Supplementary Budget Tabled, Odisha Assembly Adjourned Till Tomorrow

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Assembly was adjourned till Thursday after presenting the Supplementary Budget for 2018-19 amid uproar by the Opposition.

Presenting it in the House, Finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera said the total allocation in the Budget is Rs 12,790 crore with special emphasis on education, agriculture, rural development, industry, social security and women and child development.

Giving a detailed break-up of the budget allocations, the minister said while Rs 1350 crore has been earmarked for the social sector, Rs 242 crore for Sarba Sikshya Abhiyan, Rs 100 crore for Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya, Rs 750 crore towards the salary of the Sikshya Sahayaks, Rs 41 crore for the simultaneous conduct of Lok Sabha and the State Assembly elections, Rs 1364 crore for the Odisha Disaster Mitigation Programme (OMEP), Rs 301 crore for health, Rs 25 crore for Madhu Babu Pension Yojana, Rs 81 crore for inclusion of more beneficiaries under rice-at-Rs 1-a-kg scheme, Rs 20 crore under Abhada Yojana for the development of the four sides of Jagannath Temple in Puri, Rs 100 crore for the Special Development Fund, Rs 30 crore for Green Mahanadi Mission, Rs 27 crore for aid to the non-government colleges, Rs 12 crore for Make-in-Odisha Conclave, Rs 75 crore for Biju Grama Yojana, Rs 5276 crore for rural development, Rs 1500 crore for Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Rs 239 crore for irrigation infrastructure development.

Following the din, the Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat later adjourned the House till 10.30 am on Thursday.

Earlier on the day, the Assembly witnessed uproarious scene during the Question Hour after the Congress members, protesting against the steep hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, rushed to the well of the House and shouted slogans against the Centre. They also blamed the state government for not bringing down the value-added tax (VAT) on fuel.

Opposition chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati tried to climb onto the Speaker’s podium and snatch the microphone. Amid the commotion, the Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 am.

As soon as the session resumed at 11.30 am, pandemonium prevailed in the House when the BJP members came down heavily on the state government for its step-motherly attitude towards the teachers who have been agitating since last three weeks over fulfillment of their demands. Unable to run the proceedings, the Speaker adjourned the House till 12.30 pm.