‘Budget borrows Tamil Nadu’s pioneering schemes’

Reacting to the budget, Jayalalithaa, in a statement here said, it was intended as an effort to bridge the digital divide, which the Central Government has also now recognised. She also welcomed the announcement of the scheme to cover five crore poor families with LPG connections, aimed at reducing domestic drudgery, the same objective with which her government has implemented the scheme for distribution of fans, mixies and grinders to households in the state.  

She urged the Centre to ensure that the beneficiary identification under the subsidised LPG scheme was done in such a way to ensure that states like Tamil Nadu which already have a sizeable coverage under LPG connections were not left out, since the families that still do not have such connections in the State tend to be among the poorest. 

She also said that the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi Yojana under which 3000 new medical stores selling generic medicines were to be set up was also very similar to the ‘Amma Marunthagam’ Scheme launched by her Government. She also opposed Jaitley’s proposal in the budget to allow 100 per cent FDI for marketing ‘Made in India’ food products, as it would lead to backdoor entry for FDI in retail. 

She said, “in the area of FDI policy, the proposal to permit 100 per cent FDI for marketing food products produced in India, appears to be a backdoor entry for FDI in retail which I have been consistently opposing.” 

While welcoming the proposal to enact a comprehensive law to compact illicit deposit taking, the Chief Minister, however, said since the State Government machinery was at the forefront of  enforcement in such cases, there should be adequate consultation with States. 

Jayalalithaa said it should also be ensured that state government machinery was given an adequate and appropriate role in preventing such activity. She welcomed the announcement to providing Rs 25,000 crore to recapitalise public sector banks and the assurance to provide further funding if required.  

“This will enhance confidence and enable greater lending and spur economic activity,” she added.