Kelkar Committee Report Uploaded on Finance Ministry Website - seeks public comments

Kelkar Committee Report Uploaded on Finance Ministry Website to Invite Comments from all Sections of the People

On August 6, 2012, the Union Finance Minister Shri P.Chidambaram  had made a statement on the economic situation and on the policy measures that were under consideration of the Government. Referring to the fiscal situation, the Finance Minister had said:         “We intend to unveil, shortly, a path of fiscal consolidation. I would like to make it clear          that the burden of fiscal correction must be shared, fairly and equitably, by different   classes of stakeholders. The poor must be protected and others must bear their fair share        of the burden. Obviously, adjustments must be made both on the revenue side and on the   expenditure side. We have asked Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Dr. Indira Rajaraman and Dr. Sanjiv        Misra to assist the Government in formulating the path of fiscal consolidation and we            expect that the work will be completed in a few weeks.”         The aforesaid Kelkar Committee submitted its report on September 3, 2012.         The Committee has reached certain conclusions and has made a number of recommendations. The main conclusion of the report is that “We cannot over-emphasize the need and the urgency of fiscal consolidation.”         The report is under consideration of the Government and the Government has not yet taken a view on the report or on any of the recommendations.                                                  The Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Shri ArvindMayaram said that some recommendations appear contrary to the declared objective of the Government of ‘sustained and inclusive growth’.  He said that the Government is of the view that in a developing country where a significant proportion of the population is poor, a certain level of subsidies is necessary and unavoidable, and measures must be taken to protect the poor and vulnerable sections of the society. It is in this view that the Government has reiterated its intention to implement the promise of food security for all, he added. The Secretary Shri Mayaram further said while taking a final view on the various recommendations of the report, the Government will bear in mind that the goal is to achieve high growth, inclusive development, and economic and social justice for all.                                                            The Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, ShriArvind  Mayaram said that the Government welcomes an informed debate on the report submitted by the Kelkar Committee. Hence, this report is being uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Finance at www.finmin.nic.in, he informed. Shri Mayaram said that the Government invites all sections of the people to send their comments to the email address: feedbackonkelkar-mof@nic.in. DSM/RS/ka