Budget evokes mixed reactions in coastal districts

Mangaluru/Udupi, Mar 14: The State Budget 2015-16 has evoked mixed responses from stakeholders in twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kananda and Udupi districts, who have variously described it as “good”, “balanced”, or “disappointing”.

All Karnataka Fishermen Federation general secretary Vasudeva Boloor said: The proposal for bringing about in blue revolution in inland fisheries by providing short term loan up to Rs 1 lakh at zero percent interest is most welcome. Both fisheries should flourish,'' he said.

Regarding Direct Benefit Transfer like done in case of gas subsidy for refund of Sales Tax on diesel directly transferring the amount to owners account, Boloor said: We will not oppose. But we have apprehensions how well the scheme will work. We understand that the government is well intentioned and wants to minimise corruption and leakage. It should reach fishermen on time. The government has earmarked separate grant of Rs.105 crore for this purpose.

He also welcomed increase of 10,000 kilo litres to 1.5 lakh kilo litres diesel provided to fishermen, apart from 3,000 houses for fishermen families under Mathsyashraya scheme.

Terming the budget as “good” catering to the needs of people from all walks of life, Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) President Nigam Vasani said the budget has covered people from all walks of life including border areas.

Srikrishna Rao Kodancha, president of Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), said it was a disappointing budget as far as the industry was concerned. There was nothing for the industry.

The taxpayers’ money was being utilised for social welfare measures. “The social sector schemes are plagued with leakages and poor implementation. The government would have done better to have used the funds on infrastructure development,” he said.

Chittaranjan Bhat, president of Udupi District Small Industries Association, said the extension of VAT exemption limit would benefit small business and not small industries.

BJP as usual had to do the nit-picking like an opposition does. - K Jayaram Shetty, district BJP spokesperson said the budget presented by Siddaramaiah has neglected aspirations of people of coastal Karnataka. It has neglected sea erosion, problems faced by areca nut growers, beedi and agricultural labourers and has also failed to take in to confidence all sections of the society. He said the CM in failing to implement programmes announced in last year's budget and by announcing new schemes in this budget has failed to make people self-reliant. The one per cent increase in VAT on petrol and diesel will result in price rise. This is a budget that has no concern for the poor man and one of fooling them with assurances, he added.

The Canara Plastic Manufacturers and Traders association (CPMTA) termed the budget as encouraging for the Small scale Industry although much would have been done for development of small scale industry which generates employment. The association said allocation of Rs 100 crore for Infrastructural development of Industrial areas, Setting up of vision group to accelarte Industrialisation,Development of Industrial Areas in Chamaraja nagara and Yadgir, setting up of 350 MW Gas based power plant in Yelahanka is encouraging for MSME SECTOR.

MLA J R Lobo said the budget has not given much to Dakshina Kannada district. “Mangalore City Corporation was not given special grant of Rs 100 crore unlike Mysuru and Hubballi.

We had sought budgetary allocations for airport development, feasibility survey for metro train, aquarium, expansion of third phase of fishing harbour in Mangaluru. The announcement of rice and wheat through ration shops for APL families and schemes for the upliftment of SC/ST and backward classes are a good move.”

Lauding chief minister for announcing corpus fund of Rs 2 crore for setting up Konkani chair, Konkani Sahitya Academy President Roy Castellino said this will contribute to the overall development of Konkani language, literature in the long run.

“Though Konkani language has a history of several centuries, we do not have documents on it. There is a need to conduct reserach on the culture, tradition, lifestyle of 41 communities who speak Konkani language. Through the chair, correspondence courses in Konkani language can be started.”

CPM leader Vasanth Achary said “the CM has spoken of social justice in the budget. However, the budget has no programmes to overcome the problem of unemployment and to check migration of farmers to urban areas in search of employment. We had asked the State government to hike honorarium for anganwadi workers. However, the hike announced by the government is meagre.”

Also Read: Nothing special for coastal districts in Karnataka budget