Odisha interim budget 2024-25: Rs 1.18 lakh crore vote on account presented in Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha today presented the annual Budget (Vote-on-Account) for the fiscal year 2024‐25 in the Odisha Assembly, setting a total outlay of Rs 2.55 lakh crore, marking an increase of approximately 11% compared to the previous year’s budget.

The vote-on-account grant stands at Rs 1.18 lakh crore.

“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%).

Highlighting the state’s economic trajectory, Arukha revealed that as per advance estimates for the fiscal year 2023-24, Odisha is anticipated to witness a growth rate of 8.5%, outpacing the national average of 7.3%.

In a bid to bolster the agriculture and allied sector, the budget allocates Rs. 28,944 crore, marking a substantial increase of 16.6% over the previous year’s allocation. A provision of Rs 1,935 crore has been designated for direct benefit transfers under the KALIA scheme.

Emphasizing the importance of irrigation, Arukha allocated a total of Rs 14,467 crore, with Rs 1,225 crore earmarked for the second phase of the Parvati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation scheme, aimed at providing irrigation to an additional 2.63 lakh hectares.

The healthcare sector received a significant boost with an allocation of Rs 19,959 crore, signifying a 24% surge from the previous year. Notable allocations include Rs 1,314 crore for Ama Hospital, Rs 698 crore for family welfare schemes, and Rs 5,450 crore for the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.

Under the Mission Shakti programme, Rs 2,761 crore has been allocated, alongside Rs 1,179 crore in financial assistance to women’s self-help groups and their federations.

Addressing urban development, Rs 10,718 crore has been allocated for the transformation of Urban Odisha, with specific provisions for urban water supply, the Jaga Mission, and new city development. Additionally, Rs 1,000 crore has been proposed for the development of Metro Rail in Odisha.