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Budget allocation below requirement

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 8 � Though the Assam Government�s budget is increasing substantially with every passing year, the budget for issuing advertisements for publicity campaigns is not being increased accordingly over the years and there have been instances when the budget for the same, in fact, came down because of reasons best known to the people at the helm of affairs.

Because of the failure of the Government to increase the budget for advertisements, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has not been able to issue advertisements to all newspapers and magazines to the desired extent, while, the rates of the advertisements issued by the State Government are much lower than the commercial rates.

The Congress-led Government is claiming that it is giving priority in helping out the newspapers and magazines, but the records prove otherwise as the Government failed to increase the budget allocation. The budget allocation for issuing advertisements in the current financial year is only Rs 5.10 crore, while, it was Rs 6.90 crore in the last financial year. In fact, the budget has not been increased as per the requirement and increase in the number of newspapers. The budget allocation for advertisements was Rs 2.40 crore in 2002-03 and it remained the same in the following year. Though the budget for advertisements increased to Rs 3 crore in 2004-05 and to Rs 5 crore in 2005-06, it again came down to Rs 3.50 crore in the following year. The advertisement budget saw marginal increase to Rs 4.60 crore in 2007-08 and to Rs 6.90 crore in the last financial year before coming down again this year.

For the next financial year, the DIPR has sought a budget allocation of Rs 14 crore considering the requirements and it remains to be seen whether Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, accepts the demand and provides necessary budget allocation.

Interestingly, there was a time when the DIPR even failed to spend the budget allocation mainly because of the failure of the Government to release the allocated funds because of financial crunch. According to records available, the DIPR could spend only Rs 54.13 lakh of the budget allocation of Rs 2 crore in 1996-97, it could spend Rs 1.51 crore of the allocation of Rs 2 crore in 1997-98 and Rs 1.83 crore of the allocation of Rs 2 crore in 1998-99. In the subsequent two years also the DIPR could not spend the entire allocation because of the failure of the Government to release the amount.

Meanwhile, official sources told The Assam Tribune that the situation has now improved marginally and though the budget has not been increased to the desired extent, at least the allocated amount is being spent in the last few years.

Sources said that a committee has been formed to examine the old liabilities, which would amount to at least Rs 50 lakh and the same would be cleared in phased manner after thorough examination of the bills.

Official sources admitted that the failure of the Government to increase the budget allocation turned out to be a major problem in releasing advertisements as the number of newspapers increased sharply over the years and at present, over 30 daily newspapers are included in the approved list of the Government. But because of paucity of funds, it is not possible to release advertisements to all newspapers equally and in the end of every financial year, the DIPR is forced to go slow. Moreover, the DIPR is forced to issue advertisements to a number of magazines, souvenirs etc., and there have been instances when Ministers and other political leaders issue instructions to release advertisements to such souvenirs.

Sources admitted that though the rates of Government advertisements were increased marginally in the current financial year, the rates are still much less than the commercial rates. The rates are even less than some of the advanced states of the country. However, sources said that the number of newspapers in Assam is much more than those in prosperous states like Gujarat, West Bengal etc.

Official sources also admitted that there have been instances when a few newspaper houses submitted �fake bills� and said that such practices also delay payment of the genuine bills.

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