PUDUCHERRY: The Opposition parties on Thursday flayed the Budget presented by Chief Minister N Rangasamy by saying that it had nothing to offer.
The Leader of the Opposition V Vaithilingam said the AINRC government was deceiving the people by announcing the same schemes over and over again for the past three years. Even while repeating the schemes and projects, some of them announced earlier have disappeared.
DMK convenor MAS Subramanian said the tax-free budget was an eyewash. Every year after announcing the tax-free budget, taxes were introduced and raised through ordinance and flayed the Chief Minister for adopting such an ‘undemocratic’ policy.
However, the ruling AINRC and its ally the BJP welcomed the budget.
V Bhalan, MLA and general secretary of AINRC, said the government has given equal importance to the welfare and development of the four regions.
Lok Sabha member R Radhakrishnan appreciated the impetus provided by the government for the growth of the industrial sector. Earmarking
`100 crore as a corpus fund to provide credit to Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) and said it would boost the development to pave way for growth in the sector. Besides, the 10- year soft loan for Green Mega Industrial project would also give boost to exports.
Fishing would get an impetus with the 50 per cent subsidy for procurement of steel mechanised boats. The two eggs per week in the midday meal scheme would also provide nutrition to school students, he added.
Besides, he welcomed the enhancement of financial assistance for Adi Dravida students selected through CENTAC for medical and engineering studies.