Odisha’s annual budget for 2017-18 with a total outlay of ₹1,06,911 crore was presented by Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat in the State Assembly on Monday.
“This budget is dedicated for the all round development of our State and welfare of our people,” Mr. Amat said in his budget speech in which he announced several new welfare schemes.
Mr. Amat said despite downside pressure because of demonetisation, the State’s economy was expected to grow at the rate of 7.94% in real terms and 10.85% in nominal terms during the current fiscal year, especially due to higher growth in agriculture sector.
“Going by the trend in the external and domestic economic environment the State economy can be expected to grow in the range of 8% to 8.5% during 2017-18,” he said.
Like previous years, Mr. Amat presented the budget in two parts – the first part was the agriculture budget and the second part the general budget.
Largest outlay
While proposing an outlay of ₹14,930 crore for agriculture in the budget, Mr. Amat also proposed the largest outlay of Rs. 18,404 crore for education and skill development.
The new schemes include ABADHA (Augmentation of Basic Amenities & Development of Heritage & Architecture) for the holistic development of Puri to transform it to a world class heritage city.
Mr. Amat also announced the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Seva Mission, which will be launched during 2017-18 with an outlay of ₹345 crore to be utilised for the development of infrastructure and peripheral healthcare institutions and financial assistance up to ₹3 lakh to needy and poor patients to cover the cost of treatment of critical illness.
As a tribute to legendary leader Buxi Jagabandhu in the bi-centenary year of Paika Bidroha, Mr. Amat announced the launch of BASUDHA (Buxi Jagabandhu Assured Water Supply to Habitations) for adequate and safe drinking water supply.
The scheme will have two components with an outlay of ₹315 crore and ₹750 crore for urban water supply and rural water supply respectively.
Uniform for students
Other new schemes include Malatidevi Prak Vidyalaya Paridhan Yojana to provide uniform for children undergoing pre-school education, and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Sashaktikarana Yojana to provide financial assistance to women’s self help groups and their federations under Mission Shakti.
The State government held pre-budget consultations with a cross section of experts.
