Kerala Budget disappointing: Opposition

Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 9 (UNI) The Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) today said the Kerala Budget for 2007-08 presented by Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac had ''disappointed'' the people, particularly the unemployed youth and farmers.

Talking to mediapersons here, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Oomen Chandy said though the people had expected much from the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government's Budget, it contained no constructive measures to check the spiralling prices and projects for unemployed youth in the state.

Mr Chandy alleged the Finance Minister did not mention anything about the ''Asraya scheme'', which was introduced by the previous Congress-led UDF government to eradicate poverty.

Though the UDF had intended to introduce the project in 250 Panchayats, the LDF government stipulated it to 25 panchayats, and also reduced the budget allocation, he pointed out.

On the proposal of imposing tax on life-saving drugs he said no government had taken such a decision in this regard.

Condemning the proposal, he asked the Finance Minister to withdraw the move, as it would badly affect the common man.

Mr Chandy said though the Centre had kept up its promise to provide agriculture packages to farmers, the state government had failed miserably in fulfiling its promise.

The Congress leader also charged that Mr Isaac did not mention anything about the projects in the Kerala Vision-2010, declared by President A P J Abdul Kalam, during his address in the Assembly.

He said though the last Budget had allocated Rs 3,000 crore for the projects in coastal areas, not a single Rupee was spent.

UNI