SUNDAY FEATURE

With the first full-fledged budget of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government in Tamil Nadu, finance minister Palanivel Thiagarajan, or PTR, has shown that he means business. Presenting the state budget for 2022-23 on March 18, PTR, in a speech that lasted for about two hours, emphasised that for the first time since 2014 the intimidating trend of rising revenue deficit was being reversed and would be trimmed by over Rs 7,000 crore in FY22. As a percentage of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product), it dropped to 3.80 per cent in FY22 from the 4.33 per cent budgeted.

"This has been possible only by the application of political will and administrative skill," said PTR. For FY23, the budget has proposed no fresh taxes but takes the fiscal consolidation process forward. The state hopes to close FY23 with a fiscal deficit of 3.63 per cent of GSDP and will gradually reduce it to 2.91 per cent by FY25. Prudent management of the already stressed state finances has made this possible as Tamil Nadu braces to become a $1 trillion economy, as envisaged by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, by 2030.

For the first time, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar connected with around 4,000 Class-I gazetted officers of the state government through audio webinar, under ‘Gram SanrakshakYojana’ wherein the officers will be adopting a village and working on its wholesome development.

“While motivating the officers to work in this sphere diligently, the CM said that we have coined a new term for this unique collaboration of government officials for public welfare and development of the state. Like in the private sector it is public private partnership (PPP), similarly this will be called government community partnership (GCP) wherein the officers will work for development of villages besides the routine office work of a gazetted officer. He said that we have specifically chosen a non-working day for this webinar as this work will be done on a non-working day. He elaborated that it is not a part of their job and it is more of a social service. They have to visit their adopted village atleast once a month and monitor its development. He urged them to work on this yojana as social service while following the ideology of ‘Sabka Sath-Sabka Vishwas’,” a government spokesperson said.

Prime minister Narendra Modi and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison will hold the second India-Australia virtual summit on Monday. The announcement was made by external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi at a media briefing. The two leaders are expected to focus on a number of issues, including bilateral ties, education, migration, trade, among others. The main focus, though, will be on Ukraine.

Morrison in a statement on Friday said, “We'll discuss deepening our trade and investment relationship, and harnessing new economic opportunities to support our mutual economic recovery and growth.”

Citing India's energy needs, the government continues to strongly defend its deal with Russia for the purchase of 3 million barrels of crude at a discounted price. With disquiet running deep in the US and prominent European capitals over India's decision, official sources speaking on condition of anonymity said "countries with oil self-sufficiency or those importing themselves from Russia cannot credibly advocate restrictive trading".

Indian officials also said that India’s legitimate energy transactions should not be politicised.

The BJP on Friday named Agnimitra Paul as its candidate for Asansol Lok Sabha by poll and Baby Kumari for Bochahan assembly bypoll from Bihar, in a snub to its ally Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) whose MLA's death necessitated the election.

Paul will fight against Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate and former BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha. Asansol is going to the polls as its BJP MP Babul Supriyo had quit the party and also as an MP and joined the TMC.