The Hindu : Govt. has no mandate for reforms: VS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

Govt. has no mandate for reforms: VS
By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, MARCH 15. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. V. S. Achuthanandan, has said that the Government lacks mandate to carry out its reform proposals.

Addressing a press conference with leaders of the LDF constituents here today, the Opposition leader said that the Government proposed to withdraw from its role as a provider of employment. This would have far reaching impact in various sectors, and affect the reservation benefits of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, other backward communities and minorities.

``The Government should either change its policy or get the necessary mandate from the people,'' Mr. Achuthanandan demanded.

He said that the Government was not showing willingness even to hold discussions on the reforms in the Assembly. Even a true picture of the reforms was not being given to the members. The Assembly session was cut short to avoid a debate, he alleged.

However, written answers provided by the Government showed that the Centre had issued a directive to the State to carry out reforms to reduce expenditure and increase resource mobilisation. The reforms were to be jointly monitored by the Centre and the State, Mr. Achuthanandan said.

The proposals included expansion of the tax net, introduction of value-added tax, revision of users' fee, fixing of charges for various services in tune with expenses, ban on creation of new posts and reduction of grants to various institutions. The State had also committed itself to fix electricity tariffs in tune with costs, establishment of an electricity regulatory authority, unbundling of the State electricity board and reduction of transmission and distribution costs, he said.

The CPI leader, K. P. Rajendran, criticised that the Government was yet to announce its excise policy. It was also avoiding a debate on the policy in the Assembly.

The Government proposed not to auction 2,786 toddy shops and sanction about 300 to 350 new foreign liquor shops in their place. This would result in loss of jobs to about 35,000 workers. There was also shortage of time in auctioning the toddy shops as proposed by the Government.

The leaders demanded that the Assembly meet at least 100 days a year. So far, it had met only for 53 days while the Government was completing one year office in May.

The Janata Dal leader, C. K. Nanu, the Congress(S) leader, A.C. Shanmughadas, and the RSP leader, A. A. Azeez, were also present.

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