STRAP: Budget hailed as pragmatic and pro-people
HT Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, April 5: The Budget session of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) concluded on Tuesday with the passing of Rs 3271.31 crore budget against the estimated receipt of Rs 3157.6633 crore with a deficit amount of Rs 113.65 crore for the financial year 2022-23 for the Bodoland Territorial Council districts.
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The BTC Budget session was chaired by Katiram Boro, Speaker of Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly (BTCLA) and was held at BTCLA House, Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar.
The budget of BTC for the year 2022-23 presented by CEM Pramod Boro who is also holding the finance portfolio was hailed by leaders of the ruling party and the Opposition as well. There was no debate on the budget other than implementation of schemes, planning and liabilities.
Notably, on Monday, Boro presented a normal budget estimate of Rs 3271.31 crore against the estimated receipt of Rs 3157.6633 crore with deficit amount of Rs 113.65 crore for the financial year 2022-23 for consideration of the house.
In his budget speech, he informed that the budget allocation for the year 2021-22 includes consolidated State Owned Priority Development (SOPD), Assistance to BTC for Infrastructure development.
In his speech after the approval of the budget, the deputy chief of BTC Gabinda Chandra Basumatary said the BTC budget for 2022-23 was pragmatic and pro-people as many new proposals have been included for the overall benefit of the people. He said important departments were given maximum priorities for sustainable development. Since it is the council budget, it is a minimum budget but an optimum to meet the target, he said adding that education, PWD, health and agriculture were given maximum importance for the larger interest of people.
MCLA of UPPL Sanjay Swargiary said the budget is significant for new changes in the region. He said the budget had a target to cover at least 1000 km of road in the BTC region which is going to be a record. He also said there had been no connecting roads in Udalguri and UT road by previous government had not connected important towns of Udalguri district.
Meanwhile, Opposition BPF party members have expressed their dissatisfaction over the Budget tabled for the BTC.
Opposition BPF party members have put queries on various developmental aspects in the BTC districts and that led to a healthy discussion over the Budget presentation.
BTR CEM Pramod Boro said that the budget was prepared keeping in mind the development of the region.
BPF MCLA and leader of Opposition Derhasat Basumatary in his speech said the budget was overall good for the people but the council should concentrate on the execution of schemes and proposals. He said many proposals and assurances have been given in the budget and that they are also ready to co-operate for the success of schemes for implementation. He, however, said the government should maintain transparency keeping the Opposition in faith about the planning and execution.
Pramod Boro thanked all the executive members, MCLAs of both ruling and Opposition and officers for extending their support for the approval of the budget. He said they failed to make a satisfactory budget due to a drop in the economy because of the Covid pandemic but this year they tried to reform it with a more inclusive strategy. He said they faced many hurdles to bring more development in the region because of Rs 2300 crore liabilities made by previous government but despite this fact they are working with renewed strategy and assured that within 2-3 months the martyr families of Bodoland movement will be given an ex -gratia of Rs 5 lakh each.
Boro said there had been liabilities of Rs 389 crore in the discretionary fund, over Rs 900 in PWD and big liabilities in WPT&BC, GAD, education, agriculture, water resources, etc. He also said that the present government has been trying to provincialise the venture schools of BTC through clause 6.1 of BTR accord as venture schools have vast contributions for giving education in backward regions.
