Interim budget does not inspire confidence: Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the interim budget for 2014-15, presented by finance minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha Monday, does not inspire any confidence.

"As anticipated, it has turned out to be a non-event. It does not inspire any confidence," Patnaik said here.

"There is nothing for the common man and the people of Odisha. There is no indication for stepping up capital expenditure to accelerate the sagging growth rate of the economy," he said.

The chief minister said the finance minister has not made any attempt to enhance the revenue and increase plan expenditure.

"The plan outlay for 2014-15 is at the level of 2013-2014. We have grave doubts on the flow of funds through central assistance for state plan, including the restructured centrally sponsored schemes, which now form a part of the state plan," he said.

He said the provision for food subsidy is inadequate and shows the lack of commitment for implementation of the food security act.

"The UPA (United Progressive Alliance) sarkar (government) has created the problem of price rise for the aam aadmi (common man) of our country and has once again failed to address this serious issue in the budget," he said.