Several members today participated in General Discussion on Budget 2017-18 in the upper House.Mohammad Muzaffar Parray while initiating the discussion urged the Government for designing comprehensive policy to put an end to conversion of agriculture land for construction of buildings and other purposes besides, asking for raising awareness and putting penalties on the errant in this regard. While asking for compensation to fruit growers in State, the MLC also stressed the need for addressing the issue of malnutrition by paying special attention to State Health Sector. Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo said the Government needs to focus on generating of its own resources for carrying forward the agenda of the development in the State.He also asked the Government to take necessary measures in safeguarding the interests of people especially of poor and down-trodden sections of the society. He urged the Finance Minister for providing provision in the Budget for the rehabilitation of 2014 flood victims. He also called for augmentation of the power projects that are already in pipeline rather than taking up new projects. He sought compensation for saffron growers of the state.Sofi Mohammad Yousuf hailed the pioneering proposals of Budget 2017-18 for including Government’s commitment towards addressing the issue of all casual labourers and daily rated workers. He lauded the government efforts for launching Scooty Scheme for girl students and All Terrain Mountain Bike Scheme for boys.He also appreciated various centrally and state sponsored employment schemes being implemented in the State to create job avenues for the unemployed youth.Zaffar Iqbal Manhas while lauding the Finance Minister for presenting historic Budget 2017-18 said this Budget focuses on micro-budgetary reforms; operations of Government programmes and executing agencies. He lauded the proposal of moving away from the old system of Treasury to PAO which will help in removing delays and plug leakages in the system. He also hailed the comprehensive insurance scheme for crops, setting up of "Shams Faqeer Institute of Sufi and Folk Music" besides instituting a football league in the state on the name of Mufti Memorial Gold Cup which will harness the talent of the state’s youth.He lauded the Government for implementation of 7th Pay Commission for employees from April 2018 and regularization of casual workers starting with those who have donated land to the government for purpose of creating public assets.