OPINION
FREEBIES TO EMPOWERMENT
New Delhi: The government will try strike a balance between reviving a wobbly economy and welfare of the poor sections, but the days of “khairat” (charity) are now gone, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday.
“Khairat ka zamaana chala gaya, empowerment ka zamaana aa gaya (days of dole are gone, days of empowerment have now come),” Pradhan said. “Swatantra banana padega logon ko, atma-nirbhar banana padega... Gareebon ke liye hi (unko swatantra) banana padega. Koi isme antar-virudh nahin hai (we have to make people more independent and self-reliant… this is only for the poor people’s good… These are not opposing views).”
Stabilizing the economy takes precedence over simply handing out doles to the poor since a weak economy hurts the economically weaker sections the most, the minister said.
The top priority of the government was to bring back economic stability, the minister said, adding that economic reforms would not harm but benefit the poor.
Among the key subsidy doles of the government is that on petroleum products-diesel, liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene. The pricing of subsidized fuels is a critical issue in fiscal consolidation, as the government provides a chunk of the subsidy burden.
Pricing of domestic natural gas is another crucial issue the oil ministry has been grappling with for over a year now. The first increase in natural gas prices in four years was to be originally effective from April1.
However, before a new rate could be unveiled, the general elections were announced and its implementation got deferred.
Pradhan said a decision on the gas pricing issue would be taken at an appropriate time. He refused to say if his ministry will go to the Cabinet again for a review or approval of the Rangarajan formula which was approved by the previous UPA government. – Cogencis
New Delhi: The government will try strike a balance between reviving a wobbly economy and welfare of the poor sections, but the days of “khairat” (charity) are now gone, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Tuesday.
“Khairat ka zamaana chala gaya, empowerment ka zamaana aa gaya (days of dole are gone, days of empowerment have now come),” Pradhan said. “Swatantra banana padega logon ko, atma-nirbhar banana padega... Gareebon ke liye hi (unko swatantra) banana padega. Koi isme antar-virudh nahin hai (we have to make people more independent and self-reliant… this is only for the poor people’s good… These are not opposing views).”
Stabilizing the economy takes precedence over simply handing out doles to the poor since a weak economy hurts the economically weaker sections the most, the minister said.
The top priority of the government was to bring back economic stability, the minister said, adding that economic reforms would not harm but benefit the poor.
Among the key subsidy doles of the government is that on petroleum products-diesel, liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene. The pricing of subsidized fuels is a critical issue in fiscal consolidation, as the government provides a chunk of the subsidy burden.
Pricing of domestic natural gas is another crucial issue the oil ministry has been grappling with for over a year now. The first increase in natural gas prices in four years was to be originally effective from April1.
However, before a new rate could be unveiled, the general elections were announced and its implementation got deferred.
Pradhan said a decision on the gas pricing issue would be taken at an appropriate time. He refused to say if his ministry will go to the Cabinet again for a review or approval of the Rangarajan formula which was approved by the previous UPA government. – Cogencis
Comments