People friendly and development oriented budget: Majithia

 by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, JUNE 20

  Mr. Bikram Singh Majithia, Revenue and Information and Public Relations Minister today called the budget presented in the Vidhan Sabha for 2012-13, a People Friendly and development oriented budget.

           In a statement issued here today, Mr. Majithia said despite having limited financial resources, the SAD-BJP government did not impose any new tax on the people of Punjab, who were already reeling under the unbearable inflation due to deflecting  strategies of Congress led UPA Government , also the Punjab Government has put the state on accelerated pace of growth by fetching big investments in various sectors including Health, Education, Sports, Power and Industry, which in itself confirm that  the budget  was a development oriented budget, Mr. Majithia added.

           Mr. Majithia said that despite constant step-motherly treatment with Punjab by the Congress led UPA Government, the Punjab Government was constantly introducing welfare schemes including Atta-Dal, Mai-Bhago, Shagun Scheme and setting up of gyms throughout the state.  

           The Minister said that the income of Punjab from taxes has increased to Rs. 23842 crores while the state government did not impose or introduce any new taxes. He said that collection of taxes from the states is the major source of income of Center Government and in exchange the Union Government was giving a meager share of collected taxes. He said that in 1970 the share of Punjab, who made the country self-reliant on food security front, was 2.4%, which was reduced to 1.32 % showing apathy of Union Government, who ignored the contribution of Punjab in the overall development of nation. 

           He said that income from the Revenue Department is the biggest resource of state and the budget has fixed a fresh target to generate Rs. 500 crore through revenue income resources. He said that the department would achieve this target without any hindrance and the necessary instructions have already been issued in this regard.

           Lashing out at misleading statements of Congress Leaders regarding frail financial health of the state, Mr. Majithia said that such propagation was completely wrong as Punjab has successfully crossed the target of fiscal deficit given by 13th Financial Commission from 1.20 % to 1.14 % of Gross Domestic Product. He said that the Punjab Government has accepted the long pending demands of scribes of the state by securing Rs. 1 crore to establish Press Clubs in each district besides putting Rs. 8 lakh for the study purposes, which would be conducted by the members of Press Gallery Committee of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.  

           The Minister also thanked Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Sukhbir Singh Badal for allocation of Rs. 25 crore for the upgradation of historical Gobindgarh Fort in Amritsar and Rs. 198 crore for Public Rapid Transport System.