Budget does not satisfy needs of common man: Patnaik

Orissa Chief minister Naveen Patnaik criticized the union budget presented Monday by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha saying that it does not satisfy the needs of the common man.

"It is seen that the union budget is broadly continuance of the existing schemes. This budget does not satisfy the needs of the common man who is suffering due to steep price rise of essential commodities," Patnaik said in a press release.

"The union budget does not announce any specific measures to reduce the impact of global economic meltdown particularly for helping the poor states through central assistance," he said.

Orissa’s share in central taxes has been reduced from Rs.8,849.49 crore indicated in the interim budget to Rs.8,495.93 crore in the budget for 2009-2010.

"Orissa will thus lose Rs.353.56 crore by way of assistance from the centre,” he said.

"As far as Orissa is concerned, no special scheme or package has been announced. The union budget does not have increased allocation of funds for KBK districts (the most back ward region of Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput),” he said.

He also accused the central government of not allocating funds for tackling leftwing extremism. “No special allocation for tackling leftwing extremism has been announced,” he said.

"While for the cyclone in West Bengal a special assistance of Rs.1,000 crore is allocated, there is nothing for Orissa relating to the 2008 floods,” he said.

State Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei said: "It is the same lack-lustre budget. It is a let down for all sectors looking for revival. It has no specific development initiative for Orissa."

Last updated on Jul 6^th, 2009 at 19:17 pm IST--IANS