Four-day session of Madhya Pradesh state assembly to pass interim budget for three months

BHOPAL: The budget session of Madhya Pradesh assembly is likely to be held from February 18 to 21. The newly elected Congress government plans to concentrate on agriculture and employment, besides its liabilities in the interim budget which will be passed for the financial year 2019-20 after the Lok Sabha elections in the full budget session likely to be held in the month of July this year.

Sources in the Vidhan Sabha secretariat disclosed that the government on Wednesday has forwarded the proposal to Raj Bhawan for official approval and notification of the budget session from February 18 so as to present the account details for the coming quarter in the assembly. The session is being called in view of the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections which is likely to be imposed in the February end.

In 2014, the then BJP government had also passed an interim budget ahead of Lok Sabha polls in the first week of March.

"The interim budget will include a report card on the income and expenses made last year and the proposed expenses likely to be made in the next few months (April 1 to June 30) until the new government takes over at the centre. There is no proposal on the income part of the budget through collection of taxes", said sources.

"We have been focusing on providing maximum benefits to the public through our welfare schemes and increase the revenue. We need some time and would take off after the upcoming elections with our Vachan Patra", said state finance minister Tarun Bhanot.

The state finance department has also sought proposals from 37 departments on their ambitious programmes. Discussions on budget proposals have also been held to be completed by the end of January.

During the first session of the assembly held from January 7 to 10, the state government in the supplementary demands had cleared proposals to the tune of Rs 22,200 crore focusing on agriculture, farmer welfare, power and law and order sectors. Special emphasis was also given to the urban development and employment generation.

"In the interim budget, the government is likely to seek funds for salary and wages of its employees, remuneration of wages to labourers, clearing commercial remittances and deduct expenses on schemes to be dropped in the coming financial year", said sources in the finance department.

Reacting on BJP's jibe over non-fulfilment of schemes like farm loan waiver, chief minister Kamal Nath said on Tuesday, "BJP must not worry about the budget. Those who are raising doubts over the expenses, they do not know about the budget management. They should desist from telling me about the GDP. I have seen many GDPs in my political life. I know better management of budget."