By IANS,
Srinagar:In its first budget proposal since it came to power early this year, the National Conference-Congress alliance government proposed additional taxes on petrol, diesel, poultry, mutton and liquor while providing for pay parity for its employees with those of the central government.
Presenting the budget for 2009-2010 in the assembly here Monday, Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather proposed additional tax of Rs.2 on petrol and Re.1 on diesel per litre.
The finance minister also proposed increase in the present daily wage rate from Rs.70 to Rs.110.
The same increase has been provided in the daily wages to be paid under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).
Keeping its promise to bring the salaries of the state government employees at par with those of the central government as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, the finance minister announced the implementation of the decision with effect from Jan 1, 2009.
The budget also makes provision for regularisation of nearly 5,000 daily wagers who have completed seven years of service in various state government departments.
The salaries of doctors serving in the remote and far-flung areas of the state have been doubled.
The budget proposals would generate additional employment in the government departments to absorb nearly 29,000 unemployed young men and women.
Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, termed the budget proposals of the government as “directionless”.
She said the proposed increase in the cost of petrol and diesel would result in the price increase of all essential commodities in the state.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also criticised the budget.