Speeches in Parliament Vol. (III)-21

An Hon. Member : A very small amount.

Shri Yashwantrao Chavan : This is how we have to begin. You cannot immediately reach the moon. Certainly, we have to make an attempt and this is a right step in the right direction.

Then, as a matter of fact, my Hon. friend Shri Indrajit Gupta took me to task for making additional Plan provision only for what he thought were infrastructure activities like roads and communications and for not making any additional provision for industry, particulary, public sector industry. It is not merely an increase of Rs. 155 crores. It you take the actual level of expenditure in 1971-72, the increase is more and, including Non-Plan expenditure for employment, it is Rs. 375 crores, a little more than that.

The increase of the order of Rs. 300 crores in the Central Plan provision for 1971-72 against the likely actual level of expenditure in 1970-71 about Rs. 97 crores represents substantial increase in the investment of public sector undertakings. In addition the public sector undertakings are expected to utilise 205 crores from their internal resources. In other words, the total outlay public sector undertakings in 1971-72 will be of the order of Rs. 738 crores as against Rs. 641 crores in 1970-71. This is not a mean provision for public sector....

But to say that it is meant for infrastructure is not correct. Creating infrastructure is not merely providing for the private sector. How do you say that? This is intended for creating communications, is having better roads, better harbours, having rural electrification in the rural areas, etc. The most important private sector is Agriculture. We cannot forget that also. Therefore, to say that investment in the infra-structure is only meant for the private sector is, I should say, either trying to be blind to the realities or trying to be politically biassed; and this is all that I can say.

Shri Piloo Mody : There is a third alternative, ignorance.

Shri Yashwantrao Chavan : This is not an argument which shows any objective assessment of the economic principles. It is a politically-biassed criticism.

Now, the increase in the Shipping Sector of Rs. 16 crores is primarily meant for Shipping Development Fund which disburses loans to various shipping companies for acquisition of ships. Out of the total provision of Rs. 35 crores, an amount of Rs. 21 crores is already earmarked for the Shipping Corporation of India, a public sector undertaking. The balance amount will be disbursed both to the public sector and private sector shipping companies which may come up with concrete proposals for acquisition of ships during 1971-72. This is a growth contribution.

During the three years of the Fourth Plan from 1969-70, the disbursement out of the Development Fund would be of the order of Rs. 88 crores, of which the public sector shipping companies would get Rs. 57 crores. That shows that the public sector will get major share.