Lots of new challenges this Budget is expected to address: Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar, Feb 1: This is the first budget in Post COVID Scenario and there are lots of new challenges which this Budget is expected to address, said Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reacting on Union Budget 2021-22 that was presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday. The Chief Minister outlined some positive points of the Union Budget, which included: wp:list Focus on capital investment to push growth /wp:list wp:list Reintroduction of developmental financial institution /wp:list wp:list Allocation for COVID vaccine /wp:list wp:list Industry and sector specific interventions offer hope if matched with allocation /wp:list wp:list Bold decision to expand fiscal deficit to provide growth impetus. /wp:list A medium and long term vision for ‘Self reliant India’. However, Odisha would be hit by drastic reduction of share in central taxes by about Rs 10840 crore for the current year and as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission the horizontal share will decrease from 4.629 percent to 4.528 percent for coming 5 years. This will seriously impact the state, Naveen asserted. Further, capital investments very much required in Odisha both in railways and highways sectors as it has been planned for other states, he said. There is a need to increase allocation in social assistance programmes and quantum of transfers for local bodies, he added. Centralization of revenue by introduction of cess on petrol and diesel will weaken the centre state fiscal balance. Banks have to be made accountable to extend credit to women, farmers and MSMEs. “I am happy to note that the union budget has turned Green with digital budget like what Odisha has been following from last year,” said Patnaik. I am also delighted to see Mission Shakti appear in union budget focusing on women empowerment. After Odisha’s Mamata scheme was adopted by Union Government from 2011-2012, replication of our states flagship women empowerment initiative Mission Shakti clearly shows that Odisha sets bench mark for the nation. I am hopeful that after Mamata and Mission Sakti the next logical step towards women empowerment would be reservation for women in Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies. We will continue to fight for this, he concluded., On the other hand, Union Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister of Steel from Odisha Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the Union Budget and termed it historic highlighting the projects approved for Odisha. "It is a historic Budget and Odisha will get the lion's share from the Budget," Pradhan said. The budget has taken appropriate measures to revive consumption and investment, boost manufacturing, strengthen infrastructure, encourage MSMEs and give a thrust to growth, employment and new opportunities, said Pradhan in a statement. Odisha Pradesh Congress President Niranjan Patnaik criticised the Budget saying  there is no provision for the growth of poor and middle-class people.