Team Herald
PANJIM: In an apparent embarrassment for the BJP government in the State, Finance Secretary Daulat Hawaldar has said that he is not in favour of the populist schemes considering the financial condition of the State.
Delivering his speech on the State Budget, at a function organised by Goa Legislative Assembly and Goa Union of Journalists, to sensitise journalists on the procedures of the House, Hawaldar admitted that Goa’s financial condition is weak but it’s under control.
“In my opinion, the first thing, I would do to balance the finances is stop the Griha Aadhar scheme considering the present condition of the State economy. Schemes like Griha Aadhar or similar, result in no labour and makes people lazy as they get an assured amount from the government without any work,” the Finance secretary explained.
Justifying the borrowings of the government, Hawaldar said, “As of now, the borrowings are under control as debt servicing is being done on time.”
Announcing that he is against the haphazard mining, which took place in Goa before 2012, Hawaldar said, “There has to be some control on mining or that matter tourism. We cannot allow resources to be exhausted in such a manner.”
He acknowledged that mining and tourism contribute 30 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)
He informed that while other States borrow every week, Goa does once a month.
Earlier, former Union Minister of State for Law Ramakant Khalap delivered a lecture on the reporting of the proceedings in the House.
Khalap also interacted with journalists and clarified their doubts on covering Budget and other House proceedings.
