HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, July 23: Assam Congress president on Tuesday criticised the Union budget 2024, alleging that it “duped” Assam in the Union Budget.
Borah opined that in the last five years, the state has cumulatively demanded about Rs 10,785 crore from the Centre but got only Rs 250 crore.
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“Now with reference to our state: for the last 5 years, Assam has cumulatively demanded about Rs 10,785 crore. But the Centre gave only Rs 250 Cr. Today, Assam has got duped once again. This budget gave Rs 11,500 crore to Bihar, but only assurances of help to Assam,” Borah wrote on micro-blogging site X.
Borah further alleged that the Budget was great for “headline management”, but not for reducing the misery of the people.
“The biggest problem in India currently is joblessness. There is no mention in the budget about massive job-creating opportunities. Rather, the government has come up with a creative jumla called internship in 500 Top Companies. Now, please think: how many people are qualified enough to work in these Top 500 companies? Won’t most of these companies find loopholes to get out of this diktat, by saying things like not finding enough competent people,” he claimed.
“Why is the government transferring its task of providing social/financial security to the industrial sector?” he added.
Meanwhile, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma praised the Union budget, calling it a ‘solid road map to maintain India’s growth’.
Further appreciating the budget, Sarma highlighted its aim to propel India’s economy to the world’s third-largest, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“My compliments to Hon’ble Union Minister Smt @nsitharaman ji and her team for presenting a budget that lays down a solid road map to maintain India’s growth momentum and seeks to propel our economy to the world’s third-largest, as envisioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site X.
Sarma noted that the Union budget 2024 stands out for its unprecedented push towards employment generation and support for small businesses.
“Schemes such as PM’s Package for Employment & Skilling, 1 crore paid internship opportunities, and employment-linked incentives will be game-changers. We are extremely grateful for the special assistance Assam will receive under this Budget to help meet the challenges posed by floods,” he added.
He also mentioned that the reforms announced for land registration will complement the ongoing efforts for schemes like Mission Basundhara 3.0.
The chief minister expressed that the increased allocation under PM Awas Yojana and schemes such as PM Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan, which aims to saturate schemes in all tribal-majority villages, will have a positive impact in Assam.
“#UnionBudget2024 infrastructure push via Rs 1.5 lakh cr. to states, focus on improving agricultural productivity, green energy initiatives, and generous allocation for rural development will also have a multiplier effect on Assam’s growth,” he stated.
Finally, Sarma highlighted several progressive measures in the budget including the review of the IT Act, withdrawal of Angel Tax, reduction of fiscal deficit, sustained capex, and other measures aimed at ensuring India remains the fastest-growing economy for years to come.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced on Tuesday that the central government will provide substantial support for flood management projects in Assam as part of the Union Budget for 2024-25.
