The Hindu : National : An opportunity missed: Yechury

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

An opportunity missed: Yechury

Staff Correspondent

Rampur (Shimla): Senior CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said the United Progressive Alliance government, which presented its 2008-09 budget on Friday, missed an opportunity to fulfil the promises it had made in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

Talking to The Hindu here, he said the surplus growth generated in this year’s budget could have been used for greater allocation for health, education and food security. Revenue buoyancy should not be used only for adjusting fiscal deficit.

Mr. Yechury said the 2008-09 budget was also silent on checking inflation and price rise, nor did it lay emphasis on strengthening the public distribution system. The increase in the allocation for the Integrated Child Development Services, though appreciable, was not satisfactory.

While the NCMP had promised at least six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for education and three per cent for public health, these demands were not met. As Friday’s exercise was the last budget of the UPA before the next general elections, it could have got closer to fulfilling the promises it had made. Mr. Yechury was here to inaugurate the 13th State conference of the Himachal unit of the party.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National