‘Budget : Manipur yet again neglected’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 24 : The Manipur State Committee of CPI (M) has  accused the Central Government of neglecting Manipur while presenting the Union Budget 2024-25.
In a statement, Ksh Santa who is secretary of CPI (M) State unit said that the Union Budget 2024 which was presented yesterday not only neglects Manipur and other North East States but is also regressive.
Saying that the Budget doesn't mention anything to address the grievances of over 60,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) who have been taking refuge in relief camps in dilapidated conditions, he reiterated that the Budget neglects the North East States of India particularly Manipur
Santa said that they feel disappointed at the failure of the Government to address the pressing issues of the people of Manipur and other North East States .
Claiming that the Budget only aims to make the rich richer, he added that the Budget should have focused on expanding economic activities and address unemployment, inflation, inequalities and the slowing down of private investment.
He said that the Budget will impose further miseries on the people and slow down investment and employment generation particularly.
The Budget figures show that the revenue earning of the Government increased by 14.5 per cent while the expenditures grew only by 5.94 per cent, Santa said that Government, however, focuses on using the revenue to reduce fiscal deficit instead of expanding economic activities.
Further stating that fertilizer subsidy has been cut by Rs 24894 core and the food subsidy by Rs 7082 crore, the Left leader added that the expenditures on education, health and rural development remain more or less unchanged. In the name of addressing unemployment, the Budget resorts to gimmickry, Santa claimed and added that Employment Linked Incentive is nothing but an avenue to subsidise the corporates in the name of generating new employment.
Budget also highlights schemes to enhance skills among India’s youth but it won't solve the problem of high unemployment, Santa continued and one 18 per cent of youth who got training through various skill promotion schemes got a placement during 2016 and 2022.