Mission Shakti’ appears in Union Budget focusing Women Empowerment, Naveen Patnaik
Bureau,Odishabarta
DELHI:Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday expressed concern over the “drastic reduction” of the share in Central taxes and Centralisation of revenue by introduction of cess on petrol and diesel. He, however, welcomed certain aspects of the Union Budget 2021-2022. He said the banks have to be made accountable to extend credit to women, farmers and MSMEs.
Odisha will be hit by drastic reduction of its share in Central taxes by about Rs 10,840 crore for the current year and as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the horizontal share will decrease from 4.629 per cent to 4.528 per cent for coming five years. This will seriously impact the State, Naveen said.
Expressing concern over the introduction of the new provision of cess on petrol and diesel, he said, “Centralisation of revenue by introduction of cess in petrol and diesel will weaken the Centre-State fiscal balance.
Stating that further capital investments are required very much in Odisha both in railways and highways sectors, as planned for other States, Naveen said there is a need to increase allocation in social assistance programmes and quantum of transfers for local bodies.
Stating that this is the first Budget in the post-COVID-19 scenario and that there is lot of new challenges which this Budget is expected to address, Naveen listed some of its positive points.
According to Naveen, the positive points in the Budget are focus on capital investment to push growth, reintroduction of developmental financial institution and allocation for COVID-19 vaccine.
Besides, industry and sector specific interventions offer hope if matched with allocation, bold decision to expand fiscal deficit to provide growth impetus and a medium and long term vision for self-reliant India.
“I am happy to note that the Union Budget has turned Green with a digital budget like what Odisha has been following from last year,” the Chief Minister said, adding that he is delighted to see ‘Mission Shakti’ appear in the Union Budget focusing on women empowerment. After Odisha’s ‘Mamata Scheme’ was adopted by the Centre from 2011-2012, the replication of Odisha’s flagship women empowerment initiative ‘Mission Shakti’ clearly shows that the State sets a benchmark for the nation, he claimed.
Naveen said he is hopeful that after Mamata Scheme and Mission Shakti, the next logical step towards women empowerment will be reservation for women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. “We will continue to fight for this,” the Chief Minister said.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Odisha will be benefited immensely in the Union Budget.
The Budget has taken appropriate measures to revive consumption and investment, boost manufacturing, strengthen infrastructure, encourage MSMEs and give a thrust to growth, employment and new opportunities, said Pradhan in a statement.
Union Minister of State for MSME, Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Pratap Chandra Sarangi said Paradip will get one of the five mega fishing jetties announced in the Union Budget.
On the other hand, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Niranjan Patnaik said the Budget was disappointing considering the prevailing Covid-19 situation. “While lakhs of people have lost their jobs during the pandemic, there is no provision for the growth of poor and middle-class people.
Besides, there was no provision of taxation on the super-rich,” said the PCC president.“There is so much Prime Minister could have done in the Budget 2021.
This missed opportunity will be another blow to our economy and society. All they have done is to find ways to fill the coffers of their rich friends,” he added.
