Bhubaneswar: The Naveen Patnaik government's budget, which was presented in the Assembly on Friday, focuses on rural development and farmer welfare to win over the rural electorate before the general elections due next year.
The Rs 1,20,028-crore budget has also tried to milk the people's sentiment over the Mahanadi. Presenting the budget, finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera proposes to initiate a new scheme - Green Mahanadi Mission. The scheme seeks to ensure participation of people to enhance water availability and protection of the river, which is considered the lifeline of 15-30 districts in the state.
The announcement of the scheme is significant, as the BJD government had in the past made the Mahanadi water dispute a major plank against the BJP.
Behera's revenue surplus budget has no new tax proposal and it registers an increase of 12.3 per cent over last year. The government also proposes to raise a loan of Rs 18,677 crore from various sources to fund its projects.
Considering that the state will go to the polls next year and it will be the last budget of this government, Behera has laid much emphasis on rural development through its flagship programme "Ama Gaon Ama Bikash," (our village, our development).
The poll orientation of the budget is evident in its focus on welfare of farmers and better irrigation facilities. For the rural poor, it promises to build 4.5 lakh pucca houses under the Biju Pucca Ghara Yojana.
Agriculture and allied sectors have received Rs 16,765 crore under various schemes. Of this, nearly Rs 10,000 crore will be spent on irrigation that includes the Gangadhar Meher lift irrigation programme that will benefit farmers in west Odisha.
The Biju Yuva Vahini has also received an allocation of Rs 90 crore. The scheme proposes to encourage sports talents, nurture leadership and volunteerism and promote sportsmanship.
Terming the budget as "pro-people", chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: "It's a pro-people, pro-poor and balanced budget with strong focus on development. It will foster equitable and inclusive growth. I hope this budget will fulfil the aspirations of the people of Odisha."
Though the focus has been on agriculture, Leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra said: "This is an anti-farmer and anti-labour budget. No provision has been made for the qualitative development of education."
BJP legislature party leader, K.V. Singh Deo said that the "budget is nothing but a jugglery of figures".
"Nothing for the people of Odisha. It betrays the trust and hopes of the people," he said.