Kohima Bureau
Kohima March 26 (EMN): Former chief minister of Nagaland, TR Zeliang took umbrage to what he claimed were projections suggesting his tenure was responsible for a 75% deficit jump in the state’s budget tabled recently in the Nagaland assembly.
“This is totally wrong and contrary to official records. Mr. Speaker sir, I would like to bring on record the correct facts and figures in order to dispel such wrong impressions created upon the people of Nagaland. When the first DAN budget was presented in the year 2003-2004, in view of the generous grant of INR 365 cr. by the then NDA Government, it was a surplus budget of INR 18.47 cr.
“The projected deficit for the year 2013-14 was INR 950.09 cr. When the vote on account was presented on (sic) March 2014 for the year 2014-15, which was presented by the present leader of the House, the actual deficit was INR 1234 cr. It is important to inform this august house that the Finance Department over the years does not reconcile the projected deficit figures but waits for the actual reconciliation figures from the Reserve Bank of India.
“Hence, it is totally wrong to consider the projected deficit figures presented by the Finance department as final, until and unless it is finally reconciled by the RBI. When the full budget was presented in the month of July 2014, the projected deficit for the year 2014-15 was INR 1252.45 cr. As such it is factually wrong to say that our budgetary deficits which stood at INR 950.09 cr. as on 31st march 2014 has skyrocketed to INR 1657.88 cr. as on 31st march 2017,” he said.
A ‘detailed analysis’, he claimed, would show that the deficit had increased to INR 1234 cr. as on March 2014. “After I took over from the present leader of this august House, I had presented a deficit budget of INR 1252.45 cr.in the month of July 2014 since my government had inherited an accumulated deficit of INR 1234 cr.
“It is clearly mentioned at paragraph 50 of the budget speech, that for implementation of the ROP-2017 an additional amount of INR 178.24 cr. was provided. Therefore, from the negative opening balance of INR 1607.73 cr. for the year 2018-19, if we subtract the accumulated deficits of INR 1234 as on 31-03-2014 and the additional amount of INR 178.24 cr. for ROP 2017, the actual deficit of my government from 2014-15 till 2017-18, it is INR 195.49 cr.,” Zeliang said while claiming that those were the correct figures.
Zeliang also claimed that the budget speech did not give “any appreciations (sic) for coming together of the 6 NNPG, the NSCN (IM) and the government of India.” He also charged that iT did not invite the NSCN (K) to “re-enter a new cease fire agreement.”
He also said that the police should immediately ‘bring the culprits to justice’ while referring to the recent cases of shooting in Dimapur.
Zeliang also said that he appreciates the state government’s decision to adopt a new insurance scheme for the students studying outside the state. “However for the general awareness of one and all, I wish to ask the leader of the House to please clarify as to how this scheme is to be implemented. Whether this is a CSS or state-funded or has a linkage with some insurance firm? Also if there is a need to pay for any premium during registration or is it free,” he asked.
