Shimla, March 21: Former Chief Minister and opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur has labeled the recent budget of Himachal Pradesh as the most disappointing and directionless in the state’s history, claiming it offers little for the public.
Thakur stated that the budget has consistently failed to meet expectations. The fiscal deficit for the years 2023-24 was recorded at ₹10,300 crore, ₹10,337 crore, ₹12,414 crore, and ₹9,896 crore, respectively.
During these years, capital investment dwindled to ₹6,781 crore, ₹6,239 crore, ₹3,941 crore, and ₹3,089 crore. The main budget for 2025-26 was set at ₹58,514 crore, while the current fiscal year’s budget stands at ₹54,928 crore, reflecting a decrease of ₹3,586 crore compared to the previous year.
Thakur pointed out that this represents a 6.13 percent decline. He further remarked that while budgets worldwide typically pave the way for progress, the one presented by the Sukhu government has merely become a document pushing the state backward.
He noted that this budget is nearly equivalent to the Sukhu government’s first budget, which was ₹53,412 crore. Thakur accused the government of revealing the truth about its financial management, asserting that it is only focused on cutting employee salaries.
He criticized the government for promoting the idea of systemic change while actually driving the state’s economy into a worse condition. Thakur expressed skepticism about the announcements made during the Chief Minister’s budget speech, suggesting they would either gather dust like previous promises or remain mere electoral pledges.
He highlighted discrepancies in the budget estimates revealed in the supplementary budget. The government failed to utilize even 10 percent of the funds allocated for the Kanyadaan scheme. Similarly, only 17 percent of the funds for the Shagun scheme and a mere 3.7 percent of the allocation for the Women’s Honor Fund were utilized in the first three quarters of the fiscal year.
Furthermore, initiatives for organic farming remained limited to advertisements, with the government purchasing produce worth only ₹2.69 crore from 1,643 farmers. Despite hundreds of crores spent on these schemes, beneficiaries received less than ₹14,000 each.
–
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment