October 17, 2017: Even though the economy is on a serious downturn mode, the Central Government is aggressively pursuing welfare fund curtailment policies which are affecting the aggregate demand, said Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.
“The Central Government is pursuing policies beneficial to corporate world at the cost of poorer section of the society”, he said.
Chairing a review meeting today at Civil Secretariat in Agartala, Sarkar criticized the Union Government for slashing funds for welfare schemes, particularly REGA. He said, “Centre’s curtailment policy in sanctioning REGA funds is affecting a large section of people.
In fact, economists argued that REGA played an assertive role during earlier global economic meltdown and helped India to withstand impact of economic tsunami during UPA Government. It is argued, REGA aims at providing cash earning scope to unskilled section – large proportion of total population paving way for a decent aggregate demand and stronger base for economy to withstand global blows. “By cutting funds for REGA, Central Government is actually slashing demand of large section of the society”, Sarkar observed. He, however, lamented, no other States except Tripura is raising voices against such curtailment. He called for a sustained protest.
But, no state except Tripura is protests against such anti-people move of the Centre. The protest has to be continued.”
L.K. Gupta, Principal Secretary of Rural Development department, said a team from the Union Ministry of Rural Development will visit the state in November next to oversee the REGA works.
The authority concerned also informed the state that the Centre would further sanction REGA funds only after receiving satisfactory reply on the 23 questions and action taken report from the state government. The 23 questions are related to several issues including different types of plans and wage payment.
The Chief Minister asked the District Magistrates of all eight districts to submit a report on the 23 questions raised by the Centre within October 25 next.
In the meeting officials of RD Department submitted reports pertaining to mandays and funds for REGA sanctioned by the Central government.
