Jammu, March 9 (Scoop News) – CPI (M) legislator M Y Tarigami stressed the need to enhance widow and old age pension, urging the government to find ways and means to ensure welfare of this poor and miserable lot of the society. Rs 400 security assistance is too small an amount to fetch them even medicines, he said.
Participating in the budget discussions in the Legislative Assembly today, he said the government has granted concessions to the industrial concerns but no such seriousness is reflected in the budget vis-à-vis the miserable section comprising widows, destitute and handicapped.
The legislator called for resource mobilization to reduce dependence on the centre even as he stressed on enhancing capital expenditure. There should have budget provision for food security, he said, adding the same could facilitate procurement of ration from open market to cover the unregistered consumers.
Tarigami demanded subsidy and VAT concession on fertilizers and availability of low rate credit to the farmers so that they don’t turn away from agriculture. He sought market management for horticulture produce and relief to cocoon rearers.
Presently the banks seek guarantee of two employees for sanctioning loan cases to the unemployed youth, he said and urged the government to do away with the cumbersome procedure to allow SKEWP to pick up in the State.
He sought compensation to the State on account of Indus Water treaty to augment resource base. He said nothing of the sort has been mentioned in the budget or Governor’s address.