HASSAN: The maiden budget of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition Government, presented by Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, has evoked a mixed response in Hassan district.

Hailing the budget as progressive, Ravikumar, president of the Hassan Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said that as anticipated the budget has accorded priority to the farming sector. Equal importance has been bestowed on other sectors, including information technology, biotechnology, industries, tourism, women and child welfare. Welcoming the decision to extend cooperative credit to farmers at four per cent interest, he said the Bhagyalakshmi scheme will be a boon to poor women.

`List of tall promises'

Criticising the budget as a list of tall promises, Sambiah, a retired economics professor, said the Finance Minister has not specified the source of revenue to fund the popular programmes envisaged. However, he welcomed the decision to extend farm credit at a lower rate. Describing the budget as an attractive document, Jalendra, an auditor, welcomed the Government's priority to the farming sector. The five-point programme envisaged for the uplift of farmers is good, he added.

According to Balakrishna Achar, a chartered accountant, agricultural loan at four per cent and tax exemption for coffee growers will help coffee growers and farmers who have been facing problems for the past few years. "With virtually no additional taxes, this is a landmark budget," he said.

Raje Gowda, an advocate, said that there is no reference to taking information technology to rural areas as desired by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. The allocation for irrigation projects is not satisfactory.

Nanjundappa committee

Though fund allocation for the establishment of the High Court Benches has provided some relief for the people of North Karnataka, sincere attempts have not been made to implement the recommendations of the Nanjundappa committee to help remove regional imbalance.

According to H.P. Mohan, a progressive farmer, it is a pro-farmer budget because it provides for extending cooperative credit to farmers at a lower rate of interest. He said the Government has made sincere efforts in addressing the problems of the common man.

K.C. Rangaswamy, president, district unit of the State Government Employees' Union, regretted that the Government has not announced any programme to help government employees. Though the Government promised earlier that it would announce interim relief for employees, there is no mention in this regard in the budget.

For development

The budget is aimed at the integrated development of the State, N.S. Nagaraj, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, said.

Describing the budget as "pro-people", Dali Chand Jain, secretary, Hassan District Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said that the proposal to set up six medical colleges and industrial training institutes and the decision to complete various irrigation projects will help the district to a great extent.

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