PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday said that the State Budget 2016-17 has “everything for the welfare of the common man”. He ensured that his government will revise the Value Added Tax (VAT) on petrol if the cost crosses the Rs 60 per liter mark.
“The Budget is a common man’s budget. It has been drafted keeping in mind the interest of the common man,” Parsekar told media persons in the post Budget press conference.
The Chief Minister claimed that probably BJP –led government is the only government that Goa has seen, where in each and every budget they have offered welfare schemes and incentives for the common man. “BJPs every budget has fulfilled the election promise. The party is here to give and serve people,” he reacted to the charge of the opposition who claimed that the Budget is “
election sops”.
Parsekar said that the Budget has laid emphasis on almost every sector, with the prime focus on agriculture and education.
Responding to the financial borrowing, Parsekar, also the Minister for Finance said that despite mining closure and outstanding dues, the government’s fiscal deficit has never crossed three percent. “With additional taxation, the government intends to earn around Rs 230- 250 crore additional revenue,” he said.
He said that in 2012 as promised, BJP slashed the VAT on petrol from 22 percent to 0.4 percent, which was followed by an increase up to 8 percent by the then chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. “Now it is again at 22 percent but the price will not cross Rs 55 per liter,” he assured.
The Chief Minister clarified that though the upper age limit to join government jobs has increased from 40 years to 45 years, it does not mean they will have enough jobs in the sector. “Everyone should not depend on government jobs. On an average only 100 people will get the chance under this proposal,” he said refuting the charge that this will lead to more unemployment
generation.
Defending its decision to declassify coconut as a tree, the Chief Minister said that setting up a Coconut Development Board will ensure the needed protection and increase in production
of coconut.
