GUWAHATI, Dec 19 : The political parties while welcoming the visit of the 13th Finance Commission to the State submitted memorandums and made suggestions for the consideration of the Commission. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Assam Pradesh impressed upon the Commission that the socio-economic and even the political situation of Assam was different from the other States and all these factors have badly affected the resources of the State.
The party requested the Commission to consider all these factors and then recommend the funds for the growth and development of the State.
The party requested the Commission to consider all these factors and then recommend the funds for the growth and development of the State.
The State BJP also requested the Commission to recommend the flood problem of the State as a national problem. It further called upon the Commission to recommend increase of expenditure on health, elementary education, for the revitalization of the sick public sector undertakings, etc.
In a memorandum submitted to the Commission, the Communist Party of India, Assam State Council demanded for modernization of the agricultural sector with budgetary assistance of the union government. The party has called for providing topmost priority to the flood and erosion problem and implementation of short term as well as long term schemes to address the problems.
The party has further demanded rapid industrialization and employment, food security for BPL families, strengthening of the social justice system, the rural health sector, ensuring equal pay to State government employees, increase of funds for infrastructural development and adequate fund for implementing the Assam Accord.
The Communist Party of India (M), Assam State Committee urged the Commission to take the necessary steps to ensure that the provisions of article 280 of the constitution are implemented in letter and spirit. The article lays down that the central finance commission can recommend the measures for augmentation of the consolidated fund of the States only when the State finance commission ascertains the needs of the respective States.
The party said that the Assam State Finance Commission was yet to complete the task.
