The financial position of the state has improved compared with the time when the United Democratic Front (UDF) government took charge two years back, according to chief minister A K Antony.
Antony, responding to a volley of criticism made against his government by Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), a UDF partner, said the easing of the financial situation has enabled his government to clear a huge amount of deferred payments to contractors and various weaker sections such as aged, handicapped persons. Besides, government departments now have the ability to take up new development projects.
On the improved tax collection, he said that sales tax collection was Rs 5,375 crore during 2002-03, registering an increase of Rs 1,000 crore over the previous year.
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National Savings collection has also increased during the period and aggregate collections under various savings schemes in the state during 2002-03 have touched an all-time record of Rs 3,200 crore, he said.
The sales tax target for the current year has been set at Rs 6,400 crore and every effort would be made to meet the target, he added.
Reiterating that the financial position in general had improved, he pointed out the treasuries were safe for depositing money now, pension disbursements were being made on time and Rs 3,600 crore was spent on the annual plan last fiscal.
Pointing out that there was a 50 per cent increase in the Plan expenditure compared with the previous year's spending of Rs 2,531 crore, he said this was a clear indication that large-scale development activities have taken place during the last year. The Plan outlay for the current year is Rs 4,350 crore, he elaborated.
The roads are better now and the rubber farmers are earning more. Nevertheless, there are definitely scope for further improvement in all sectors and the state could emerge as the best state in south India if everyone makes an attempt and government departments co-ordinate their efforts to speed up the development programmes, he maintained.
Admitting that the reduction in customs duty on palm oil has affected the coconut farmers, he said his government has already asked the Centre to withdraw the rebate.
The matter would be taken up at the appropriate level, he added. Taking a dig at the Opposition, he lamented that frequent hartals and strikes in the state were affecting the development scenario.
Unless the state is able to attract foreign investment there is not much scope to generate more employment.