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Ahead of the General Elections 2024, Odisha Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha on Thursday presented the Annual Budget (Vote-on-Account) for 2024‐25 in the Odisha Assembly with an outlay of Rs 2,55,000 crore, which is about 11% more than the Annual Budget, 2023-24.
“To defray the expenditure on existing establishments and continuing schemes and projects from April to July 2024, 100% of BE for calamity and election-related expenses, about 50% of BE for Capital Expenditure and 40% of BE for Revenue Expenditure is taken in the Vote on Account, which is estimated at Rs 1,18,000 crore,” said Arukha.
The highest resource allocation has been proposed for the School & Mass Education department with a 9.71% share in total budget size for the financial year 2024-25. Apart from the School and Mass Education department, other departments which have got maximum allocations are the Panchayati Raj Department (8.84%), Health and Family Welfare (7.74%), Water Resources (5.20%) and Planning and Convergence (4.72%).
While presenting the interim budget, Arukha said that as per 2023-24 advance estimates, Odisha’s economy is likely to register a growth of 8.5 % against the national average of 7.3 %.
According to the state finance minister, the overall food production in Odisha has doubled in the last 22 years. The state government implemented the KALIA scheme to speed up agricultural development and alleviate poverty. So far, 43.88 lakh small and 18.93 lakh landless farmers’ families have been benefited under the scheme.
Similarly, the state government undertook the Millets Mission which has brought considerable improvement in the lives of around 5 lakh farmers. In his speech, Arukha said that there has been considerable improvement in the health sector and health for all is top priority for the state government. A target has been set for the development of 1,858 health centres in the next 5 years with an outlay of Rs 3,389 crore.
Key Highlights
Rs 2000 crore revolving fund proposed for paddy procurement price disbursements on time
1858 healthcare centres to be transformed in next 5 years with an proposed outlay of Rs 3389 crore
An outlay of Rs.1000 crore is provided in the budget for 2024-25 for Metro Rail Project. Besides, Rs.700 crore has been proposed for development of Railway projects in the State during 2024-25.
The allocation for the Industries and MSME sector has been increased to Rs.1,555 crore during 2024-25.
Sectoral Highlights
Agriculture & Allied Sector Activities
Outlay of Rs.28,944 crore under the Agriculture Budget, 2024-25, which is 17% more than last year’s allocation.
Provision of Rs.2,000 crore as revolving fund to be utilised for paddy procurement operations by OSCSC.
Rs. 685 crore for Food Storage & Warehousing-Procurement Operation Support System and Rs. 24 crore for Fair Price Shop Automation.
Rs. 1,935 crore of direct benefit transfers under KALIA Scheme.
Rs.181 crore as grants to OUAT for agricultural research, education, and infrastructure
Rs.250 crore towards Corpus Fund for provision of Interest free loan for fertiliser and seed.
Irrigation & Water Use Efficiency
Total outlay of Rs 14,467 crore for irrigation sector.
Rs.860 crore for construction of In-stream Storage Structures to fulfil the long felt needs of the irrigation.
Rs. 1225 crore for the 2nd phase of Parvati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation scheme to provide irrigation to additional 2.63 lakh hectares.
Rs.194 crore to revive defunct Community Lift Irrigation Projects during 2024- 25
Health Sector
Total allocation Rs.19,959 crore for public health care with an increase of about 24% over previous year. It is about 8 percent of the State Budget.
Rs.1314 crore is provided for Ama Hospital, Rs.698 crore is provided for Continuance of Family Welfare Schemes (Infrastructure maintenance).
Rs.5450 crore is provided for Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.
Rs.2992 crore under the State Scheme Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Seva Mission which includes Rs.560 crore for Support to Medical Educational Institution
Rs.50 crore is provided for Establishment of Odisha University of Health Sciences, Bhubaneswar
Education Sector
Allocation of Rs.33,865 crore for the Education Sector.
Rs.24,764 crore for the School and Mass Education Department.
Rs.521 crore under Mo School Abhiyan, Rs.880 crore for Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya and Rs.10 crore for High School Transformation Programme under 5T.
Rs.1175 crore for PM POSHAN including State Support Rs.178 crore and Rs.4717 crore for Samagra Sikshya, including State Support of Rs.476 crore.
Rs.3,470 crore for Higher Education Department.
Urban Development
Allocation of Rs.10,718 crore to transform Urban Odisha.
Rs.418 crore for Urban Water Supply-BASUDHA, Rs.100 crore for Jaga Mission and Rs.918 crore for New City Development Rs.430 crore for Urban Sanitation Scheme, Rs.214 crore for Urban Sewarage Scheme, Rs.200 crore for Storm Water Drainage & Dev. of Water Bodies, Rs.1200 crore for Urban Road Transport, Rs.50 crore for Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund.
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- JAGDISH DAS , SOUMYA RANJAN SAHOO
