Arunachal Pradesh Assembly passes Budget for 2023-24

 OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh assembly on Friday passed the Budget for 2023-24 by voice votes, which was presented by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on March 7 last. Responding to the observations made by the members during budget discussions, Mein informed that the Budget 2023-24 was prepared after in-depth studies and with due consultation with the people and community based organizations, in a transparent manner encompassing all strata of the society.

“This is an inclusive budget with minimum government and maximum governance. The budget is based on the philosophy of trust with the motto of atma nirvarta by fulfilling the dreams of the youth,” Mein said adding, emphasis is laid to make youth self-reliant so that they would be job providers instead of job seekers. He added that the state government is preparing a road map for a developed state by 2047 in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“With double-engine government both at the Centre and the state, significant development is heralding Arunachal. We should celebrate the process of development,” he said.

Informing that the share of central tax to Arunachal Pradesh for 2023-24 has been expected at 17,947 crores, Mein, who also holds the portfolios of Finance, Planning and Investment, said that revenue collection through VAT and GST in the state has improved significantly. Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Pema Khandu informed that the budget was designed by keeping in view the seven priorities of the union Budget 2023-24.

Stating that the vastness of the state with scattered population is a major challenge for the government, he said that efforts are on to improve connectivity in road, railway, air and digital.

“Education and health are priority sectors of the government. The state has witnessed a revolution in the road sector with addition of ten thousand kilometers of road in the last seven years,” he said and added that many road projects have been approved by the Centre which would be completed in the next five years.

Stating that the government attached priority on resource generations, Khandu disclosed that state-own resources crossed 3,000 crores mark this year and targeted to go for Rs 3,500 crores in the next fiscal.

The chief minister also called for giving priority in development of villages saying that the state cannot develop with development in rural areas.

Leader of Opposition Lombo Tayeng while taking part in the discussion termed the budget as ‘pro-people’ and ‘pro-poor’. “The budget is prepared in such a way that there is no scope to criticize or oppose the budget despite being the opposition leader,” Tayeng, the Congress MLA from Mebo constituency said. He, however, suggested the government allocate funds on projects of common interest instead of individualistic schemes.

Tayeng also requested the government for equitable distribution of funds to all districts for equal development.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress member Nabam Tuki taking part in the discussion suggested identifying vital roads which are in bad shape and to go for maintenance.

He also urged the government to look into the critical gaps in various sectors and to enhance the MLAs local area development fund from existing three crores to five crores so that each constituency could witness massive development. Another Congress member Ninong Ering while supporting the budget, said that the unemployment problem was not taken care of in the budget. BJP member Phurpa Tsering taking part in the discussion, called for more budgetary allocation in Mukhya Mantri Swavalamban Yojana, to help the unemployed educated youth of the state.

Tsering also urged the government to look into the welfare of the Auxilary Labour Corps (ALC) and other labourers of the state by giving them adequate facilities keeping in view their contributions to the state. The house passed the budget by voice votes before Speaker Pasang Dorjee Sona adjourned it sine die.

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