Passable Budget

In this age of economic challenges, it is difficult for any finance minister to come true on everybody's expectations, but it seems that Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee tried to do exactly the same, and as a result he restricted himself to someone who presented a passable budget. Indian economy is not going to get any noteworthy momentum through this budget, because there are not even indications of any revolutionary changes in any sector, so much so that steps have also not been taken in the expected direction of economic reforms.

Initiative for Fundamental Change
After all, for how long they would continue to give with one hand and take it away with the other through budget? It is also becoming clear now that if an initiative for fundamental change is made through one budget, it is ignored in the next budget, exactly in the manner as allocation is increased under some heads and reduced under others.
Sometimes, they try to please one class, and sometimes another class. The same exercise was done this time too, but perhaps halfheartedly. Had it not been so, mere Rs. 4 billion would not have been allocated in the name of Green Revolution.

Struggling With Severe Price Hike
It is difficult to understand why Green Revolution has been kept restricted to only the country's eastern part? Is it that other parts of the country apart from Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Orissa are overflowing with food grain?
The question also is what would be achieved with mere Rs.4 billion? This much sum is not enough even for one state. At a time when the country is struggling with severe price hike because of shortage of food grain, making symbolic and limited efforts for green revolution is a matter of concern. Similarly, negligible increase in defense budget is also beyond understanding.

Old and New Programs
The contours of the general budget are telling us that the kind of efforts that should have been made to rein in price rise have not been made. Undoubtedly, we should worry about the present, but not paying attention to the future could prove to be fatal. Is it not surprising that no concrete efforts have been made to control inflation when there is every likelihood of rise in it? The finance minister has made efforts to control fiscal deficit and has hoped that it would be reduced, but the economy is not dependent on honest intentions of rulers.
It is not necessary that the situations take the same shape as is being thought, especially looking at the fact that agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and agriculture is still dependent on rains. There is no surprise about it that the finance minister wished that the rain gods would shower their blessings. We cannot be pleased with the fact that the allocation for some old and new programs has been increased, because we have not yet been able to create a system that would also properly implement what the government says. This budget provides less relief and causes more concern, because there are some sectors that appear to be neglected, as before.

Jharkhand Chief Minister Brings Maoists To Dialogue Table

Finally, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren's political acumen and Home Minister P. Chidambaram's determination have started showing results. Positive tidings have come from Maoists, who have been fighting a bitter battle for a long time. They are now willing to hold talks with preconditions.
When Soren was sworn in as chief minister on 30 December 2009 for the third time, he appealed to Maoists to give up violence and have discussions, instead. The home minister had also adopted tough measures to control Maoists. At the same time, he had always emphasized the need to pay attention to the human side of the issue.

Mainstream of Democracy
As a result of these efforts, Maoists have offered to join the mainstream of democracy. This suggestion, which raises hopes, has come before Shibu Soren's meeting with P. Chidambaram to be held on 9 February. This has made Soren's role all the more important. The most important condition laid down by Naxalites (Maoist guerillas) is removal of the ban imposed on them. They have also demanded release of their associates, payment of compensation to the innocent and oppressed, end of police atrocities and false encounters, and removal of paramilitary forces from villages.
According to them the previous government had acted arbitrarily in giving land to Jindal Steel, Arcelor Mittal, and Tata Steel. Tribals were cheated in the process of requisition of land. These deals must, therefore, be reexamined. At a first glance, this demand does not seem to be unjustified. Jharkhand is endowed with extremely fertile land, enormous natural resources, and minerals.

Strengthening Roots of Naxalism
Yet, the state has been beset with tremendous poverty, unemployment, hunger, corruption, and looting of tribal lands. These problems have helped in strengthening the roots of Naxalism here. In such a situation, the government has to take all these factors into account during talks.
Who, after all, would not like this state, which had been deprived so long because of its bitter struggle with Naxalism, to develop and basic facilities to be made available to people?

Development Projects
Joint action initiated by the central government in Naxal-influenced areas has so far proved to be successful. Chidambaram has also clearly stated that the purpose of this program was not to kill people or cause unnecessary violence but to accelerate the sped of development projects.
Therefore, Soren is faced with the challenge of dispelling tribals' doubts and removing separatism. It would be interesting to watch the steps he takes in these directions. If the can carry this historical process of dialogue further, he will truly succeed in steering a backward state like Jharkhand to a new road.