Press Releases Archive

Perfunctory budget glosses over people’s real problems: Lok Satta

Lok Satta Party national President and legislator Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan dubbed the vote-on-account budget presented in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on February 10 as perfunctory.

Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP said the budget does not take cognizance of people’s discontent triggered by growing unemployment, rising prices and decelerating industry. There is no change in its priorities or an attempt at evaluating the outcomes of its budget allocations.

Dr. JP said that although the State is facing a crisis in the wake of bifurcation, the Finance Minister has not given region and district-wise figures concerning revenue and expenditure to facilitate a meaningful debate and a resolution of knotty financial problems.

Dr. JP explained that the Government which claims to spend Rs.28000 crore on welfare schemes like subsidized rice supply, fee reimbursement, pensions for the disadvantaged and Arogyasri, is anticipating a revenue of Rs.20000 on sale of liquor. Apparently, it is not concerned about ruining people’s physical and financial health by unabashedly promoting liquor consumption.

The Government is not bothered about educational standards although it plans to spend Rs.27400 crore on education. It does not appreciate that poverty cannot be eradicated, caste and gender bias eliminated and wealth created unless every child has access to quality education.

The Government has allocated Rs.8400 crore to the electricity sector, most of it towards covering losses of power distribution companies. This is on top of the Rs.15000 crore additional tariff imposed on consumers. The Government has not focused on improving power supply by undertaking measures like energy auditing, distribution improvement and separation of transformers for domestic and agricultural consumption. If a mere Rs.3000 crore were to be spent per year for three to four years on such measures, the Government can save up to Rs.5000 crore a year.

The Government has allocated Rs.23312 crore towards execution of irrigation projects under jalayagnam during 2014-15. With this, the expenditure on Jalayagnam will touch one lakh crore. It is taking up projects merely to benefit contractors as also those in power. According to his information, thousands of crores were paid illegally in one project alone. In the process, it has not bothered to evaluate the feasibility and viability of projects like Pranahita and Chevella. The project is now estimated to cost Rs.46000 crore and require 3750 mw of power.

The Government spends Rs.5000 crore on the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme every year. Yet it has not utilized the funds on tapping rainwater and improving the groundwater table in the upland areas of the State.

The Government, which introduced a Rs.183000-crore budget does not have funds to establish forensic labs at the rate of one in every district, women police stations and village courts. Although it has at its disposal Rs.1000 crore collected from builders, it has not taken up any schemes to benefit workers in the construction sector.

Dr. JP pointed out that no party other than the Lok Satta has focused on real issues facing the public, engaged as they are in slinging mud at each other. If people are interested in good education, quality healthcare, employment and law and order, they should support the Lok Satta in the coming elections. All other parties are interested in merely continuing the status quo. Absurd promises are made to people – like loan waivers – with an eye on vote banks. All that such schemes will accomplish is bankrupting the State, even as poverty is perpetuated.

Dr. JP disclosed he is in touch with the Finance Commission on allocation of one-third of Central funds to the State to local bodies. It works out to nearly Rs.16000 crore out of the Rs.48900 crore anticipated by the State. Such an allocation will enable local bodies to address people’s problems without their having to run after legislators and Ministers.

State Lok Satta Party Vice Presidents D. V. V. S. Varma and Bandaru Ramamohana Rao shared the dais with Dr. JP.

Monday, February 10, 2014 - 21:06

Shun dynastic politics, Dr.JP tells youth

The Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today called upon youth to shun dynastic politics unequivocally.

Politics should revolve round education, healthcare, employment and basic necessities and not certain families and their wealth making, he said welcoming about 150 young men and women from Malkajgiri constituency and 50 others from social media into the Lok Satta Party.

Dr. JP said that politics should help the youth to shine anywhere in the world by equipping them with skills and knowledge. The Lok Satta Party alone can usher in real politics that fulfil the aspirations of tens of millions of people in the country.

Dr. JP pointed out that India created a mere two million jobs in the last 25 years as against 200 million in China. Sixty percent of the workforce in India continues to be in the unorganized sector and a mere 11 percent in the industrial sector. The Lok Satta has been waging a relentless battle to usher in politics that promises a better future for people.

Mr. Ch. Purnachandra Rao, former sarpanch of Bodulabanda in Nelakondapalli mandal of Khammam district, also joined the Lok Satta Party.

Lok Satta Party GHMC unit President Dosapati Ramu, State Yuva Satta President P. Sivaji Raju and LB Nagar unit President Jannepalli Srinivasa Reddy took part in the media conference.

Sunday, February 9, 2014 - 17:46

Bifurcation Bill is a let-down: Dr.JP

The Union Cabinet has displayed neither competence and capacity nor seriousness and sincerity in addressing the problems being triggered by its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh, charged Lok Satta Party national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan here today.

Addressing a media conference, Dr. JP said the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet along with amendments on February 7 is a total disappointment. It has singularly failed to adopt the specific, constructive and practicable solutions offered by the Lok Satta Party in its representations. The Union Cabinet has let down people as also their representatives by going back on its promise to incorporate provisions that ensure a bright future for all Telugu speaking people.

Dr. JP said the Bill has not addressed the huge revenue deficit the residuary Andhra Pradesh will face consequent to Hyderabad city becoming part of Telangana. While Hyderabad city enjoys a revenue surplus of Rs.13,000 crore, the residuary Andhra Pradesh has a deficit of Rs.7000 crore going by 2012-13 data. The deficit is expected to shoot up to more than Rs.10000 crore in 2014-15. The Union Government which has caused the problem because of its decision to bifurcate the State is duty bound to provide a solution too. If the Union Government is serious, it should earmark funds for at least a decade from the Consolidated Fund of India to the residuary Andhra Pradesh towards meeting its deficit and make a beginning by making allocation in the Vote on Account budget to be introduced in Parliament soon.

The Lok Satta, he recalled, had suggested that backward Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra regions be treated on par with Special Category States and extended all excise duty and corporate income tax exemptions and provided other incentives like investment and freight subsidies to promote industrialization.

Dr. JP said that the incentives given to Special Category States could be extended to backward regions through a simple executive order. But no such commitment is made in the law.

The Center should concede the demand of people of Kurnool and Ananthapur districts for their merger with Telangana State and assuage their fears over river waters etc. The Center has rightly chosen not to merge Bhadrachalam town with residuary Andhra Pradesh complying with people’s wishes. Why does it not extend the same logic and concede the near unanimous demand of Kurnool and Anantapur people and their representatives?

Dr. JP pointed out that there has been no firm commitment from the Center on improving infrastructure facilities in Andhra Pradesh. It has promised to merely examine or consider all the suggestions relating to development of Ramayapatnam and other ports, establishment of steel plants, building of aVisakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor, creation of Visakhapatnam railway zone residuary Andhra Pradesh, development of Metro Rail facilities in Visakhapatnam and Guntur-Tenali-Vijayawada areas, and the establishment of a green field oil refinery.

The Bill cleared by the Union Government is again silent on amending the Constitution to provide safety and security of people in Hyderabad hailing from other region. It has not incorporated even suggestions made by the State Governor. It merely entrusts the Governor with law and order responsibilities in Hyderabad, which is constitutionally questionable.

The only two demands of Lok Satta incorporated in the Bill are transferring in submission areas of polavaram project is residual AP, and ensuring execution of surplus water defendant projects in Rayalaseema and Telangana regions.

Dr JP emphasized that the AP Reorganization Bill should incorporate four key provisions to address the legitimate concerns of Telugu people. These are red lines that cannot be crossed, and if these provisions are not there, the Bill cannot go forward. These provisions are:

  • A categorical, legally-binding commitment to meet the revenue deficits of Residual AP from Consolidated Fund of India.
  • Tax exemptions to promote investments in Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra, on par with Special Category States.
  • Merger of Ananthapur and Kurnool districts in Telangana State.
  • Irrevocable commitment to build the infrastructure projects in the Thirteenth Schedule of the Bill with central funds in a period of five years.
  • In addition, stronger legal mechanisms to protect the rights of all citizens in and around Hyderabad city should be incorporated to assuage fears and concerns about economic security.

If the Union government is sincere about its commitments to Telugu people, it should honour them in deed, instead of indulging in lip sympathy. If the government does not act on these issues, it must be construed that the Congress party and the Union government are only interested in cynically manipulating people’s psyche for electoral gains, and in indulging in gamesmanship at the cost of all regions of AP.

Replying to a question, Dr. JP unequivocally rejected any electoral tie-up with the TDP or other traditional parties since all of them believe in politics of dynasty and money power, espouse disastrous economic policies and are equally responsible for the current political mess in the State. He also ruled out Lok Satta alliance with AAP which is pursuing juvenile politics in its governance. Asked if he was contesting for the Lok Sabha from Malkajgiri, Dr. JP said the question is premature. The focus now should be to resolve the crisis in the State in an amicable manner by a win-win approach. Electoral politics will come later, and are of very little consequence at this stage.

Dr. JP disclosed he is in touch with MPs from the State as also top BJP leaders on ensuring that the Bill addresses all the problems raised by the Lok Satta.

Lok Satta leaders M. Satyanarayana, P. Sivaji and I. Anantalakshmi took part in the media conference.

Saturday, February 8, 2014 - 21:26

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