SARYU ROY
Ranchi, March 3: The Rs. 1,01,101 crore annual budget of the state placed before the Assembly today is like any other Govt. document which reveals a lot but conceals the vital.
This budget is even less than the addition of the previous year’s Budget estimate and three supplementary budget figures. Nothing more.
2021-22 Budget estimate was 91,277.00 crore. Adding the first supplementary budget of Rs 4,684.93 Cr, the second supplementary budget of Rs 2,926.12 Cr and the third supplementary budget of Rs 2,698.14 Cr to it makes Rs 1,01,586.19 crore. Budget estimate of 2022-23 is Rs. 1,01,101.00.
Thus this current year (2022-23) budget is Rs. 485 crores less than the gross budget estimate of the previous year (2021-22).
The current year’s schemes are indicated but it lacks analysis of the physical and financial impacts of the schemes announced in last year’s budget.
Details of the utilisation of the amounts parked in civil deposit and PL account and analysis of its expenditure schedule have been concealed wisely. The budget is indicative of the weak spending capacity of the state administration which needs thorough restructuring.
Jharkhand finances and its budgetary allocations need a ruthless analysis which is possible only none partisan, none Govt. institutions, individuals & experts.
An unsustainable picture of budgetary provisions, sectoral allocations emerges after a cursory look upon the budget figures. The inherent strength of Jharkhand resources needs a liberal and inclusive approach along with a consistent pro-people developmental outlook towards the expansion of state finances in national interest seems to be a foremost precondition for importing booms in state’s economy keeping in view capital formation at grassroots levels. This budget, unfortunately, lacks these prerequisites. In its absence, a budget just becomes a compilation of lengthy statistical figures.
(The writer is an Independent legislator)
