& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

The changed vision

Dhiraj Kumar Nath
MANY people call it too ambitious, some consider it too pragmatic, and supporters of the grand alliance are proud of the budget as being consistent with its election manifesto and the Change of Vision 2021. The public on the other hand, by and large, feel that it is the usual exercise, with many hopes and ideas but difficult to implement with this bureaucracy frightened with fears and trembling with tears.
The finance minister presented the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2009-2010 and the supplementary budget for the fiscal year 2008-2009 before the National Parliament on June 11.
This is the biggest budget, with a total outlay of Tk 1,13,819 crores, that has been presented so far. It is almost 15 times larger in total outlay than the budget presented immediately after independence.
During the long budget speech, the finance minister seemed to be perfectly all right and eloquent in his deliberations while emphasising on certain allocations
consistent with the expectations of the people. Many of the announcements received applause from the parliament members in the House, TV viewers at home, and supporters in processions.
For achieving Vision 2021 the targets set for macro-economic stability, as indicated by the finance minister, are to secure GDP growth of 10% by 2017, raise the present level of the share of industry from 28% to 40% of GDP, raise life expectancy to 70 years, and also reduce the rate of unemployment by 15%. Besides, there are provisions to bring down the percentage of people living below the poverty line to 15%.
In fact, the budget estimates have opened avenues for the maximum safety net provisions for the poor, larger allocation for education, and meaningful resource mobilisation for agriculture with increased seed reserve to 10 million tons from the present4 millions tons. The estimates also proposed an allocation of Tk. 185.21.crores for agricultural research and creation of storage facilities of 14 lakhs tons food reserve to meet any crisis.
In fact, the Awami League led grand alliance government, popularly known as agriculture friendly government, has again justified its role for the development of agriculture and welfare of the marginal and landless fanners.
On the other hand, many people have expressed their great concerns about the implementation of the programs as envisaged in the budget proposals. The main reason for such apprehensions is the fact that the target of tax collection might not be achieved since the culture of tax payment at present is not conducive, and the collectors of both direct and indirect taxes are not capable and honest enough.
Besides, the budget has expressed the commitment of the government to ensure good governance by bringing amendments to the constitution and showing zero tolerance to corruption and terrorism. But there is no specific measure suggested to restore discipline in the bureaucracy ordained to implement the priorities fixed by the government. Many civil servants are expecting an extension of the age of retirement after a review of the provisions of the Public Servant (Retirement) Rules, 1975.
The provision of forced retirement after completion of 25 years of service has continued as a threat to non-political public servants even now. Besides, there is no assurance for the protection of civil servants against the onslaught of political pressure, most of the time for favours in the procurement process.
As promised, the revised pay scale will be implemented in phases, but the finance
minister seems sceptical about the extent and percentage of the first trance of funds during this fiscal year. There is no indication in the speech about reforms in the civil service and streamlining of the field level administration.
To carry the messages of Digital Bangladesh and implement the changed vision of the grand alliance, reformation in the field level bureaucracy with delegation of power and distribution of works is urgent and imperative.
There is no indication of reorganisation and reformation in the recruitment rules, or formulation of an acceptable career opportunity for the cadre services. The budget gives an indication of the recruitment of civil servants every year through the Public Service Commission, but there should be an indication about the process of recruitment to uphold the integrity of the PSC in maintaining absolute neutrality. The recruitment of around 7 lac employees this year appears to be a laudable step, but one wonders whether it would be fair and possible to do the same in one year.
In the past, experience shows that many commendable initiatives were frustrated due to the absence of implementation procedures and unequivocal support from the bureaucracy or implementing agencies. The implementing authorities and agencies must understand the ideas of changed vision in spirit and in commitment as well.
Dhiraj Kumar Nath is a former Adviser to the caretaker government