The first full-fledged State Budget of Dr Manik Saha-led Government, presented by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy received accolades for making proposals on Universal Health facilities and Artificial intelligence etc.
In the Budget session, treasury bench members including the Chief Minister highlighted the positive aspects of the Budget and termed it growth-oriented.
Opposing the Budget proposals, the MLAs of the TIPRA Motha, CPIM and Congress presented their views. One important issue, which plagued the State Budget for a long time – in the LF regime and BJP era – is its dependence on the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and lack of large-scale Industries in the State.
Opposition MLA Shyamal Chakraborty presented his arguments with data highlighting the financial challenges that the incumbent Government may face in implementing projects and schemes.
Referring to the Budget 2023-24 proposals, Chakraborty said, Share of Central taxes and Centrally Sponsored schemes are the two largest contributors to the State’s total revenue collection. State’s share of Central Taxes and duties is estimated to contribute the highest – Rs 7232 crore (26.74 percent ) in FY 2023-24 while the CSS is estimated to be the second highest with Rs 6249.74 (23.11 percent).
Together these two parameters account for around 50 percent of the total receipts which is higher in FY 2023-24 than that of FY 2022-23.
Out of these two key factors, CSS funding data shows the State government received 30 per cent less amount under the CSS Head in the last five FY except for 2022-23.
Information that MLA Shyamal Chakraborty presented during his Budget discussion showed, the first State Budget of the BJP estimated Rs 3995 Crore in FY 2018-19 while the actual CSS funding was Rs 2215 crore. The trend continued in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 FYs.
The FY 2022-23 Budget was exceptional as Rs 5380 was estimated under the CSS and received Rs 5934 crore.
According to Chakraborty, there was total 30 percent gap in the estimates and actual funding under the CSS during the last 5 FYs. He argued the State government’s development plans for the FY 2023-24 will be affected in case of a similar drop in the CSS like the previous years.
In this connection, Chakraborty also pointed out that even as the Budget 2023-24 is pegged expenditure at Rs 27654 crore, the amount available for implementing the Budget proposals would be tough if Government’s committed expenditure is taken into consideration.
The Committed Expenditure is estimated to be Rs 13568 crore – Rs 7852.23 crore for salary & wages, Rs 3295.81 crore for pension, Rs 918.25 crore for Re-payment of loans and Rs 1501.73 crore.
Taking into account the Committed Expenditure, the residual amount will be left for the implementation of Budget proposals and managing the non-plan expenditure. Which may be inadequate to achieve the goals set in the Budget.
The Opposition MLAs suggested the government explore innovative and sustainable steps to cover up the expenditure rather than imposing tax, cess and resorting to borrowings.
