Nazareth is the largest city in northern Israel today and a popular destination for Christian pilgrims and travelers. According to the Bible, Jesus spent his formative years in Nazareth. (Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Tourism, Government of Israel)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 24
The People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has announced the introduction of a new programme for 'Holy Land tours and pilgrimages’.
Presenting the maiden budget of the new dispensation on March 23, the Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, informed that detailed guidelines will be set up to enable citizens to visit the 'Holy land.'
Once such guidelines are in place, the government would part-sponsor the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he added.
‘The Holy Land,’ spreading through present day Israel, Palestine and adjoining areas, is revered by Christians as the place in which Christ lived and taught, and many sites are a designated as sacred pilgrimage destinations for the faithful.
[caption id="attachment_348015" align="alignnone" width="640"]
Sea of Galilee (Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Tourism, Government of Israel)[/caption]
Many locations in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, River Jordan and Nazareth etc on are intimately associated with the religion. ‘The Holy Land,’ is equally considered by sacred by others Abrahamic religion such as Jews and Islam.
Incidentally, religious appeasement was one of the major electoral plank of the national political party like the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress in Christian-Majority Nagaland when the state went to poll in February.
[caption id="attachment_348080" align="alignnone" width="493"]
Tower of David located near the Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem (Photo Courtesy: Ministry of Tourism, Government of Israel)[/caption]
For BJP, it was a step to counter the ‘anti-Christian tag’ as well as apprehension over ‘Hindutva’ ideology. “We plan to send groups of senior Christian citizens to Jerusalem if our party comes to power,” Nagaland BJP spokesperson James Vizo told a national daily before the poll.
The Congress, on the other hand, incorporated the promise on its manifesto. “By an Act of the State government, a Board will be established to facilitate minorities to visit the Holy Land at a subsidised cost,” it said.
"Many people are capable, they have been going to Jerusalem at their own expense, but our government can come forward and facilitate those programmes. I think it is for the religious leaders to accept or not, but it is showing good gesture and showing their open mind and respecting their religion,"Rio was quoted in NDTV, then as Chief Ministerial candidate of Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP)-BJP alliance.
The present announcement of ‘Holy Land tours and pilgrimages,’ thus, can be considered a fulfilment of the electoral promise.
Tour for students
In order to vow the student community, the Government has also announced another package in form of study tours and excursions.
The package will provide opportunities for students to take excursion trips to different parts of the country, particularly the National Capital Regions, the Chief Minister told the Assembly on Friday.
Rio informed that every year 100 students will be sponsored to visit New Delhi and other cities to gain experience from places like the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, Taj Mahal etc. in different batches.
A separate cell will be set up to facilitate the successful implementation of the scheme, he added.
Deficits as usual
Meanwhile, the budget itself was business as usual. Without announcing new tax or measures to enhance state revenue, the Chief Minister presented estimated gross budget deficit of Rs 1630.67 crore for the fiscal 2018-19.
The gross receipts for 2018-19 was estimated at Rs 18,232.51 crore while the expenditure wasRs 18305.40 crore.
On revenue side, the biggest source is central assistance in form Central Assistance (Grants and Loans) – Rs 7820.86 crore and Internal Debt (including Ways and Means Advance from RBI) – Rs 5642.87 crore constituting 43% and 31% respectively and 74% collectively.
Non-Development Expenditure (excluding Servicing of Debt) at Rs 7841.42 crore or 43% and Servicing of Debt (including repayment of WMA) – Rs 5911.62 crore or 32% constituted the bulk of expenditure.
Plan-expenditure including Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) was Rs. 4442.25 or mere 25% of the total expenditure leaving little room for development.
As per the current year transaction, the deficits of receipts vis-a-vis expenditure was Rs 72.89 crore. However, with the deduction of public account of Rs 49.95 crore, the deficit for 2018-19 is expected to result in negative balance of Rs 22.94 crore.
With the negative opening balance of Rs 1607.73 crore, the year will close with a gross deficit of Rs 1630.67 crore.
