Budget Blues

Various state-based federations are of the opinion that Rajasthan budget 2018, which is being termed as ‘please all’ budget, has actually proved to be a disappointment for several sectors that provide significant support to the GDP of the state. Various industrial unions, including those of cooperative banks, agriculture, tourism, and state employees, feel this budget has not catered to their demands they have been fighting for from past several years.

Most sectors had expected a decrease in the petroleum prices which were not touched upon. “The rates have been increased to a historical level when it comes to petrol prices, a commodity which is directly associated with general public,” said Vijay Garg, general secretary, FORTI. This is not all, other unions feel that the promises made before this budget have not been fulfilled.

As was expected, there have been several huge announcements in the budget, as this is CM Raje’s last budget. However, it would have been better had these announcements been made a little earlier, as the government doesn’t have much time to implement the same. Also, we had demanded development at Mahindra SEZ, for which no announcement has been made. There are no proper roads, no electricity, and no sewage line, hence, it is not being developed. We had also demanded a hospital on Ajmer road where there are several colleges and industries, nothing has been done on that front too.
—Banechand Jain, president, All Rajasthan Agriculture Trade & Industries Association

The chief minister has given relaxation in lease and licensing, but is the condition of replacement put by the Union government possible in Rajasthan? How will a portion of bajri, for example 100x100, picked up from an agricultural land, be refilled by next year? The need was to give relaxation in the rules made by the government. The rule of replacement is not easy to be fulfilled in this state. These announcements are just words, the government should clarify the rules as well. It is practically not possible to implement these promises.
—Naveen Sharma, president, All Rajasthan Bajri Truck Union

The government has waived off farmer loans through cooperative banks, but it also should pay attention to the fact that the entire due amount is paid off to the banks by the government on time. Otherwise, the banks will face a huge problem of funds and liquidity. The banks will further be able to provide loans for future crops only after the previous amount has been paid off. The economic status of Rajasthan, which has waived off a loan of Rs 8,000 crore, is known to all. The economic health of the banks will depend on the way the loan gets repaid.
—Suraj Bhan Singh, general secretary, All Rajasthan Cooperative Bank Employees Union

There is no significant mention of tourism in this budget. They have promised to provide toilet facilities to tourists on highways. This was already being provided via Way-side facilities by RTDC, which was shut down by the government four months earlier. Now, there is no guarantee when it will restart, and what will happen to the tourists till then. There is no mention of tourism security...

...Moreover, the government has not done anything for the state employees in this budget. The government has not increased the allowances of the Anganbadi workers to the optimum level. In addition to this, nothing much has been done towards the promises made to get votes like regularisation of the unorganised sector. Even the seventh pay commission announced this time, has reduced the allowance being received by employees of different cadres.
—Tej Singh Rathore, president, RTDC employees union and secretary, All Rajasthan State Government Employees Federation