Budget is a disaster inflicted on Tamil Nadu 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 were already suffering because of natural disasters. In a statement, the actor said there was no significant initiative for the farmers, youth, 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 for the sector 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 were there in the state, and majority of them were below 25 years, the budget document said only 82,064 youth were skilled. “Where is skill development happening? Where are the jobs for our youth?” the actor asked.

The allocation of funds to local bodies without holding elections in the last three years, was an insult to the Constitution and to the people, he said. On the investment commitments to the tune of ₹3 lakh crore in the second edition of the global investors’ meet, Kamal said the status of implementation of previous investments remained an unresolved mystery.