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Neglect of low human development index flayed

PUDUCHERRY: The Indian Institute of Community Development (IICD) has flayed the Central government for “totally ignoring the low human development index of the country” while presenting the Union budget for 2008-2009.

In a statement here on Sunday, chairman of the IICD V.A. Vasudevaraju said the budget was “unconcerned” about improving the quality of life of the people.

“To improve the level of the human development index, budget allocation equivalent to 6 per cent of the GDP for education and 3 per cent of the GDP for health are the minimum requirements. The allocation in the budget continues to be not even half of this requirement in spite of the marginal increase of 20 per cent for education and 15 per cent for health announced,” he said.

On the announcement of waiver of farm loan arrears, Mr.Vasudevaraju said the expenditure of Rs.60,000 crore to write off farm loans was a “good relief” to the farmers covered by banks and cooperatives but not a “good remedy.” “It will not benefit the 42.3 per cent of the indebted farmers in the country who have taken loans from moneylenders at an interest of more than 30 per cent, which no industrialist is capable of paying,” he said.

According to him, the Service Tax which was at 12 per cent with 3 per cent of the tax as cess for education remains to be very high and it seriously affected people’s purchasing power.

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