CPM politburo meet to discuss Budget wishlist

RUN-UP TO THE BUDGET

The CPI(M) politburo has scheduled a meeting three days before Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram places the 2008-09 Budget. Through the meeting, the CPI(M) brass will, once again, convey to the government the economic policy direction it should take.

The meeting, scheduled on February 25 and 26, will be the last engagement before the leaders gather in Coimbatore for the party conference. This will be followed up by a Central Committee meeting in the first week of March.

According to sources, the party will spend major time discussing economic policy ahead of the Budget. Apart from economic issues, the meeting will focus on the arrangements for the forthcoming party meeting.

The CPI(M) will ask the UPA government to present a Budget that will focus on the poor. "Rather than being obsessed with the growth rate, Budget 2008-09 should concentrate on redistributing the benefits of growth to all sections of the people, particularly the socio-economically weaker ones," the Left parties have concluded.

The CPI(M) will ask for enhanced Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) in social sector schemes. The party, which has recently warned the government not to "lose the last opportunity" to take people-friendly measures, is seeking greater support in areas like health, education and rural development. The key supporter of the UPA government wants emphasis on the agrarian crisis, unemployment, and price rise.

The party wants "steps to constitute a Farmer's Debt Relief Commission, which will write off debts for small and marginal farmers across the country. Interest rate on farm loans have to be brought down to a simple interest rate of 4 per cent".

The CPI(M) will maintain that the government hasn't done enough in the social sector and is yet to fulfil crucial commitments in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP).

Before the Budget, the party has picked up some issues like Anganwadi workers, farmers' plight, labour, and organising agitation programmes in various places to draw the attention of the government. In the next few days, the party, along with its trade union wing CITU, will hold demonstrations in the capital.