Palampur (HP): Former chief minister of Himachal Pradesh and Union Minister in Vajpayee government, Shanta Kumar urged the Prime Minister and chief ministers to stop extravagant spendings.
Speaking on the economic bailout package released by the Modi government, Shanta Kumar, in an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat, said that there could not have been a better package and at present, there is an urgent need to mitigate the trauma of common people.
Former Himachal CM Shanta Kumar in an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat "Once the coronavirus crisis is over, the society will have to remember a mantra - the mantra of limiting the needs. Governments in our country spend extravagantly. In a country where 19 million people sleep hungry, even spending a rupee extra would be an injustice to the poor," Kumar said.
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Kumar further said that states and central government should cut at least 20 per cent of the non-plan budget.
The rapidly growing population of India is a matter of concern. India is currently the world's most populous country after China. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, we are less concerned about the growing population. At present, the country is facing an unprecedented financial crisis," added Kumar.
He also reiterated that once this crisis is over, the government's major focus should be to stop the growing population.
"Our slogan should be "Hum Do, Humare Do." India's population has reached around 140 million. Every year the population of India is increasing by 10 million. Due to the population explosion, India has joined the poorest countries of the world today. The government tried to accelerate the growth rate but the growing population has become a bane for India.," Kumar added.
He went on to say that after 2014, the government started many social schemes but it is helpless in the face of rising population. "Unless we stop the population growth, we can't get rid of poverty from the society," he opined.
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Kumar stated that PM Modi's slogan of'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is very good but more things need to be done on the ground level.
"I wrote a letter to him and said that this is not enough. First of all, there should be a development of the poor. According to the Hunger Index Report, there are 19 crore people in India who sleep hungry at night. After 72 years of independence, if so many people go to bed hungry, then it is a matter of misfortune and shame," he said.
He said that he had written a letter to the PM in 2014 also to establish a separate Antodaya Ministry to eradicate the hunger. In 1977, the Antodaya programme was started by the BJP government in Himachal. Within a year, 30 per cent of people were pulled out of poverty.
"In 1977 when I became the chief minister of Himachal, my government had saved Rs 50 crore in 2 years by stopping extravagance expenses. I had spent these savings in drinking water schemes. If a small state like Himachal could save such a big amount then just think how much India can save if the government gives serious thinking towards this," he stated.
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