Budget evokes mixed reactions in Orissa

The budget has evoked a mixed response in Orissa with some praising Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for taking care of the common man and others alleging that he has not given due attention to this impoverished state.

“It is a good budget for 'aam admi' but not so good for the corporate sector,” Kishor C. Samal, professor of economics and director of the Bhubaneswar-based Development Research Institute of Gabeshana Chakra, told IANS.

“The good features are... it has raised more funds for NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), raised minimum wages to Rs.100, social security for informal sector workers, raising public ownership of listed companies, full interest subsidy for education loan to poor, etc.,” he said.

Since there is massive public expenditure more than Rs.1 million crore it will help to check the recessionary trend in the Indian economy, he said.

“The finance minister has made a provision of funds for handloom clusters of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu but not for Orissa where large numbers of weavers live,” Samal added.

Pradeep Mohapatra, president of the Real Estate Developers Association (REDA) here, said: “The finance minister has emphasised public-private partnership in various sectors and we hope it will help the real estate sector."

Orissa Congress spokesperson Kailash Acharya told IANS: "It is a very good and balanced budget. It has growth impetus and fiscal prudence in mind."

But Damodar Rout, secretary general of the state's ruling Biju Janata Dal, said: “Orissa has been neglected in this budget. While the finance minister has announced funds for the handloom sector of some other states he has forgotten that Orissa has a 2,500-year-old history in this sector.”

Last updated on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 15:59 pm IST--IANS