Chennai: Claiming that 73 per cent of the tax revenue is spent on distributing freebies, PMK MP Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday demanded a detailed audit into the financial management of the AIADMK Government.
In a statement, Mr Anbumani tore into the AIADMK Government led by Edappadi K Palanisami for pushing the state further into financial instability by distributing freebies that are of “no use” to the people thereby forgetting the need for ushering in growth.
“The tax revenue of the Tamil Government during 2016-17 is just Rs 99,590 crore. But the expenses incurred on subsidy and freebies alone are Rs 72,615 crore. This means 73 per cent of the tax revenues are being spent on distributing freebies and providing subsidies. It is not prudent for any government to spend 73 per cent of tax earning on freebies,” the Dharmapuri MP said.
He also clarified that the PMK was not against subsidies and freebies, while contending that these should be put to use to register an increase in human resource development and other constructive things. Noting that a few freebies currently being distributed by the AIADMK Government are unavoidable and there was nothing wrong in them, the PMK leader said his party was opposed to any subsidy or freebies that would make the people ‘lazy.’
“The state has registered just 45.64 per cent growth in collection of taxes since 2011-12, but it has seen an increase of 130 per cent in terms of spending on freebies and subsidies. This is not the sign of a healthy economy,” he said.
