Bhubaneswar, Feb 8: Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha on Thursday presented annual budget (Vote-on-Account) for 2024‐25 in the Odisha Legislative Assembly with an outlay of Rs 2,55,000 crore, which is about 11% more than the annual Budget- 2023-24.
The vote-on-account grant is Rs 1.18 lakh crore.
As per advance estimates for 2023-24, it is projected that the state economy will grow at 8.5 percent compared to 7.3 percent of the country.
Odisha continues to be a bright spot in the whole country. This is the outcome of the consistency in efforts and prodevelopment and pro-people policy of the state government, said Arukha.
The total administrative expenditure is estimated at Rs.1,03,500 crore in 2024-25 including provision for salaries, pension, interest payment and maintenance of capital assets.
Total Programme expenditure outlay for the financial year 2024-25 will be Rs.1,40,000 crore.
The outlay for Disaster Response Fund will be Rs.3,900 crore. Transfers from State to the Local Bodies & Development Authorities will have an outlay of Rs.7,600 crore. Thus, the Budget Estimates for 2024-25 envisage an expenditure of Rs.2,55,000 crore.
Agriculture and allied sector got an enhanced allocation of Rs.28,944 crore for which is 16.6 percent higher than the outlay of the previous year.
The total outlay of Rs 14,467 crore has been made for irrigation sector. Rs. 1225 crore has been provisioned for the 2nd phase of Parvati Giri Mega Lift Irrigation scheme to provide irrigation to additional 2.63 lakh hectares.
The Finance Minister said Rs.19,959 crore has been allocated for public health care with an increase of about 24% over previous year.
It is about 8 percent of the state Budget. While Rs 1314 crore is provided for Ama Hospital, Rs.698 crore is provided for continuance of family welfare schemes and Rs.5450 crore is provided for Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana.
Rs 2,761 crore has been allocated under the overarching Mission Shakti programme, while 1179 crore of financial assistance has been facilitated to women SHGs and their federations.
The Finance Minister said the Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project is a milestone in the annals of history of Odisha and the world.
“We have also dedicated SAMALEI Project within a record time. Establishment of new Campus of Odia University at Satyabadi and organization of the 1st World Odia Bhasha Sammilani are important steps in growth of Odia Language, Literature and Culture,” he said.
