Rs 2349.79 crore deficit budget with no tax proposals presented in Assam assembly

By presenting the first full fledged budget of the BJP led collision government in Assam, the state Finance minister, who restructuring the budget by merging the plan and non-plan heads said that the projected deficit to Rs 367.19 crore considering the  budgetary estimates of the next financial year.

"With the opening deficit of Rs 1982.60 crore, total budget deficit will rise to Rs 2349.79 crore," Sarma said.

The state budget of the next fiscal has been estimated a total receipt of Rs 84732.16 crore as consolidated fund, of which Rs 70719.61 crore on Revenue account and Rs 14012.55 crore on Capital account.

Against the budgetary estimates of receipt under consolidated fund, the total expenditure of the state is estimated at Rs  85922.69 crore, of which Rs 68319.45 crore on Revenue account and Rs 17603.24 crore on Capital account.

The minister further said that, after adding the consolidated fund, the aggregate receipts amount is estimated at Rs 2,47,412.67 crore, of which Rs 1,62,580.51 crore under Public account and Rs 100 crore under Contingency fund.

"The aggregate expenditure for the next fiscal is estimated at Rs 2,47,779.86 crore against the budgetary estimates of aggregate receipts," Sarma said.

On restructuring the state budget by merging the plan and non-plan heads, the Assam Finance minister said that the estimates have been made through Revenue and Capital heads.

"This budget is based on the theme of 'Resurgent Assam' and we are focusing to develop every corner of state by announcing several development New schemes," Sarma said.

"Our focus on ReSTART or Restructuring Systems and Technology for Augmentation of Resources for Transformed Assam giving results. Our government is committed to serve 3.25 cr people of Assam, mitigate their plight and take them to newer heights of development. Values of Gandhi,Tagore,Vivekananda guiding force to our 4 points agnda to make Assam Videshi Mukt (illegal foreigners free), Durneeti Mukt (Corruption free), Santrashvad Mukt (Terror free) and Pradushan Mukt (Pollution free). Four key pillars to our new model of governance are Personal Integrity, Political Inclusivity, Governance Legitimacy and People Participation," Sarma said.

Adding with the innovative schemes, the Assam minister said that, in an effort to encourage girl students, we propose to provide two wheelers to top 1000 girl students who will pass Higher Secondary Examination in 2017.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)