Opposition alleges ‘over-dependence on Centre’ crippling Tripura

From a Correspondent

Agartala, Feb 26 : Senior opposition leader and MLA Ratan Lal th lambasted the ruling

Left Front government for its lack of initiative to increase state’s own revenue earnings and accused of crippling the state’s economy due to over dependence on the Centre.

‘State’s revenue earnings are declining every year due to the Left Front government’s reluctant attitude and over dependence on the Centre which is crippling the state’, he said. Citing statistics he said at present 96 per cent of the state’s budgetary allocations are Centre’s contributions and expressed apprehensions that it may increase further if present trend continues. To prove his point th coated from official records and said in 2013-14 state’s own earnings were 16 per cent of the state’s total budget and since then it continues to decline. In 2014-15 it was 13 %, in 2015-16 it was 12 %, in 2016-17 it was 11.54 % and in the year 2017-18 it is going to decline further to 11.05 % only.

Participating in the budget discussion, he alleged that the state has many resources from where revenue can be collected but the Left Front government’s inefficiency as well as their keenness to protect the vote bank is refraining them from tapping such sources. In social welfare front, he alleged that the state government is duping the people of Tripura. He said the state government is announcing various schemes but only a few are getting the benefits. Citing instances, he said the state government has announced allowances for various sectors but the benefits are not reaching to the intended people. He said the state government has announced allowance for handloom workers but only 580 out of total 1 lakh 38 thousand of such workers are getting the benefits. Similarly only 523 out of 14 thousand rickshaw pullers, only 306 out of over 11 thousand motor workers are getting such benefits.