A far-seeing budget

Budget 2006 could not be eulogised merrily as a "sunshine budget" although the Parliamentary Opposition went through the motions of alerting the public on the possibility of revenue proposals of this kind seeing the light of day an November 8.

Instead the budget proposals unveiled by Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama give all the indications of being development and welfare - oriented.

We are conscious of the fact that the term "welfare" would evoke mixed feelings in some but we urge that "welfare" be viewed in the correct perspective as an investment in people who could eventually prove an asset in the development process.

From this point of view budget 2006 could be considered a far-seeing, futuristically - oriented development plan, which, we hope, in the words of Minister Dr. Amunugama, would enable the country to look confidently into the future rather than constantly look back with a sense of grievance.

Considering that development in the truest sense of the term has eluded us, despite the loudly-trumpeted "economic reforms" of 1977, it could be said that one of the foremost achievements of the open economy apologists was to unprecedentedly denigrate the valued economic term, "welfare".

In the patron-client politics of countries such as ours, social welfare measures have indeed suffered some serious distortions but such aberrations do not prove the case against welfare economics which are part of the kernel of Social Democracy. Practised effectively with the correct intent social welfare could prove an important development tool and we hope budget 2006 has laid the basis for a development path of this kind.

Social welfare should be seen as an important instrument in the development of a country's human resources, which could in turn energise the country's productivity. Therefore, investment in our men, women and children could be seen as wasteful by only the most simple-minded of our free enterprise apologists.

On the "nuts and bolts" of the 2006 budget proposals, it could be said that what has been aimed at is a realistic and balanced approach to development. The "agonies of the stomach", resulting from the high cost of living have been to some extent answered by the proposed phased salaries and wage hike.

Significantly, the pensioners' woes have also been answered to the best of the Government's ability through the envisaged pension hike.

However, the tsunami tragedy of last December has increased the ranks of the helpless and the powerless and the State has shown exemplary foresight in going to their rescue. One such measure is the opening of individual bank accounts for tsunami-hit children. This could go some distance in making them self-sufficient and productive.

Likewise, we welcome efforts to lighten tax burdens on institutions such as children's and elders' homes and organisations for the disabled, which are mostly performing an essential and noble function. We regard such measures as enhancing the empowerment of these powerless sections which could contribute in some ways to the common good.

Another commendatory step is the provision of a nutritious mid-day meal for school children. This is a crying need in a country which is burdened by a sizeable number of poor persons and families.

Likewise, enhancing Samurdhi payments could also have the effect of empowering the poorest of the poor. All this is welfare with a purpose - the steady empowerment of the vulnerable, so that they would soon be self-reliant and productive.

Tax concessions to SME companies, incentive packages for paddy cultivation and the raising of the purchasing price of milk, for instance, could all be considered thoughtful, far-seeing measures which could pave the way for national development if implemented effectively.

This brings us to the realisation that the anticipated progress would be our's only if the budget proposals are efficiently implemented. This is a big "if" and we hope the State would now address the issue of energetically implementing what is still on paper.