அறிஞர் அண்ணாவின் கட்டுரைகள்

BRUCE—MODERN !

“This is the eighth Budget, that I am presenting” said Mr.C.Subramaniam, the Finance Minister of our State, and it is a pity that most of the public failed to take note of this fact, spontaneously! The finance minister himself had to bring home this essential factor!! We do sympathise.

But, what made him say that? There is a purpose behind that statement. Here is an astute finance minister, in whose hands were left, a State seething with difficulties. And he worked on patiently, intelligently, unmindful of uncharitable remarks or harsh criticism, and by dint of his incomparable abilities and keen perception of the most intricate economic problems, has brought the ship of State, from out of the storm, to a safe place!

That is the point! And it is a pity that none but the finance minister is conscious of this stupendous success. Like Robert Bruce, he has attempted many times, failed but was not foiled, and went on with his task, till success gave its sweetest kiss on the cheeks of this energetic economist-cum educationist! And, what is the success? From a deficit, the budget has become a surplus one! As if aided by a magic wand, the finance minister, has been able to tide over innumerable difficulties and has finally succeeded in presenting a surplus budget.

Had this point been presented by someone, other than the finance minister, it would have naturally taken the shape of a tribute. But the finance minister did not wait for somebody to come forward to point out this fact, and pay rich tribute. Perhaps he was impatient! May be, he did not want to take the risk!! Hence he himself placed this ‘achievement’ before the House—a sort of patting one’s own back.

And which Congress member would remain silent, after such a declaration from the finance minister? One after another, they rose up to pay their tributes! One praised his head, another his heart — still another his hand! His intellectual prowess was applauded, and the opposition was asked to take note of the fact, that there is a genius on the treasury bench.

But, the leader of the D.M.K., braving the danger of being derided by the numerically strong party, the Congress, wanted an explanation — “Is there anything unique in the presentation of a surplus budget? Is this the only State, wherein there is an surplus budget?” The Congress members who spoke eulogising the finance minister, had no explanations to offer.

All of them went on repeating the burden of the song, ‘the eighth budget’ — ‘the eighth budget!’ — and ‘a surplus budget!’

Mr. M.P.Subramaniam, the Secretary of the D.M.K., Legislature Party pointed out the truth behind their claim about a surplus budget.

“You wantonly under-estimate the revenue side, put on over-estimate on the expenditure side, and talk about an impending deficit—and at the end of the year, you get more than the estimated revenue, spend less than the estimated amount, and ask the people to congratulate you for having presented a surplus budget!”

Mr. Subramaniam’s pertinent criticism was not answered—though the finance minister spoke for nearly hundred minutes. He could have, if he had the means at his command, refuted Mr.M.P. Subramaniam’s critism but he went on unfolding all the wonders in the womb of the third plan!

Mr.K.Anbalagan, pointed out another aspect.

“Sir, you claim to have presented a surplus budget. But on that account, should anybody feel happy or elated? Even a miser, refusing to spend money on essential objects, corners money. He will not be praised for the same. So if you present a surplus budget, after starving out many deserving cases, it is no credit, and none could feel happy over it.”

To illustrate his point, Mr.Anbalagan, pointed out how callous the government has been to the persistent and just demands of the N.G.Os, Village Officers, and Elementary School Teachers. The finance minister, advocated the necessity for a bigger plan—the Third Plan—but did not attempt any answer or explanation. And when finally C.N.A. pointed out, that taking advantage of the surplus budget, the government could at least exempt food-stuffs from the sales-tax, the finance minister maintained a silence —though in a bewitching manner.

So the charge levelled against this Modern Bruce, that he has presented an artificial surplus budget, remains unanswered—unless the taunts and uncouth remarks that the Congress leaders now and then emit, are to be considered answers!

But the most unassailable criticism came from Mr.Asaithambi. He expressed the view in a forceful way of course, that the importance of the State budget, has become practically negligible, because of the growing dependence of the States on the Centre. In fact, just as those in power during the British regime, had to prepare a budget without freedom of thought or action, so too, the present State Congress ministers are preparing budget, noting carefully the orders from their masters at Delhi. This is not the budget of an Independent Sovereign State—we but get the budget prepared by a slave State!
Strong as these remarks are, there is sound sincerity in that. And, more and more statesmen and economists, outside the pale of the D.M.K. are day by day realising this grim truth—the States are becoming dole-taking, grant-receiving Corporations. One equipped with sound knowledge of politics and economics, and rich practical experience, as the head of the Finance Commission, Mr.Santhanam has expressed his concern about this aspect.

When members of the D.M.K. put things plainly, sometimes even bluntly, the finance minister becomes ferocious—but he has no answer for the points raised by such old-timers as Mr.Santhanam.

Instead of facing these facts, the finance minister harps on an illusory fact, that like Bruce of old, he has succeeded in effecting a repair in the economic structure of this State—and as proofs for the same, he points out,
Surplus in the Budget
No taxation
Increased allotment in all spheres.

Members of the D.M.K. pointed out, that there is no taxation because the people are being bled white already. Even the finance minister has admitted on other occasions, the fact that the taxable capacity has been severely exploited and that there is no more possibility of fresh taxes. Hence, to take credit for not taxing the people, becomes meaningless.

About the third item pointed out by the Congress members, in support of the acumen of the finance minister, the increase in the allotment for various heads, the leader of the D.M.K. pointed out how, this increase in allotment was necessitated by the inflationary trend, and not due to any over-abundance of generosity. If a sum of ten rupees was needed for a particular work last year, this year, due to inflation, we have to allot and spend five more rupees for the same work.

So, all the three ‘salient features’, pointed out by those who were all praise for the finance minister, become illusions.

As the leader of the D.M.K. pointed out, the very fact that the finance minister presents the budget for the eighth time, connotes strength as well as weakness. The very fact that this is the eighth budget, goes to show, that time ought to have given experience and the art of presenting figures in a glowing way ought to have been perfected by this time. The finance minister could, by changing the angle of presentation each year, make it difficult for comparative evaluation. He could so arrange figures and charts, as to cause an impression unwarranted by stark reality. Such a strength is got by the experience gained. The weakness lies in the fact, that just because he has faced and come out unburnt for seven times, is bound to instil a sort of indifference in the finance minister’s mind. And that is what is prominent in the manner and matter of the reply from the finance minister.

Surplus or deficit, for the eighth time, budgets become messages of happiness or misery as and when they are explained in terms of the real state of affairs in the State. Has there been an appreciable rise in the standard of life of the masses? Have their employment prospects become brighter? Has there been a rise in their real wages? Has the government succeeded in stabilising prices, so as to enable the common man to get three square meals a day?

These are the ‘tests’—not the number of times, one presents a budget.

And, the finance minister, though he has every right to claim a comparison with Bruce of old as far as the number of attempts made is concerned has no facts to place before the public, to prove that the State under his able guidance has become richer and happier.

(Sub-Editorial - 22-03-1959)