People's Democracy

DYFI

THE central executive committee of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) expresses its concern over the inadequacy of clear-cut provision and proper fund allocation for addressing the burning problems of the younger generations of the country in the union budget. There is a positive approach in the budget proposals, which ‘wishes’ for more employment generation, development of infrastructure and investment in social sectors. But unfortunately many of these seem like mere predictions for the future. For example, "assured irrigation facilities to an additional 1 crore hectares of land over a period of 5 years will generate employment for an additional 1crore people" etc.

But the experiences show different picture. The Economic Survey 2004-05 stated that "employment in the organised sector declined by 0.8 per cent in 2003 due to a decline of the public sector employment by 1 per cent in 2003. The permanent ban on recruitment in central government and PSU’s still continues. The new entrants to the government services are excluded from the government pension scheme and they are thrown to the mercy of pension fund operators including foreign funds.

The initiative for National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme is commendable, but the allocation is only Rs 11,000 crore, much lower than the minimum needed Rs 20,000 crore. It is further alarming that the budgets’ revenue estimate appears to be over estimated, which would negatively affect the proposed expenditure on social sectors in case of any short fall in revenue collectors.

The DYFI has urged the government to take earnest and positive steps to address the problems of the younger generation. (INN)