Days before presenting his sixth budget as finance minister, Suresh Khanna speaks with Rajiv Srivastava about his plans and priorities. The minister says that even after such a huge pandemic, the state with 80% collection was able to maintain its financial discipline, which is itself an achievement. excerpts:
This would be your sixth budget as finance minister. What should people expect from you?
People expect a budget to make them prosperous. Our schemes from the beginning are such that there is more public welfare, employment generation and infrastructure creatio n. You must have seen that financial discipline in UP since 2017 is maintained and we have taken decisions that have brought big changes in the state’s economy.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has been talking about making UP a one-trillion economy. Till the last fiscal, the budget size was about Rs 5. 66 lakh crore by when one should expect UP achieving this goal?
This goal should not be seen in a timeframe. But the manner in which the state’s economy is growing and despite the corona pandemic, our collection has been around 80%. This even though the l ast fiscal saw more expenditure as compared to 2020-21. Even after such a huge pandemic, the state was able to maintain its financial discipline is itself an achievement.
What discipline are you talking about when the collection last fiscal was much less than the estimated budget?
I would like to tell you that the state was able to achieve around 80% collection while it was 74% in 2020-2021. We, despite the pandemic, have performed much better. This shows the people’s trust in the government's policies.
But the Opposition is saying that they have not been able to spend the last budget; candidates are crying foul as they have not got jobs, how would you reduce this trust deficit?
It is an established fact that around 4. 5 lakh youths got jobs in the government sector. Besides, around 6. 5 lakh youths got jobs through employment fare. Right now, the CM’s most popular scheme of tablet and mobile distribution is very popular. We are not only providing jobs but also making youths worth jobs by distributing tablets and smartphones.
Why is the budget size unrealistic when revenue collection is only 80%. This time the budget size is expected to be around Rs 6 lakh crore?
This has been like this always. Realisation has been around 80% only.
FRBM reached 4. 17%?
FRBM limit was relaxed this time because of the Corona pandemic.
What should people expect this time from the budget?
The main focus of the budget this time would be on employment, youth and women. We are focusing on infrastructure. Infrastructure creation helps in the generation of jobs. Take for example Purvanchal Expressway. The infrastructure creation has helped in creation of new jobs.
You are talking about Purvanchal Expressway, the Opposition says it was their project?
This is not true. They did nothing. We acquired the land and came up with the project.
The Opposition says that you organised an investors’ summit. Then you organised a groundbreaking ceremony and you are again going to organise one event in June. But where there are new units, only expansion of old units has taken place.
There were MoUs worth Rs 4. 66 lakh crore. Of this, Rs 3 lakh crore worth investments have been realised.
Can you elaborate on Rs 3 lakh crore investment being seen on ground?
I don’t have the list of those units right now.
Is the Opposition not able to see those projects?
Their statements have always been misleading. It is a fact that the groundbreaking ceremony slated on June 3 will see several projects taking shape on the ground. Display units from China have come to Uttar Pradesh.
Shall people expect relief from rising cost of fuel and essential commodities?
One should compare fuel prices from other states. UP has minimum VAT as compared to other states like Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Delhi etc. We have VAT of Rs 16. 49 on petrol per litre and Rs 13 on diesel which is less than any other state. We also reduced fuel cost by Rs 12 when fuel prices were skyrocketing worldwide.
Why compare prices when 25 crore people of UP are suffering because of high inflation and price rise?
It is not about being right or wrong. The developments at international level were not foreseen by anyone. War between Russia and Ukraine is one main reason.
Shall people expect relief from price rise after the budget?
There are several reasons for the price rise. The state alone cannot do much.
Which sector will be in focus in this budget?
Infrastructure will be in focus.
There is a shortage of wheat, how will you cope with the situation?
This time wheat purchase had been less. But wheat export has been banned. Steps are being taken and the state will meet the wheat demand.
What is your goal as per 100-day plan?
The department’s plan is to provide around Rs 21,000 crore for various department’s public welfare schemes. That we will achieve in 100 days. Similarly, we have begun an e-pension scheme which will protect pensioners from harassment. Similarly, rules are being framed for the Act that would protect those investing in various non-banking finance schemes. The rule would have prosecution power for those financial units who fleece people of their principal amount as well as interest.
