Will present a realistic Budget: Minister Ajanta Neog

 Thrust on maximum utilization of funds by departments

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog said that the Finance Department would present a realistic Budget for 2022-23 to fulfil the aspirations of all strata of society. She further said the thrust in the Budget would be the maximum utilization of budget allocations by the departments.

Talking to media while launching an e-mail (suggestionsbudgetassam@ gmail.com) seeking suggestions from the public on the next Budget, Neog said, "We will prepare the Budget with an emphasis on infrastructure. It's the infrastructure that ensures the overall development of a state. Infrastructure development will end the people of Assam going to other states for education, health services etc.

"This is a common question that the departments never utilize budgetary funds fully. We want 100 per cent utilization of funds this time. We have asked the departments to submit budget estimates which they can spend. We want to avoid the system of supplementary demands unless there is an urgent necessity. Supplementary demands are not a good tradition. "The public can send their suggestions on or before March 5. Last year too, we got suggestions from various stakeholders. We did announce some schemes based on people's suggestions.

"We have asked the departments to simplify their working procedure to ensure speedy utilization of funds. The new financial architecture we have adopted has made the Finance Department clear files within 24 hours."

On the revenue growth, she said, "The total revenue growth is increasing. We could even achieve our revenue targets during the Covid-19 period. Our thrust is on areas like forest royalty that fetch more revenue. We have abolished the TP (transit pass) system in the Forest Department. Now the contractors deposit forest royalty directly in the treasury.

"We want to allocate more funds for capital expenditure as that creates assets for the state. Another thrust area is the immediate release of the matching state shares for centrally-sponsored schemes. As often as not, the Central shares of such projects remain stalled due to the non-release of the matching state shares on time."

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