This is all the system can offer – FSP on the Budget Proposal

Although the government seems to attempt to show that it is offering various benefits to various groups, none of them can bring real solutions to the problems faced by people regularly, says the Frontline Socialist Party commenting on the Budget Proposal presented to the Parliament yesterday (24). Central Committee member of the party, Duminda Nagamuwa said that the President said that this is best the government can give to the people. He questioned if this little is the best that can be offered in dire straits, then nothing more or better can be expected from the prevailing system. Talking to Lanka Views, he further stated this: Yesterday, the government has given everybody a little something. The people were under a lot of pressure. The public consciousness was such that people would have taken to the streets. What was missing was a form to that social anger. The government knew that the situation was bad. Two weeks ago the government put up a poster, asking why the opposition was scared of Mahinda. Looking at the Budget we see how scared the government is of the people. This is the maximum that can be offered when the government is most scared. This is the most the government can fool the people, with the election around the bend. What is this? In a month people will realise that this cannot get them through life.

 

Bonus for public servants is increased by Rs.2200. Minimum wages for public servants in increased to Rs.15000 and 10000 for private sector workers and they are trying to make it look like a big deal. However according to the Central Bank, a family requires Rs.52134 per month. Out of the 8.4 million labour force in Sri Lanka only 530000 earns more than 50000 per month. When you look at the minimum wage and the cost of living we can see how far the oppressed classes need to go to reach a point of mere survival. The President was right to say that this is the maximum. This system cannot offer more. The people have to look for alternatives for a real life.

According to the government this is the result of what they’ve been doing since 2005. After a war of 10 years and unbearable hard work, this is what the oppressed classes are getting. Apparently the water charges are reduced by 10% which means most can save about 50-60 Rupees per month. Rice is reduced to Rs.80 and a yogurt has gone down by Rs3. How many people eat a yogurt after meals? Without taking any measures to bring down the prices, a request is made to sellers to reduce the prices by 10%. What are we supposed to do? Go to the shops and ask for goods for lower prices because the President said so? The little money that is saved is taken back as tax. This time, out of the government income of Rs.1689 Billions, Rs.1416 Billion, which means 83.83% is made up of taxes. One is given and two are taken. Working class people’s situations is made worse.

Government expenditure on education, healthcare and transport have been cut down. That weight is shifted to the public. Defence and Urban Development are getting six times more money than education. Seven times as Higher Education. Twice as Health. Four times as Transportation. That is how the government has chosen priorities. While 200 Billion is reserved for road development only 47 million is reserved for school education. 41 Billion for Higher Education. 139 Billion for Health. 76 Billion for Transportation. Anyway the people will have to take to the streets. What this is an auction of dreams. We are asked to buy dreams and give a blank cheque to the government. Without telling us what will happen once they are in power, dreams are sold to us in exchange for power. For those who live with whatever is given this might be enough. But for those who wants to live with dignity and satisfaction, for a majority of the people, neoliberalism has nothing to offer. This budget has proven that these fancy parades cannot give us answers, only an economy without disparity, an economy based on social needs more than profit, an economy operated by people, instead of a few capitalists, an economy that gives the fruit of labour to its owner, an economy that is accountable to the society and the environment can give us the answers we need.