Bhubaneswar: To curb underutilisation and enforce strict financial discipline, the Odisha government has set tight boundaries for its upcoming upcoming winter Assembly session’s supplementary budget, ruling out extra funds for departments falling behind on their current spending goals.
In a official communication sent to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, and department secretaries, Finance Principal Secretary Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra directed the state departments to submit their supplementary fund requirements by October 31. However, those that have failed to spend at least 40 per cent of their main budget allocations will be barred from receiving additional grants. The directive further emphasised that all demands for supplementary grants must be strictly need-based, backed by concrete action plans and carry prior administrative approval alongside concurrence from the Finance Department.
The strict guidelines follow recent review meetings led by Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, highlighting persistent low spending across several social sector departments. Over ten departments, including key sectors like Works and Rural Development, failed to cross 60% budget utilisation even by mid-March during the previous financial year, according to official sources.
The fiscal restraint comes on the heels of the government’s massive Rs 3.10 lakh crore main budget presented in February. That package prioritised key structural investments, earmarking Rs 1.80 lakh crore (58.1%) for programme expenditure, Rs 1,25,583 crore for social sectors, Rs 1,02,455 crore for economic initiatives, and Rs 72,100 crore in capital outlay. With the winter Assembly session expected to convene between late November and early December, officials are working to ensure supplementary funds are allocated strictly where necessary.
The upcoming legislative push follows last year’s model, when the government introduced a Rs 17,440 crore supplementary budget to finance critical welfare initiatives and strengthen disaster management efforts.
