BHUBANESWAR: With the BJP seriously challenging the hegemony of ruling BJD in the recently concluded panchayat polls, Finance Minister Pradip Amat on Monday presented a populist budget to woo the people by announcing schemes for all sections of the population.
The Rs 1,06,911-crore budget for 2017-18 presented in the Assembly by the Finance Minister has several new schemes and many old programmes packaged in a new format. Stating that the Government is facing several development challenges, Amat said the budget will be financed through estimated revenue receipts of Rs 88,932 crore, recovery of loans and advances of Rs 130 crore and borrowing and other receipts of Rs 17,849 crore. The borrowing includes Rs 10,273 crore from the open market.
Amat said the revenue receipts include Rs 31,422 crore of State’s share in Central taxes, State’s own tax of Rs 26,800 crore, own non-tax revenue of Rs 9500 crore and Rs 21,210 crore grants from the Centre.
The Finance Minister announced a new programme -ABADHA (Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture) - for holistic development and transformation of Puri to a world class heritage city. He provided Rs 100 crore for the new programme.
Amat announced launching of BASUDHA (Buxi Jagabandhu Assured Water Supply to Habitations) as a tribute to Buxi Jagabandhu in the bi-centenary year of Paika Bidroha for provision of new drinking water supply facilities. The scheme will have two components, Buxi Jagabandhu Saharanchal Paneeya Jala Jogana Karyakram and Buxi Jagabandhu Gramya Paneeya Jala Jogana Karyakram for which Rs 315 crore and Rs 750 crore have been provided respectively.
Besides, Rs 250 crore has been provided for operation and maintenance of large water supply systems. Provision of Rs 1000 crore and Rs 188 crore has also been announced for the rural and urban components of the Swachh Bharat Mission respectively.
Stating that shelter security for more than 15 lakh households of rural Odisha is a major commitment of the State Government, Amat provided Rs 3100 crore for the programme through convergence of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY)-Gramin and Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana.
Besides, Rs 200 crore has been provided for construction of 20,000 dwelling units under beneficiary led construction and 30,000 units under affordable housing and slum development components under Odisha Urban Housing Mission (AWAAS).
A provision of Rs 378 crore has been made for maternity benefit programme-Mamata, in the sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and the State. The Finance Minister announced provision of Rs 34 crore for providing uniform for children undergoing pre-school education under the Malatidevi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana. Another new scheme, Mukhyamantri Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana was also announced and provision of Rs 70 crore made for it.
The Finance Minister announced provision of Rs 11,965 crore under tribal sub-component and Rs 8116 crore for SC sub-component totalling allotment of Rs 20,081 crore for these two sections of population.
A provision of Rs 977 crore was made for the National Social Assistance Programme for Old Age, Widow and Disability Pensions and other benefits which is being implemented on cost sharing basis with the Centre. Besides, Rs 840 crore was also provided for Madhubabu Pension Yojana for giving pension to additional beneficiaries.
Stating that the State Government has decided to continue supply of foodgrains (rice/wjeat) at a subsidised rate of Rs 1 per kg to each priority household beneficiary and SC/ST hostel boarders, Amat announced a provision of Rs 880 crore for implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) in the State.
Amat announced creation of a corpus fund of Rs 300 crore to facilitate timely payment of wages under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in order to provide assured wage employment to the rural population.
Stating that the Odisha Government is committed to provide electricity to all in next two years, Amat said Odisha Distribution System Strengthening Programme (ODSSP) has been started. Under the programme, 500 new 33X11 substations will be added by 2018. A provision of Rs 511 crore has been made for this.
Besides, Rs 385 crore has been provided under Biju Gram Jyoti Yojana and the State share of Centrally sponsored schemes Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) and Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY).
A new scheme with a provision of Rs 50 crore was announced to provide road connectivity to 142 remotest and inaccessible villages of 17 Left Wing Extremist (LWE) affected districts. Another new scheme Urban Transformation Initiative (UNNATI) to focus on improvement of urban roads and provision of civic amenities with a provision of Rs 294 crore was also announced.
Besides, Rs 160 crore was provided for development of railway projects such as Khurda-Balangir link, Nabarangpur-Jeypore-Malkangiri link and modernisation of Bhubaneswar railway station. To enhance air connectivity, Rs 40 crore has been provided for construction of air strips.
Amat said Rs 4682 has been provided for internal security and administration of justice which included Rs 300 crore for construction of buildings for courts, police, fire services and jails as well as equipment.
The Finance Minister said in order to provide a platform for promotion of art and artists, Kalamandal will be set up on a six acre land at Bhubaneswar. He said Rs 10 crore has been placed with IDCO for construction of Kalamandal.
Amat announced launching of the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Seva Mission for which Rs 345 crore was provided. Besides, Rs 400 crore was provided for establishment of new medical colleges. He said Rs 185 crore has been provided under the Gangadhar Meher Sikhya Manakbrudhi Yojana (GMSMY) to provide free school bags and education kit to all children from Class I to V, free school uniform to all children from Class I to VIII and free bicycles to all students of Class IX of Government and Government aided schools, Sanskrit tols and Madrasas.
A new feature on administrative expenditure was introduced in the budget estimated at Rs 47,465 crore including provision of Rs 22,000 crore for salary, Rs 11,313 crore for pension, Rs 5,000 crore for interest payment and Rs 5177 crore for maintenance of capital assets.
The total programme expenditure has been estimated at Rs 57,800 crore which includes an outlay of Rs 52800 crore for Government sector and Rs 5000 crore for public sector undertakings. While the outlay for Disaster Response Fund will be Rs 1824 crore, transfers from State have been estimated at Rs 4822 crore.
While the tax GSDP ratio for 2017-18 would be 6.5 per cent, the capital outlay of Rs 20,174 crore is 5.04 per cent of the GSDP. Amat said fiscal deficit is limited to 3.5 per cent of the GSDP which is within the prescribed limit.