STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: National Conference MLC and former Minister Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo on Tuesday described the budget 2017 presented by the Finance Minister as theatrical and hypothetical, saying this is yet another compendium of dreams.
He said that being a good economist, people had lot of expectations from the Finance Minister but he has disappointed them yet again.
Participating in the discussions on Budget 2017-18 in the Legislative Council, Kichloo wondered over the Finance Minister getting to know after nearly two years that the Jammu and Kashmir Bank is undergoing through financial crises.
Applauding the contribution of the J&K Bank role towards the welfare and development of the State, Kichloo said that his party will support any government decision with regard to strengthening it.
Kichloo said that unemployment is a key issue but the budget officers nothing for the unemployed youths. He said that there is need to take major initiative tackle the growing rate of unemployment. He said that recruitment process to fill up the vacant posts is going on at slow pace and same needed to be expedited. ” The state needs fast track recruitment”, he added.
The MLC also sought early resolution of all the issues pertaining to the employees and said that government is not clear in its policy with regard to regularization of adhoc, contractual, daily rated and casual workers. He said that the budget offers nothing for the farmers who had witnessed drought this year and demanded introduction of farmers’ welfare schemes.
Kichloo said that hilly and backward areas of the state including Chenab valley, especially Kishtwar had been deprived of the funds, which are meant for bad pockets and under-developed areas of the state disappointment on part of the government to slashed such funds which are key. He said that replacement of treasury system is a failed exercise adopted by few states in the past and added that many areas in the state lack internet and communication facilities to run the system.