Finance Minister Niranja Pujai on Wednesday told the State Assembly that the Annual Budget 2020-21 envisages participation of citizens in the process of empowerment and governance under the 5T and Mo Sarkar initiatives.
Replying to a two-day discussion on the General Discussion of the Budget, the Minister refuted all charges of the Opposition and claimed that the Budget is meant for inclusive growth across all sectors.
“Focus has been given on health service, famers and farmers’ welfare, poverty eradication, food security, overall development and empowerment of farmers, workers, SC and ST people, women, children, youth and senior citizens,” said the Minister.
While the Government has been preparing “Women Budget” for the last eight years and “Child Budget” last year, r new budgets titled “Climate Budget” and “Nutrition Budget” were prepared this year. By presenting e-Budget, the State has saved 1,000 trees, he said.
Pujari said the Annual Budget has also priortised the irrigation sector. “It has been targeted to irrivate 1,84 lakh hectares of land during 2020-21,” he said.
Pujari said a Rs 1,000-crore project has been initiated to convert the SCB Medical College Hospital to a AIIMS plus and world-class health facility. A whopping amount of 22,631 crore has been provisioned for the education sector. To ensure supply of pipe water, Rs 8,000 crore would be spent in the coming year, the Minister informed.
“About Rs 2,000 crore has already been distributed to 40 lakh beneficiaries under the “Mamata” scheme. To make Odisha an international level tourism place, the budget provision has been doubled from Rs 194 crore to Rs 401 crore. The Government has planned to create 30 jobs for youths by 2025. Besides, 2,25,000 jobs would be created n the downstream sector.
While 6,2083 doctors are presently on job, the OPSC has already made a selection list of 1,403 doctors for appointment. Besides, the Government has created 6,000 Staff Nurse and 600 Paramedic posts, he said.
On the Opposition members’ charge on loan burden, the Minister said Odisha is well below the permissible Debt-GSDP ratio of 25 per cent in incurring loans. The State’s loan is 16.5% to the ration while Interest Payment-Revenue Receipt Ratio is only 5.83 per cent against the 15 per cent norm.
“It has been estimated that the revenue expenditure will be Rs 1,24,300 crore. The Budget will be a surplus one,” he said.
Leader of Opposition (BJP) Pradipta Naik, Congress Legislature Party Leader Narasingha Mishra, BJP member Mohan Charan Majhi, Congress Member Tara Prasad Bahinipat, BJD member Pratap Deb and many other members participated in the discussion.