as an innovative budget. He pleaded for specific road map for un-employed youth of the State. He also demanded issuance of Soil Health Testing cards to every farmer in the state.Mr. Pathania supported the power budget and initiatives like creating Journalist Welfare Fund. He demanded establishing Jammu Tourist Development Authority, waiving off of Kissan Credit Card (KCC) loans to the farmers.Mr. Asgar Ali Karbalie pleaded for equitable distribution of funds that will ensure development of far flung areas like Ladakh. He said that there is a need to take steps towards exploiting huge potential of granite in the region.He demanded Special Duty Allowances for the employees working in Leh. He also pleaded for announcing various incentives for self help groups.
Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar while taking part in the discussion said that women empowerment is a good step but more needs to be done. He said that there is only one Central Workshop at Pampore for repairing of damaged transformers, and pleaded for establishment of such workshops in every district.He demanded enhancement of CDF and salary of Legislators besides pleading for early implementation of 7th Pay Commission in the State.Shah Mohammad Tantray appreciated the Government for giving a humanitarian face to the budget by providing 30 units of free electricity to BPL families and setting aside funds for the implementation of New Drug Policy.He said the government should take adequate measures to address the issue of unemployment by focusing on entrepreneurship. He also demanded setting up of offices for MLAs in the Civil Secretariat, hike in the salary and Constituency Development Fund for legislators."I thank the Government and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for initiating a new era of development in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.Mr. Rajeev Sharma said the PDP-BJP coalition Government was the idea of late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure harmonious blend of the people of J&K. He praised the Finance Minister for taking measures in the Budget to tackle corruption by giving 'Cost of Investigation' fund for police stations and direct tendering by CAPD.
Mr. Sharma demanded that the hike in VAT on items listed in Schedule D 1 must be rolled back and 50 percent waiver on Kissan Credit Card cases must be immediately released. "The budget should also keep provision for building infrastructure for new administrative units and improving the provisions of marriage assistance scheme for poor," he said.
Shameema Firdous said the state Government must take additional measures for the welfare of women in Jammu and Kashmir. She said the Finance Minister has kept provision for toilets in police stations but many schools in the state lack such facility."There should be provision in the budget to waive off charges of payment seats for disadvantaged students pursuing professional courses in colleges and universities of the state and special fund in hospitals to meet needs of BPL patients diagnosed with critical diseases like cancer," she said. Mr. Usman Majid called for roll back of high taxes which have been levied on food items. He also stressed on the preparation of annual economic survey report, so that the true picture of State’s economy can be gauged.Mr. Usman said that necessary steps should be initiated for preservation and conservation of the Dal and Wullar Lakes. He also pleaded for taking measures so that various power projects can be returned to the State. He also demanded implementation of 7thPay Commission to the employees of the State.
Mr. Vikar Rasool Wani maintained that various centrally sponsored schemes are not being implemented fully in the State, which results in defeating the motive of these welfare programmes. He also called for increase in the old age pension and other social welfare schemes. He also demanded opening of Higher Secondary institutions in various remote areas of the Banihal Constituency.He said that the rationalization of electric tariff should be done in respect of the families which are living BPL families of the State. He also pleaded for implementation of 7th Pay Commission in favour of employees of the State.Mr. Yawar Ahmad Mir said that necessary measures are to be taken to eradicate the menace of corruption. He also appreciated the efforts of Finance Minister for presenting a visionary, people friendly Budget. He said that the provision of keeping Rs 2 crore as a corpus fund for the handicraft sector would go a long way in boosting the sector, which is vital to the State’s employability and economy.He called for taking measures for promoting Kashmiri willow industry. He said that we should also focus on Saffron and Almond promotion at local, National and International markets, so that they are properly packaged and marketed.Mr. Dina Nath Bhagat while appreciating the Budget called for exempting agriculture implements, tools, other allied things, plastic items besides life saving drugs and medicines from the tax ambit.He further pleaded for implementation of 7th Pay Commission in the State.The discussion would resume tomorrow.