The maiden budget of the new J Jayalalithaa regime in Tamil Nadu has not just showcased the government’s aspiration to strive for an overall development of the state’s economy but has left the political detractors of AIADMK dumbfounded with nothing to nitpick on the proposals. Understandably, the industry has quickly grasped the nuances and hailed the budget as balanced and growth-oriented but what needs to be highlighted is that the proposals reflect the government’s resolve to improve agricultural production.
The budget does not aim at bolstering up the pastoral economy alone. It provides adequately for urban development too, significantly envisioning the upward mobility of people cutting across the socio-economic or urban-rural divide. By coming up with solutions for water shortage, both in urban and rural regions, the government has sent across the message that it is aware of the problems faced by all sections of people.
Indeed all sections of people would be happy over the new policy for land acquisition, which would push the chief minister one notch up the popularity chart, besides helping the government regain people’s confidence. For, the method of forcible takeover of agricultural land for industrial purposes adopted by the earlier regime has led to not only resentment among land losers but also people losing faith in the government.
By taking the power crisis head on, the government has exemplified its concern over the welfare of both the haves and have-nots. The cash incentive to students of Class X and XII in government and aided schools, aimed at promoting education among the have-nots, will go a long way in bridging the economic gap by opening new vistas for the next generation. In fact, only a visionary looks at the interests of the next generation while a politician looks only at the next elections.