Budget disappoints Naxalism-hit states: Raman

Raipur, Feb 28 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today described as ''disappointing'' the Union Budget for 2007-08, saying it did not offer any special assistance to states facing Naxalite menace.

Reacting to the Budget, presented by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Lok Sabha, Dr Singh said the Naxal problem was being faced by several states and a population exceeding 30 crore was affected.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself expressed concern over the Maoist menace, Dr Singh said the budget did not reflect such concerns.

Stating there were no concrete plans to contain price rise and inflation, he said the Centre had not even thought of providing relief to farmers by easing the interest burden on short-term agriculture credit at a time when peasants of Maharashtra and other states were committing suicide due to mounting debts.

Dr Singh said his government reduced the rate of interest on agriculture loans from seven to six per cent by making provision in the state budget.

The Chief Minister said the reduction of outlay for the 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' (campaign for universalising education) in the budget would affect the programme being implemented in the states.

Many states had already recruited 'shiksha karmis' (teachers on honorarium) under the programme.

However, Dr Singh welcomed the proposal for providing duty exemption on biodiesel saying it would go a long way in promoting and popularising biofuel. He also welcomed the proposal to impose cess on export of iron ore and coal saying it would help make raw material available to domestic industry. He suggested a share of revenue earned through the cess must be given on to the states concerned.

UNI