Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today presented a tax free budget in the Vidhan Sabha. In his address Chief Minister claimed providing good governance to the people of Himachal Pradesh and to provide transparent, accountable and time bound services to the people, thirty more services of the Housing, Transport, Home and Health Departments have been brought under the Public Services Guarantee Act.
Advocating promoting a paperless environment, after e-Office software application in the department of Information Technology, CM proposes to implement this on pilot basis in Irrigation & Public Health Department and DC office Shimla in 2015-16.
The Chief Minister also read out Govt’s achievements, but failed to impress Opposition BJP as it termed budget dull and directionless.
State BJP president Satpal Satti accused Govt for taking credit of Center Govt’s schemes. Satti said that 14th Financial Commission has allotted generously Rs. 40625 crore and Virbhadra government had opportunity to present strong, progressive and futuristic budget to lay strong base for development of the state.
BJP state spokesperson Ganesh Dutt accused Congress led Govt for backtracking from its promises. He said that budget has failed to address the problem of unemployed, farmers and employee.
Dutt said that in his three long hour budget speech, CM even failed to announce three new schemes for the state.
However, Himachal Pradesh Congress lauded the budget and congratulated the Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on presenting a balanced budget and said that the state budget fulfils the aspirations of the people of the state.
State Congress Spokesperson Naresh Chauhan said that the state budget would prove a milestone in setting new parameters of growth and development in Himachal and the budget would fulfill the aspirations of people of all sections of the society. He said that the budget is focusing on education and various new schools, colleges, ITIs and Skill Development centres would be opened to enhance the employability of youth.
Chairmnn of 20-Point Programme, Ram Lal Thakur, State Finance Commission Kuldeep Kumar and State Pollution Control Board Kuldeep Panthania, State Agriculture Marketing Board Dr. Subhash Manglate, Himachal Pradesh Buildings and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Bawa Hardeep Singh and Vice Chairman, State Industrial Development Corporation Atul Sharma also hailed budget and termed it ‘Growth Oriented’ aimed at ensuring balanced and all-round development of every section of society.
