Odisha govt to prepare annual Budget by taking opinion of people

Finance department has developed a separate web page budget.odisha.gov.in to host the budget documents, and suggestions are invited for preparation of annual Odisha Budget 2016-17

BHUBANESWAR: For the first time, Odisha government would prepare annual state Budget this year in consultation with the general people, said Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat on Friday.

He said the government would prepare the annual budget by taking the opinion of the common people.

“We have decided that the Finance department would take the opinion of general people before preparing state Budget for 2016-17. The opinions of people would be taken through website and mobile,” Amat told reporters here.

Amat also said that revenue increase would be main agenda of the government in 2016 to carry out various development projects in the state.

The government would focus on expenditure to be more result oriented, infrastructure development and address social issues, he added.

Normally budget is made in a closed room by asking the entire government department about their expenses of each year while the government consults some financial experts for preparation of annual Budget.

Finance department have developed a separate web page budget.odisha.gov.in to host the budget documents, and suggestions are invited in a structured format (displayed in the web page) for preparation of annual Budget 2016-17.

Suggestions can be sent by e-mail to the address odisha.budget@gov.in. Similarly, suggestions for Budget are also invited through SMS to the Mobile number (+91)9438161111.

This facility will be available for a fortnight beginning from 1st January 2016.

Members of the public, civil society organisation, advocacy groups are requested to make use of this unique opportunity to participate in the budget making the process of the state government.