Bhubaneswar: Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari on Friday presented the 2023-24 State Budget of Rs 2,30,000 crore in the Odisha Assembly, the full-fledged budget in Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s fifth term. It is an increase of about 15 per cent compared to Rs 2 lakh crore placed for 2022-23.
The allocation for the health budget has crossed Rs 16,000 crore, an increase of 27% compared to 2022-23. The highest increase of 34% was seen in Sports and development of other infrastructure facilities like roads, bridges, airports and railways with Rs 19,452 crore and Rs 1,217 crore being allocated to these sectors respectively.
Pujari announced Rs 30,030 crore for education and skills and Rs 6,224 crore for Mission Shakti.
ALLOCATION FOR IMPORTANT SECTORS
The Finance Minister also announced Rs 854 crore for setting up 16 new instream storage projects and Rs 500 crore for Parbati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation Project. Similarly, Rs 4198 crore has been allocated for setting up of 1 lakh additional deep bore wells by 2025-26, Rs 400 crore for 1500 lift irrigation projects under Biju Krushak Vikas Yojana and Rs 191 crore for renovation of defunct lift irrigation projects.
“This budget focuses on achieving rapid and inclusive growth through development of human resources, investment in physical and social infrastructure, health care for all, provision of social safety nets for the disadvantaged and vulnerable sections and empowerment of youth,” Pujari said.
“In the 2nd phase of Biju Expressway-II, 4-lane connectivity will be provided from Berhampur to Jeypore for about 335 km with a cost of about Rs.6,100 crore, mostly in greenfield. Land acquisition for the project has been initiated,” he added.
Among the new initiatives, Rs 2,000 crore has been allotted to a revolving fund for paddy procurement, Rs 139 crore for Chief Minister’s awards for education, Rs 120 crore for Mukyamantri Janajati Jeebika Mission, Rs 50 crore for Mukyamantri Kendu Leaf Welfare Fund.
NEW INITIATIVES
Pujari has proposed an Rs 1879 crore outlay for KALIA, Rs 2380 crore for BSKY, Rs 1035 crore for Re 1/kg rice, Rs 4750 crore for Basudha, Rs 5934 crore for PMAY-G, Rs 805 crore for Mo School Abhiyan and Rs 497 crore for Millet Mission, among others.
ALLOCATION TO FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
The budget outlay includes the state’s own tax of Rs 53,000 crore and non-tax of Rs 52,500 crore and Rs 46,251 crore state’s share in central taxes like income tax, besides Rs 32,749-crore central grants.
RUPEE COMES FROM/RUPEE GOES OUT
