In a major demand aimed at boosting Tamil Nadu's various infrastructure projects Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa has demanded that the 14th Finance Commission allot Rs.41,408.79 crore as grants for the state. Jayalalithaa made the demand at a high level meeting with Finance Commission Chairman Y.V. Reddy and other members at the state secretariat in Chennai on Monday.
Jayalalithaa submitted 14 proposals for the upgradation of overall administrative standards and another 10 specific proposals for various identified needs of the state.
The upgradation plans include rehabilitation of slum population, evacuation infrastructure to transmit power to load centres, restoration of waterbodies and last but not the least to fund her pet subject, that of police modernisation. Jayalalithaa told the Commission that after the distribution of freebies including laptops, mixies, grinders and ceiling fans, the state urgently needed fiscal support.
However, a large section of retired civil servants are deeply sceptical about the over all direction of the state's finances especially in light of the lavish freebies bestowed by the state. They say the Finance Commission must look into this aspect before taking any decision to grant finances to the state. "The state govt has every right to ask for any amount as grants.
But it is the prerogative of the Finance Commission to decide on it after looking into the very fact that whether the demand falls well within its norms. The massive freebies and the state government itself promoting liquor retail sale has actually created an artificial economy in the state. The Finance Commission must examine these aspects and decide whether it should fund an artificial economy," says M.G. Deivasahayam, retired chief secretary of Haryana, in a telephonic interview with India Today online.
It may be recalled that competitive freebies by DMK and AIADMK have created a huge dent in the state's finances over the past seven years. While Karunanidhi gave free colour TVs, Jayalalithaa is giving free mixies, grinders and fans.
A PIL which challenged the freebies as election promises by the political parties was dismissed by the Supreme Court recently. However, the apex court had indeed directed the Election Commission to look into the matter and advised it to arrive at a consensus after negotiating with various political parties.
Jayalalithaa submitted 14 proposals for the upgradation of overall administrative standards and another 10 specific proposals for various identified needs of the state.
The upgradation plans include rehabilitation of slum population, evacuation infrastructure to transmit power to load centres, restoration of waterbodies and last but not the least to fund her pet subject, that of police modernisation. Jayalalithaa told the Commission that after the distribution of freebies including laptops, mixies, grinders and ceiling fans, the state urgently needed fiscal support.
However, a large section of retired civil servants are deeply sceptical about the over all direction of the state's finances especially in light of the lavish freebies bestowed by the state. They say the Finance Commission must look into this aspect before taking any decision to grant finances to the state. "The state govt has every right to ask for any amount as grants.
But it is the prerogative of the Finance Commission to decide on it after looking into the very fact that whether the demand falls well within its norms. The massive freebies and the state government itself promoting liquor retail sale has actually created an artificial economy in the state. The Finance Commission must examine these aspects and decide whether it should fund an artificial economy," says M.G. Deivasahayam, retired chief secretary of Haryana, in a telephonic interview with India Today online.
It may be recalled that competitive freebies by DMK and AIADMK have created a huge dent in the state's finances over the past seven years. While Karunanidhi gave free colour TVs, Jayalalithaa is giving free mixies, grinders and fans.
A PIL which challenged the freebies as election promises by the political parties was dismissed by the Supreme Court recently. However, the apex court had indeed directed the Election Commission to look into the matter and advised it to arrive at a consensus after negotiating with various political parties.
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