Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza, on Sunday, February 2, said that the Union Budget – 2020 is anti-people and anti-farmer, claiming that the Central Government has neglected the welfare of the people while earmarking funds.
Addressing the reporters at the District Congress office, Ivan said, “Even though the population of farmers is around 80 crores, The Union Government has not earmarked more funds for their welfare. The government had kept around Rs 71,000 crores for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme in the year 2019-20. However, it has been reduced to Rs 61,500 crores in this year’s budget. Instead of increasing the amount, the Narendra Modi-led Union Government has reduced the amount for MGNREA. In the automobile sector also, the government has kept around 15 per cent less than the amount in the previous budget. By neglecting the welfare of the farmers and the poor class people, the Union Government has proven that it is anti-farmer and anti-people.”
Demanding a separate railway sub-division for Mangaluru, Ivan said, “We expected that the Union Government would announce a separate railway sub-division for Mangaluru in this year’s budget. But we were wrong. We also expected that more funds would be allocated to the tourism development of Dakshina Kannada as there is a lot of potential for boosting tourism here. However, the Centre has completely neglected tourism development in the district, by not allocating funds.”
Pumpwell flyover was inaugurated hastily
Coming down heavily on MP Nalin Kumar Kateel for inaugurating the Pumpwell flyover hastily, Ivan said that even though the MP took around 13 long years for its completion, around 50 per cent of the work is still pending. “In order to silence the voices of the opposition party and its members, the Pumpwell flyover was inaugurated hastily. Even though there is no proper underpass and service road near the flyover, Nalin Kumar has inaugurated it just to fulfil his promise. The MP has opened the flyover for public use, while ignoring the safety of the commuters. The fact-finding committee of Congress will once again visit the Pumpwell flyover and highlight the pending work within a few days,” he added.
