Promoter Raj Under Ideology Cover and Dalit Muslim Stunt

Promoter Raj Under Ideology Cover and Dalit Muslim Stunt

Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - NINTY EIGHT

Palash Biswas



Fresh notifications and approvals for setting up Special Economic Zones are being put on hold till an Empowered Group of Ministers looking into the matter takes a final view, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.A number of representations on various issues including land acquisition were placed before the EGOM which observed that further deliberations are needed before any new approvals for SEZ are given, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said in a written reply. It is quite an entertainment that Realty firms cash in on land near upcoming SEZs and it shows what Capitalist development actually means. In west Bengal, we see that the locked out factories turn into Real estate so soon. We witness this on both sides of BT Road which was once busy with activities of the workers round the clock in Jute and Cotton Mills. SEZ with Tax Holiday has become the best medium for Ptromoter Raj. That is why all politicians all over India are so keen to evict Rural Population from greenfields to do a revolution otherwise. The communists are leading this time The Promoter Raj Revolution and that, too, under ideological cover, quoting the Chinese Line!What a wonder is this country and what a people we happen to be! Now the corporate Imperialist interests have much more stakes in this part of the world as It may well be raining dollars in Bengal now! The snowballing land acquisition controversy notwithstanding, US investors will look up to "Mr India" Ratan Tata's business acumen to invest in the state and leave behind a "glorious legacy."A high-profile business delegation from US led by dignitaries from the US Chamber of Commerce and a host of representatives from a cross-section of US companies will also formally invite West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the Writers' Buildings on Thursday to visit Washington and participate in a roadshow urging US outfits to invest in Bengal.AT THE headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), a fine brownstone building in central Delhi, bald-headed Lenin busts glower at crazy-haired Che Guevara pictures. Soviet posters celebrating collective farms, all Cyrillic script and tractors, decorate the walls. They lead any resistance, any movement as far as the ideology is concerned. But the CPIM led ruling Left front governments in West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura are much more interested to hold on the statepower in the best interest of Caste Hindu Supremacy. The ideology itself is personified in different colours of promoters ie Salem, Sultan, Ambani, Tata, Zindal, Mittal and so on.… Left demands quota for Dalit Muslims to solve the vex equation of Votebank unmanageble with Muslim dominated demography in siezable geopolitics of West Bengal and Kerala. Aiming to make inroads into the Muslim community, the CPI(M) on Monday released a charter for the advancement of Muslims in the country. The charter prepared by the minority sub-committee of the party, headed by Lok Sabha MP Mohammed Salim, among other things demands reservation for Dalit Muslims. Even in their strongholds, West Bengal and Kerala, the CPI(M) has problems in winning the confidence of Muslims, though the party is vocal in raising the issues of Muslims all over the world. Vying with the Congress for the Muslim pie in the time of elections and in the background of Sachar Committee recommendations, the CPI(M) on Monday made a strong pitch for empowerment of 13.8 crore Muslims in the country and asked the UPA government “not to get browbeaten” by the BJP campaign of “minority appeasement”. Party general secretary Prakash Karat released a “CPI(M)’s Charter for Advancement of Muslim Community” here which inter alia called for a sub plan for the community on the lines of the tribal sub plan.Though the party reiterated that it would not ask for reservation based on religion, it said a sub-plan must be drafted for the Muslims on the lines of tribal sub-plan. It has also demanded an "adequate share for OBC Muslims" in the jobs reserved for OBCs. "The 13.5 crore Muslims in this country are lagging behind the general categories in education, employment and other socio-economic conditions. They must be provided with equal opportunities," CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said releasing the document on Monday. When reminded that Sachar panel had exposed the poor record of the Left Front government in West Bengal vis-à-vis the Muslim community in the state, he said the state government will take remedial measures.So, Divide and Rule policy gives it all with so many incentives from the beginning of the Desi Brahminical Rule!On the other hand, reports reveal that Real estate companies are rushing in on the opportunities galore around the two SEZs promoted by Reliance Industries - Maha Mumbai SEZ and Navi Mumbai SEZ, which it has started in JV with CIDCO. Both SEZs are located in Raigarh district and will cover a land area of 14,000 hectares. According to industry sources, many individuals have also bought land in the Mandwa and Alibag region on the hopes of escalating prices due to proposed SEZs and Rewas-Aware seaport.To start with, city-based construction firm Samira Habitats is planning to set up a services SEZ in Poynad, Poynad is 6 km from the MMSEZ. It has already appointed Meghraj SP Corporate Finance to scout for private equity partners for the venture.Real estate major Hiranandani Constructions has also bought 200 acres of land in Nagaon near Alibaug, which is nearly 24 km from MMSEZ. The company is in the initial stages of development plans, a company official said. Out of the 200-acre land bank the company has with it, it would use 25-40 acres for the SEZ and the rest for the health farms, medical facilities, a international educational institution, a three-star hotel around the SEZ. It has envisaged a investment of more than Rs 100 crore for the venture.Meanwhile, West Bengal Assembly’s budget session is going to begin from March 8 and issues like farmland acquisition for industry, starvation deaths at tea gardens and the two-month-old jute strike is likely to be brought up by the opposition, Trinamool Congress and Congress.Issues of acquisition of farmlands at Singur, on going violence at Nandigram and starvation deaths at tea gardens in North Bengal have been the burning topics of the day and will be brought up by his party, said the Leader of the Opposition, Partha Chatterjee of Trinamool Congress.Chief Minister Buddadeb Bhattacharjee has not been able to find time to solve the two-month-old jute strike issue. The Governor visited the tea gardens and saw the worker’s condition, he said. A day after the killing of JMM MP Sunil Mahato in neighbouring Jharkhand, West Bengal Government today said it would urge the Centre for more central forces, if necessary, to keep watch on Maoist-affected districts bordering the adjacent state. "Six companies of central forces are deployed in such problem districts and if required we will urge the Centre for more," Roy told reporters at the state secretariat. Exam ends, dogfight begins in Nandigram. A report from Midnapur quotes East Midnapore superintendent of police Anil Srinivasan said the police had to fire twice when CPM and Bhoomi Uchchhed Pratirodh Committee processions were about to run into each other at Tekhali, the gateway to Sonachura, the scene of the January bloodbath.The fresh violence prompted armed forces to enter the pockets of Nandigram “cut off” since the land war broke out on January 3. At least seven people were killed in a gunfight four days later.“No casualty or injury was reported today,” the superintendent said. The region had been quiet for the past few weeks as both sides had called a ceasefire of sorts because of the examinations.Sporadic bombings and exchange of fire marked their end at Tekhali, Gokulnagar and Bhangabera. The tension that prevailed through the day peaked with the processions. RAF and Eastern Frontier Rifles jawans moved into the villages after the clash of processions had been averted.Sabuj Pradhan of the Uchchhed Pratirodh committee alleged that armed CPM supporters tried to sneak into Nandigram from Sher Khan Chowk at Khejuri this afternoon. “We fear fresh attacks tonight. Over 4,000 CPM supporters have assembled there,” he said.Both sides complained that the rivals had stockpiled arms.The police have not been able to arrest even one of the anti-acquisition activists accused of raping a CPM supporters’ wife and holding her family hostage on Saturday.US looking up to invest in WB Heaping praises on the West Bengal government's efforts to bring about transparency on the issue of land acquisition, Ron Somers, president of US Chamber of Commerce, said that the controversy surrounding the Tata Motors' Singur plant is a part and parcel of doing business in India and the agitation surrounding it is a phenomenon likely to happen everywhere in the world."We have spoken to West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation regarding their policy on land acquisition and they seem to conform to a set of rules. West Bengal has a good reputation on transparency. If you have such a policy and lay it on the top of the table, at the end of the day it will act as a magnet to attract other investors," Somers said.He added that US companies are sure that after Reliance had struck oil in the Krishna-Godavari basin, more gas finds at the Bay of Bengal will follow. In such a backdrop, eastern India is a major destination for US investors that will transcend into other domains like retail and the whole gamut of supply chain management. Consulting heavyweight McKinsey has also lauded West Bengal in its resurgence, which the US trade and commerce authorities have taken note of.Asked whether the US companies will collaborate with Gram Panchayats to formulate a rehabilitation package for displaced farmers in future land acquisition endeavours involving US companies, Somers said that US outfits believe in leaving behind a legacy and won't stop after issuing a cheque to the displaced people. "You have to treat them the way you would like to be treated. It is heartening that Mr legacy (Ratan Tata) has invested here and we would also like to leave behind a glorious legacy," Somers said.Somers' repose in Ratan Tata found an echo in US Consul general in Kolkata Henry Jardine who said that when a person of Mr Tata's calibre decides to invest in the state, it only proves that West Bengal is treading the right path to industrialisation. "If the present pattern continues, I would anticipate greater US investment and commerce contributing to a rapidly growing economy of West Bengal," Jardine said.Citing Mr Tata as a global Indian and Videocon as another Indian company gone global, US Chamber of Commerce senior vice president Dan Christman said that several US companies are taking a close hard look on investing in India which is now the Topic de jour" back in the US. "The reforms started in West Bengal are conducive to investments," Christman said. Buddhadev has unscheduled meeting with Governor Close on the heels of West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi's critical view of the administration's failure to check starvation deaths in a tea estate, Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee held an unscheduled meeting with him today. There was no official briefing about the meeting held this evening. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Chief Secretary A K Deb and Home Secretary P R Roy, Raj Bhavan sources said.Gandhi had visited the closed Ramjhora tea estate in north Bengal last week after it was reported that two of its workers had died of starvation. Expressing shock at the incident, he instructed the district administration to arrange relief for the workers. The Governor also said that the officer-in-charge of Katwa police station, Debojyoti Saha, who has been accused of shooting dead a Congress leader on February 25, should be punished. Dalit Muslim Stunt Agreeing with the Prime Minister's idea of a "fair share for minorities," the CPI(M) has asserted 15% allocation for minorities from priority sector bank loans. In land reform programmes, the CPI(M) urged the government to ensure Muslims are also allocated plots in residential and industrial areas, shops, stalls and petrol/gas dealerships. In education, where the Sachar panel said Muslims are way behind, the CPI(M) said there must be a substantial increase in stipends and scholarships for the Muslims. Taking a cue from the efforts of Mulayam Singh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, CPI(M) said Urdu teachers' posts in the schools must be filled soon. It also asked the government to encourage "scientific job-oriented education in Madarsas." But when asked about the plight of Muslims in West Bengal, especially in the field of education, where his party has been ruling for the last 30 years, Karat said: "I have a personal view on that... for example the party as policy did not encourage private schools, like the Muslim-sponsored schools, or the private higher secondary schools... Its only of late there are private educational institutions in West Bengal... And the gap remains." Karat also urged the government to ensure justice to the victims of communal violence. "The report of Sri Krishna Commission on Mumbai riots is yet to be implemented," he said. Avoiding a question that whether the timing of the charter is in the view of UP elections, where the CPI(M) contests 16 out of 403 seats, Karat quipped: "We are too small a party to influence crores of voters in Uttar Pradesh. The report is based on the Sachar panel findings." Karat said the charter will be sent to various organisations and individuals soliciting their response and the party will give final shape to it in a convention being organised shortly. The responses will be utilised to mobilise public opinion, he added.Even as Karat released the charter, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee also announced a package of developmental programmes for the minority community. They include giving university status to Kolkata madrasa, utilising Waqf fund for developmental schemes, deputing Muslims on various service commissions, earmarking a fund of Rs ten crore for madrasa development, setting up of a task force to look into the development of the minority communities under the convenorship of the chief minister. They follow the Chinese Line, they claim. Please read these news items to assess the reality yourself:Chinese senior leader stresses issues of agriculture, countryside, farmerswww.chinaview. cn 2007-03-05 23:04:33BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong on Monday urged local authorities to put the issues concerning agriculture, countryside and farmers on top of their agenda.Local governments should further speed up the modernization of agriculture and push forward the building of new countryside with down-to-earth steps, said Zeng at a panel discussion by deputies who came from east China's Jiangxi Province to attend the parliament's annual session.Zeng noted that Jiangxi is a typical province where its economy relies on agriculture. And two thirds of its population live in rural areas."Therefore, it will be a very arduous task for the local governments to tackle prominent problems about agriculture, countryside and farmers," said Zeng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.China to invest 391.7 bln yuan in agriculturewww.chinaview. cn 2007-03-05 09:44:08BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The central government of China will spend 391.7 billion yuan on agriculture, rural areas and farmers this year, as it vows to develop modern agriculture and promote the building of a new countryside, said Premier Wen Jiabao in a government work report Monday."We will effectively shift the focus of state infrastructure development and development of social programs to the countryside, " Wen told 2,890 lawmakers at the opening meeting of the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.The allocations from the central government budget will total 391.7 billion yuan this year, an increase of 52 billion yuan over last year and 94.2 billion yuan over the year of 2005.Agriculture, as the base of the country's economy, remains weak, and it is now more difficult than ever to steadily increase grain production and keep rural incomes growing, Wen said.The Study Times, a newspaper affiliated to the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, predicted that China could face a 4.8 million ton grain shortage in 2010, almost 9 percent of the country's grain consumption.Wen said this year's work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers will focus on accelerating the development of modern agriculture and effectively promoting the building of a new socialistcountryside.A central government document released late January said developing modern agriculture is the top priority in building a new socialist countryside.The premier announced China will set up a nationwide basic minimum cost of living allowance system this year for rural residents, and the trial area of the new rural cooperative medical care system will be expanded to cover over 80 percent of all counties, county-level cities and city districts in China.The per capita net income for the 900 million rural residents increased 7.4 percent to 3,587 yuan last year. Safe drinking water was made available to another 28.97 million rural people and the use of methane available to an additional 4.5 million rural families. The country ended the agricultural tax that had been collected on grain farmers for more than 2,600 years, continued to increase directsubsidies to grain farmers, and followed a policy of granting general subsidies for agricultural production supplies.China to expand subsistence allowance system to all rural poorwww.chinaview. cn 2007-03-05 09:22:23BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government will expand the subsistence allowance system to all rural poor, Premier Wen Jiabao announced at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC) here on Monday.The plan is expected to bring a poverty-stricken population of about 23.7 million under the social security net."We will set up a nationwide basic minimum cost of living allowance system this year for rural residents, which has great and far-reaching significance for promoting social fairness and building aharmonious society," Wen told 2,890 NPC deputies assembled at the Great Hall of the People.About 23.65 million rural residents living in "abject poverty" in China by the end of 2006 with an annual per capita income less than 683 yuan (87.6 U.S. dollars) according to statistics of the StateCouncil Leading Group of Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development."The rural poor are the most vulnerable population who must be taken care of in the country's drive to build a harmonious society," said Fan Gang, director of the National Economic Research Institute.China's social security system has covered the majority of urban citizens, while migrant workers in cities and rural dwellers, who risk accidents and diseases, are not under the umbrella of social security.Govt serves notice for two plots initially to ‘gauge people’s mood’ Financial Express reports: Kolkata, March 6: TAKING a lesson from Nandigram which witnessed a series of violent incidents over land acquisition, the government has decided to gauge the mood of those whose land will be taken for the proposed township and industrial hub at Dankuni in Hooghly district. The projects will be set up by a consortium, of which Delhi-based builder DLF is the major partner. Of the total 4,840 acres to be acquired, 1,600 acres will be acquired in the first phase. And of this 1,600 acres, the government has served notice for acquisition of two plots measuring 156 acres. The administration has convened a meeting of the representatives of all political parties on March 9, and the next day, the government will start public hearing in the villages. “It is a test case for us. Our aim is to gauge the mood of the people and how they are reacting to the projects we are setting up there. We will also see whether the rehabilitation package we are offering is acceptable to them. If it is not, we can always improve it,” said P K Agarwal, Land Reforms Commissioner, today. It is after getting the feedback from the people that the government will take the next step. The government has already received objections from a section of people who has complained of their livelihood being taken away from them. Apart from the industrial hub and the township, the consortium will also build educational and medical institutions. Great Eastern Energy Corp to invest USD 150 mn to produce gas New Delhi, Mar 06: Great Eastern Energy Corp Ltd will invest 150-million dollars to produce gas from below the coal seams in its Raniganj coalfields in West Bengal. The Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) has approved the development plan for Great Eastern Energy's Ranigang Coal Bed Methane (CBM) block, company officials said. The company plans to produce 1.5 million standard cubic feet per day of gas from the fields in next couple of years. Currently, it is producing 600 million cubic feet of gas per day. The development plan involves drilling of 100 production wells over an estimated four year period in the first phase at an estimated investment of 150-million dollars. In addition to 3 pilot production wells, the first 20 production wells have been drilled and completed. Great Eastern holds a licence to explore for CBM in the 210 sq km block in the Raniganjg Coalfields, West Bengal. An independent report by Schlumberger recoverable reserves of 817 billion cubic feet and gas in place reserves of 1.386 trillion cubic feet, with average gas content of 250 standard cubic feet per ton of coal. Several doubts clouding over the concept of Special Economic Zones seem to be lifting in recent days. Begun with a bang last year, the recent initiatives by the private sector to create zones of economic excellence, through agriculture, industrial efforts and allied commercial activity, have faced within a very short time uncertainty and political opposition under the excuse of protection to farmers.In the case of states like West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, most of the opposition was politically motivated. On the other hand, it cannot be denied that some amount of land grabbing was also taking place, by land sharks close to these political outfits.The most prominent example of disruption of proposed SEZs has been the Singur project of Tatas, what with Trinamool Congress leader Ms Mamata Banerjee‘s hunger strike in Kolkata that led to violence and animosity amongst in the proposed SEZ area.Amongst all this there is hope yet because there are positive examples—of private sector and government cooperation –to set up SEZs like Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation and Reliance Industries, signed in Chandigarh last year. Government feedback claims that the people’s support at grassroots level has been ‘overwhelming’ and the reasons for this may be attributed to the fact that unlike many other private companies, RIL is adjudged to be a success oriented company, not merely a claimant to good work in its selected sphere of activity. Its track record and the wealth it has created for the common man, is legendary.Also, the company as well as the state government are offering a price that is five to seven times more than what was offered just one year ago. Also, there is a deep faith in the belief of corporate social responsibility that is the guiding philosophy of RIL, under which education and health of people is taken care of.To give all rounded advice to the farmers or sharecroppers whose lands have been acquired, camps are held and individual advice is given, as a result of which 70 to 80 percent of the farmers have multiplied their land holdings by investing in other areas or services. For example, many have become service providers for call centers by offering taxi services. Due to the expert advice given, many are also showing interest in equity investments. For India , this is the first giant step towards prosperity – it is a slow but sure progression from farmer to equity investor . Now we know from where film director Mani Ratnam got his idea for the film ‘Guru’ from. Any doubts? Consolidate, UPA MPs told[ 7 Mar, 2007 0010hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ] NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday reminded UPA MPs that the government was more than halfway through its five-year term and that it was time to consolidate and project the new initiatives launched so far. "We must take note of the fact that a deep-rooted change is occurring in the mind and attitude of the electorate. Voters are becoming impatient, they want their lives to improve,"she said. Besides setting a deadline of sorts for the government to start delivering, and soothe frayed nerves in the party, the candid confession over prices could also be designed to buffer her against the rising discontent. Sonia Gandhi has tried to occupy the opposition space also on the politically fraught issues of SEZs and FDI in retail by either going public with her reservations or writing letters which invariably found their way into print. In fact, in her address to the Congress Parliamentary Party, initiatives like preparing a new policy to rehabilitate those displaced by development projects along with social security for unorganised sector workers were listed by Sonia Gandhi as the government's priorities in the coming months. Soon after she had expressed her concern, Chidambaram sought to reassure Parliament that the government would soon bring the price situation in control. India's supermarket boomFeb 1st 2007 From The Economist print editionRARELY can so many people have gathered for an advance look at a medium-sized grocery store. Then again, few shops have inspired such extravagant dreams as the convenience stores being opened across India by Reliance Industries, an oil, petrochemicals and textiles group. The new shops are among the first approximations to a supermarket in India, which has over a billion people and virtually no organised retailing.… West Bengal must capitalise on interest shown by industries: CM Durgapur, Mar 07: Seeking to allay concerns over the acquisition of farm land for industries, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee on Wednesday said his government wanted to capitalise on the interest shown in the state by industrialists even as it consolidated the agricultural base. Industrialists now preferred the state due to its congenial atmosphere, and "if we fail to capitalise on this opportunity, West Bengal's progress will be stalled", he said after inaugurating the Tata Group's Ginger Hotel here. At the same time, the ruling Left Front wants to consolidate the farm sector, which is the state's foundation, he said. "My aim is to take West Bengal to the number one position in every sphere -- agriculture, industry, scientific development," Bhattacharjee said. "We are committed to promoting the use of non- conventional energy," he said earlier while inaugurating India's first integrated renewable energy manufacturing unit here promoted by energy group with an investment of Rs 35 crore. Trinamool youth wing to march to SingurWednesday, March 7, 2007 The Trinamool Youth Congress on Sunday said it would organise a series of march-to-Singur programmes from March 7 to 14 against the "intimidation tactics" of the administration on agitating farmers there. It would start with a procession on March 7 to be held at Gopalnagar at Singur followed by another march at Ujjal Sangha ground there the next day, TYC president Madan Mitra told a press conference here. WB DGP on leave, state Home Secretary rules out speculation Wednesday, March 7, 2007 West Bengal's Director General of Police (DGP) A B Vohra went on leave from Monday, a couple of days after the Calcutta High Court sentenced him along with some other officials to three months imprisonment for contempt of court even as the state government maintained that his leave had nothing to do with his conviction. "His (Vohra's) leave has no other connection," Home Secretary P R Roy told newsmen at the state secretariat saying that he had gone on a week's leave for his son's wedding.He said Vohra's leave was planned earlier saying "He had to go on leave for a week for his son's wedding." CPM seeks PM's intervention to resolve jute crisis in Bengal CPI(M) on Thursday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in ending the stalemate in the West Bengal jute industry due to a strike by workers agitating against a unilateral pay cut by mill owners. delegation of CPI(M) Members of Parliament from both the houses met the Prime Minister and asked him not to let mill owners deprive workers of their legitimate wages decided through tripartite agreements while reaping benefits from various central government schemes.The delegation included Basudev Acharya, Amitava Nandy, Santasree Chatterjee, Hannan Mollah and Rupchand Pal.Around 2.5 lakh workers in the jute industry have been on a strike since January 5 after mill owners imposed a pay cut on the entire workforce. The leaders had met Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela yesterday on the issue. One eye on the ballot boxMar 1st 2007 | DELHIFrom The Economist print editionA budget for prices, farmers and votes. Shame about reformWHEN Palaniappan Chidambaram, India's finance minister, started preparing his annual budget speech a few weeks ago, his officials were in buoyant mood and many businessmen positively euphoric. Annual economic growth of around 9% was spreading confidence, and concerns in some quarters that the economy was overheating were easily brushed aside. But by the time he delivered his speech on February 28th, the mood had changed. Inflation, approaching an annual rate of 7%, had reached a politically dangerous level. Price rises were partly blamed for electoral setbacks for his Congress party, which leads the national coalition government, and lost power a day earlier in two state elections. Responding to the domestic pressures, Mr Chidambaram produced a budget whose central theme was curbing price rises. It also gave a much-needed boost to spending on agriculture, education and health care. The stockmarket's first reaction was gloomy, made worse by plummeting markets around the world, and businessmen found little to cheer about. But, while defending the pursuit of growth, Mr Chidambaram was aiming at different targets—for economic and social as well as political reasons. He increased funds for education by 34%, while money for health and family welfare went up by 22%. By comparison, spending on defence will go up just 7.8%.He devoted a big chunk—some 15 minutes—of his speech to agriculture, which is growing by only 2.7% a year, compared with a government target of 4%. That is a disappointment at a time when, according to the government's annual Economic Survey, published on February 27th, manufacturing and services are growing by over 11%, and merchandise exports by 36%. Other improved numbers include a savings rate of 32% of GDP and a combined central and state governments' fiscal deficit of 6.4% (see chart above)—still whopping, but in line with reform targets. Enjoying the surge in revenues brought by rapid growth, Mr Chidambaram said that agriculture “must hold the first charge on our resources”. He announced plans to boost credit to farmers, as well, disappointingly, as to increase fertiliser and water subsidies, which tend to benefit the better-off, and help cripple the budget in leaner times. The Confederation of Indian Industry, a business lobby group, said more should have been done to increase private-sector investment. But Mr Chidambaram said later that agriculture had to be tackled through the millions of small farmers with less than a hectare of land rather than corporate investment. The hope is that such measures to boost agricultural supply will curb prices.