THE BUDGET-Poaching in States Sphere

Poaching in States' Sphere ISN'T our preoccupation with the overall deficit as distinct from the deficit on revenue account of the centre somewhat misplaced? Between the revised estimates for 1987-88 and the budget estimates for 1988-89 while the deficit on revenue account goes up by Rs 1,345 crore to Rs 9,842 crore, the overall deficit goes up by Rs 1,404 crore to Rs 7,484 crore. Thus the quantum of increase in the two deficits is more or less the same, but it cannot go unnoticed that the revenue account deficit in both the years is higher than the overall deficit by 30 to 40 per cent.