Budget a disaster inflicted on people: Kamal Haasan

CHENNAI: MNM president and actor Kamal Haasan on Saturday said the state budget was a disaster inflicted by the EPS dispensation on the people, who already suffered from the wrath of natural disasters.

In a statement, the actor said there was no significant initiatives for the farmers, youths, weavers, fishermen and others. “Every budget should carry a status report of the projects announced in the previous budget. Otherwise, many of the schemes seem like a mere copy of the previous years’ announcements,” he said. While half the state population was dependent on agriculture, allocation was a paltry 5% of the total budget, the actor said.

Kamal demanded that the government come up with a white paper on the allocation made for Kudimaramath (traditional restoration of water bodies) in the last two years. While employment exchange data revealed close to one crore job seekers, and majority of them being below 25 years, the budget document only stated 82,064 youths were skilled. “Where is the skill development? Where are the jobs for our youth?” the actor asked.

The allocation of funds to local bodies without holding elections in the last two years was an insult to the Constitution and to the people, he charged. On the investment commitments to the tune of Rs 3 lakh crore in the second edition of global investors’ meet, Kamal said the status of implementation of previous investments remained an unresolved mystery. “Before inviting global investors, the government will do well to grant permits to local industrialists without corruption and delays,” he said.

He said the only progress of the current dispensation was the alarming rise in debt. “Our condemnation to this government, on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu, for having trebled the debt burden of every citizen of the state without taking any steps to increase their income,” Kamal said.