ITANAGAR: Dismissing criticism raised by BJP members of the 2015-2016 budget of Arunachal Pradesh, ruling Congress MLA C T Mein today said it was the best he had seen in his decades-long political career.
Participating in the budget discussion in the assembly, Mein, who has been its member since 1975, said the state is behind by 1000 years in terms of development and the members in the house should work together to develop it.
Referring to the budget, he said Rs 30 crore allocated to Chief Minister’s Universal Health Insurance Scheme (CMUHIS) with increase in coverage money per family per year from Rs two lakh to three lakh would immensely benefit the masses.
“The budget is economy-driven with highest allocation in agri-horti sector, particularly in tea, rubber and oil palm cultivation is aimed at uplifting the rural economy,” he said adding apple grown Arunachal Pradesh is among the best in the country.
Mein, who is also the parliamentary secretary for environment and forest, informed that the department would soon sign a MoU with Numaligarh Refinery Limited to sell bamboo found abundantly in the state.
Stating that Tea Board was not supporting the small tea growers of Arunachal like in other states, he said the state government had tried to avail the Board’s benefit of 1.4 lakh per hectare for tea cultivation.
“In Wakro area under Namsai district, tea growers are cultivating organic tea and Arunachal could become the richest in the world if the agri-horti sector is properly tapped,” Mein said.
Congress member Jomde Kena termed the budget as "vision-oriented and people-friendly" and lauded the government for keeping provision of Rs 5 crore for construction of a cultural hall for Adi and Galo communities at Mopin-Solung ground here.
BJP member Tage Taki while terming the budget as "beautiful imaginary", said that the it was good for a developed state but not for a state like Arunachal Pradesh which depends on the Centre for every penny.
He said 90 per cent of the districts of the state do not have adequate infrastructure and no thrust is given on much-needed infrastructure development.
He suggested allocation of Rs 100 crore instead of Rs 30 crore for maintenance of district roads.