Budget lacks focus in crucial areas: Naveen

Slamming the union budget, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said it lacked focus in areas like agriculture, irrigation and the social sector, while the country was hit by inflation coupled with a prevailing drought like situation.
"Under the prevailing circumstances with high inflation coupled with drought-like scenario greater focus should have been given on agriculture, irrigation and social sector. However, the union budget lacks focus in all these crucial areas," Patnaik told reporters.
Stating that fiscal consolidation without revenue gain through introduction of GST was a 'misnomer', Patnaik said the concerns of states for adequate compensation for loss in central sales tax was not tackled.

"Nominal increase in allocation for flagship schemes will hurt the development process of the states," he said.
On issues relating to the state, Patnaik said "Except for the promise of an IIM, there is nothing for Odisha in this budget. As usual, the Textile Mega Cluster has by-passed the state in this budget.
"Meagre allocation on ambitious programmes like rural electrification speaks of tokenism," the chief minister added.