Chennai: “There was a huge expectation for the budget presented by TVK. This appears to be a disappointment to that expectation. This is an empty budget,” BJP senior leader Tamilisai has criticized.
Regarding this, in her post on X, she said, “Today, the first budget has been presented by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. There was a huge expectation for the budget presented by TVK. This appears to be a disappointment to that expectation. Likewise, it can be called an empty budget submitted by TVK. They say it is a budget for development for 15 years; there is no such long-term vision plan.
Similarly, they have allocated less funding than the previous government did for the education department; not only that, they say that nearly Rs. 2,500 crore has been allocated for improving government schools. In that, the digital classes, digital boards, and improved education system they talk about for upgrading government schools are all already part of the PM SHRI scheme.
When states like Telangana and Kerala are accepting it, in my view Tamil Nadu should also accept it. Likewise, they have said that many schools will be established. I am happy that they have announced that scheme in Kamarajar’s name.
However, at the same time, Navodaya schools have been unable to establish a foothold in Tamil Nadu for the past 40 years. These Navodaya schools are providing great help to ordinary people.
When this is being followed in all other states, my view is that Tamil Nadu should also accept Navodaya schools. Rs. 250 crore has been allocated for the development of rural arts.
Under Prime Minister Modi’s Vishwakarma scheme, nearly 8.5 lakh artisans and craftsmen had applied seeking assistance. Because the previous government was biased, none of them received that assistance.
So our request is that the central government should adopt good schemes and implement them in a way that benefits the people. Likewise, funding allocations for many schemes have been reduced. The announced funds are not sufficient.
For example, 200 crore for the textile development scheme; 25 crore for improving Chennai’s pothole-free roads; 10 crore for establishing a cancer hospital; 16 crore for palm tree development; 250 crore for the river-linking project; there is a huge gap between the expansion required for each of these schemes and the amount they have announced.
Likewise, this budget does not give any assurance that any of the promises they made will be fulfilled.
Whether it is increasing the women’s allowance, providing six gas cylinders a year, the announcement that free bus service will be provided across Tamil Nadu, or promises such as crop loan waiver and farm debt waiver, there is no plan in this budget to fulfill any of those commitments.
The funds allocated for agriculture are insufficient; I hope tomorrow’s agriculture budget will bring good schemes for farmers.
Spiritual tourism for the elderly, restoring temples that are over a thousand years old, a mobile hospital for senior citizens, and promoting low-cost technology for youth development are all welcome. But overall, this is a deficit budget,” he said.