Nava Kerala March is now in Palakkad district. The concluding program on Tuesday was at Pattambi. Though the need for immediate Central Government programs of rehabilitation of Malayalees compulsorily returned from the foreign countries on account of the global capitalist crisis was the prime issue presented in the media meet, no questions were heard raised on this. The practice of generating controversies and making it the prime news by side tracking the real issues affecting the people which the society has to immediately address will not be beneficial to the society nor can it be acceptable. As there is narrow vested political interest behind generating the unnecessary controversies and as the people realise what is going on, it needs no elaboration. As we usually say, it is the people who give fitting reply to the vicious campaign on the controversies unleashed against the party. The best reply for the controversy mongers is the unbelievable success of this march that becomes stronger day by day with the massive participation of the people.
The vicious campaign against the LDF government of Kerala unleashed by the Congres and the UDF has also to be viewed in this context. On one side the state government is immobilised, hurdles for its functioning are created and it is starved of funds by and in collaboration with the central government usurping its powers and resources. On the other side LDF is accused pointing out the programs remaining incomplete due to the denial of central assistance. This is what is attempted by the opposition.
The Common Minimum Program adopted by the UPA was putting forward the idea of devolution of more power to the state governments. The attitude of the Central Government is of usurping even the existing powers. The Poonch Committee appointed to study on the central-state relations has decided its main terms of reference as to what can be done in the finance sector. But bringing the interstate river disputes to the ambit of the Central Government, Formation of Central Police Force, Powers for the Central Government to intervene in the law and order issue of the states in the event of riots and such other emergencies, strengthening of district level planning system, direct funding for the districts from the central government etc are the the directions given by the UPA government. The powers of the state is not going to increase by these measures. Even the meagre powers already having will be lost.
The 13th Finance Commission has enquired into how best finance distribution can be made to speed up the new reforms. It is the constitutional right of the state governments to get assistance from central revenues. To impose policy level conditions for the central assistance is against the federal principles. Central Government is trying to walk back, to the situation arose on 64th and 65th Constitution Amendments which concentrated power in the centre from 74th and 75th Amendments which devolved some powers to the state, through the proceedings of 13th Finance Commission. Central Government is proposing to give assistance to Local Self Government institutions directly. 11th Five year plan is formulated giving prominence to centrally sponsored schemes. Central Government is formulating its own plans in areas earmarked to states. Finance commission had agreed to the suggestion of state governments to give such funds as plan assistance to the states. But the Central Government is interested to move just in the opposit direction.
The conditions of centrally sponsored schemes are against the interest of the states. As the social welfare indices of the state are far higher compared to other states and hence share of central schemes available to the state will be meagre. Central Government is not prepared to concede the demand of LDF Government that the share for the state has to be fixed considering the peculiar problems of the state as well. Share of the state is continuously being slashed in the allocation of funds made by successive Finance Commissions. When 3.9% of central taxes were available to the state at the time of 10th Finance Commission, it was just 2.7% now with the 13th commission. Loss inflicted on the state is very heavy. Kerala is having only 2.5% of Central Public Sector investments. The tightening of the debt ratio of Kerala by the Centre also is affecting the finances of the state. State Government is also not given the freedom to mobilise internal loan in place of the external loan component. Thus the freedom of the state government to have its finance planned is being controlled by the Centre. These are the types of real problems faced by the people of the state that are to be understood and responded to by the people. Such are the problems being placed before the people by us through this march. It is not because of any other intention that we are repeatedly telling the people that the superfluous controversies generated by the Congress and UDF are meant to cover up these real issues.
No comments:
Post a Comment