The State Government vowed to change Budget planning and begin the exercise around four months earlier from the Budget Session of Jharkhand Assembly. At a pre-budget meeting for the financial year 2015-16, Chief Minister Raghubar Das stated the change in Budget planning and preparing Budget in advance besides giving adequate representation to various groups directly, indirectly associated with Budget. The CM emphasised giving proper representation to various groups and increase participation of people in the State Government’s efforts in its primary goal of “good governance and development”.
“Budget has always been prepared in a hurry ever since the State was created. I would not blame officials as they were compelled to make it. But I would assure you that Budget for the financial year 2016-17 will start from September. We had decided after consulting Chief Secretary and Secretary Finance,” said the CM. The lengthy process from the point of planning to expenditure is up for overhaul and moving expeditiously on pre-implementation stages to do away with the culture of under utilisation of Budget are likely to be on the agenda of the State Government for the financial year 2016-17.
The CM underlined the reasons for unspent funds sanctioned in budget and also emphasised on the need for making the Budget more people oriented. “I would assure you that in the 2016-17 everything will be planned in advance. Budget will be sanctioned, tenders will be issued and work will be visible on ground. It is my view that Budget should be made by keeping in view the last person of the society, it should be made in rural areas. It will be implemented in the Budget for 2016-17,” asserted the CM.
The pre-Budget conference was attended by various groups to submit suggestions for the financial year 2015-16. Notwithstanding the impending Budget, the CM asserted transparency in future Budgets giving it more pro-people touch besides, ensuring transparency in the Government’s functioning. Rural empowerment through the scheme ‘apna goan, apan kaam’ (our village, our work) will be introduced by the Government.
The scheme is likely to be modeled on distribution of resources in the ratio of 80:20 — where 80 per cent resources will be devoted by the Government and rest 20 per cent will be contributed by village by devoting labour force for projects. Effective monitoring and holistic approach to the Budget and its implementation are also on cards and a State Development Council will be constituted after the Budget session.