Puducherry Chief Minister N.Rangasamy today said the Rs 6450 crore tax free budget he presented for fiscal 2015-2016 was "development oriented" and intended to augment the welfare of the people.
Winding up the three day debate on the budget in the Assembly, he said that the revenue mobilisation by the administration was on the higher side.
He said collection of revenue by the Department of Excise for instance had shot up to Rs 544 crore during 2014-2015 as against Rs 110 crore netted in 2004-2005 by the department.
Similarly, the collection of sales tax had also picked up fast and the higher flow of revenue was chiefly responsible for the preparation of the budget with Rs 2700 crore under plan head alone.
He sought the cooperation of all elected legislators and also officials of the various departments to ensure that the schemes contemplated in the budget were implemented fast and the benefits of the schemes reached the targeted sections.
He reiterated the plea for statehood for Puducherry. He said in the present constitutional status of Union Territory there were several hiccups for the government to take decisions and implement them on its own.
Even to dispose of properties belonging to government owned AFT mills to meet the expenditure arising out of settlement of dues to workers and staff going on voluntary retirement,government had to get the nod of the Centre.
"Similarly no project could be taken up under Public Private Partnership mode without the concurrence of the Centre.To overcome all these hurdles we have been making demand for statehood," he said and hoped that the Centre would concede the plea.
Earlier members belonging to ruling and opposition blocs, who participated in the general debate on budget, aired their views.
Leader of the opposition V Vaithilingam sought implementation of Health Insurance scheme to benefit the poor and to ensure cashless health care services.
He said The Health Insurance scheme in neighbouring Tamil Nadu was being excellently implemented. "We can emulate this to benefit the poorer sections' he said.
After the Chief Minister's reply, Speaker V Sabapathy adjourned the proceedings of the House to tomorrow.
