During the ongoing discussion on the Budget 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha, Member of Parliament from Nagaland, S Supongmeren Jamir accused the Union Government of prioritizing “headline-grabbing rhetoric” over “targeted and pragmatic” solutions to combat inflation and unemployment, which continue to plague the common people of India.
Jamir disputed the Central Government’s optimistic projections of 6.7 percent and 6.3 percent unemployment rates in urban and rural areas, respectively. He cited the latest data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), which reports significantly higher unemployment rates of 9.2 percent in urban areas and 9.3 percent in rural areas.
Highlighting what he termed the government’s misplaced priorities, Jamir criticized the budgetary allocations of only 1.78 percent and 3.5 percent of the total budget to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the agriculture and allied sectors, respectively.
Addressing infrastructure and connectivity, Jamir questioned the sincerity of the Union Government’s much-touted “Act East Policy.” He noted that the improvement of road connectivity in the North East Region was conspicuously absent from the budget.
Turning to local issues, Jamir reminded the Lok Sabha that Nagaland remains the only state in the country without air connectivity to its capital. He also highlighted the unfulfilled promise of developing an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Nagaland, announced in the 2015-16 Union Budget. Jamir urged the Central Government to prioritize and implement these projects.
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Jamir also criticized the Union Government for misleading the people of Nagaland regarding the resolution of the Naga Political Issue. Despite the signing of the “Framework Agreement” with the NSCN (IM) on August 3, 2015, and the “Agreed Position” with the Working Committee of NNPGs on November 17, 2017, the situation in Nagaland has worsened. He pointed out that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) remains in place, with daylight killings, the proliferation of anti-social elements, and rampant illegal taxation burdening the common people.
The MP called for the early implementation of the agreements to bring about permanent and sustainable peace and development in Nagaland.