The Budget 2009-10 has no new or innovative provision for the Indian Agriculture. That is why the agriculture sector, in spite of minimum relief ensured in the Union Budget, has not witnessed a dramatic change last year. Considering the gestation lag in the investment in the farm sector, accumulated and acute supply-side constraints may not give the requisite thrust to the Indian Agriculture to score the planned growth rate. Here, I must refer to my State, Orissa, the land of lord Jagannath. The State is endowed with rich natural resources in the form of vast mineral deposits, forest, productive land, surface and ground water resources, long coast line, and picturesque places and pilgrim shrines with tremendous tourist potential. However, it is a matter of great concern that effective, adequate and successful exploitation of these resources, the State has never had a chance to generate satisfactory income opportunities for witnesses the problems of poverty and destitution due to its socio-economic backwardness. Half of its population is estimated to be under the poverty trap. Large proportion of people in the state has very poor living conditions. Recently around 35 lakh people in Orissa were rendered homelss and pushed below the poverty line due to severe flood related instances, Nearly 4000 villages of 18 districts faced this fury while the Cuttack, Puri Khurda districts. Most respectfully, I would like to submit let us have some confidence, self-confidence of ourselves. We have managed the Indian economy. Please also look at what I have stated in my Budget Speech. In my Budget Speech I myself had expressed deep concern about the impact of the financial crisis and the global meltdown. It is quite obvious. Any responsible Finance Minister.
