“Benefits of budget yet to reach people”

PUDUCHERRY: Home Minister E.Valsaraj on Saturday said that benefits of tax-free budget were yet to reach the people in Puducherry.
Shortly after inaugurating postgraduate courses at Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences, he said the government had been announcing tax-free budgets for the last seven years, but it was of no use to the people.
Cost of commodities in Puducherry was higher than in Tindivanam, Villupuram and Cuddalore.
“But we have a tax-free budget here. The benefits of a tax-free budget have not reached the people. There must be some mistake somewhere and we need to identify it,” he said.
Mr. Valsaraj, who also holds the Health portfolio, said the Union Territory was facing shortage of funds. “Almost 90 per cent of works at the Women and Child Hospital has been completed. We require Rs. 15 crore to complete the works. If this is completed, then we can shift the Government Maternity Hospital soon,” he said.
There were 950 medical seats in Puducherry, but the charm for becoming doctors had reduced, he said. “Service-oriented attitude has reduced. A social change must be brought about and students should become service-minded,” he said.
Director of Health and Family Welfare Dilip Kumar Baliga said a recent survey found that Puducherry was lacking in primary health facilities. “The survey has rated Puducherry 10th in providing primary health services. Puducherry is last when compared to Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.
For this, the health system should quickly shift from being doctor-centric to community-centric, he said.
Dean of the institute V. Balu said postgraduate courses such as masters in pharmacy, physiotherapy, M.Sc. nursing and a course in post basic B.Sc. nursing had been introduced . He requested the Minister to allot funds for the construction of a hostel for students.