With josh and in full hosh, Manohar Parrikar says will serve Goa till last breath

PORVORIM: Sending a strong signal to opposition Congress and his detractors who had questioned whether he was in his senses, chief minister Manohar Parrikar told the assembly while presenting the state budget that not only had he “josh…that too very high”, but also was fully “in hosh” as he promised to serve Goa “till my last breath”.

Parrikar, who has been battling a pancreatic ailment since February 2018, said his circumstances prevented him from delivering a detailed budget speech as he outlined a Rs 19,548.7 crore budget for 2019-20, drawing up a Rs 455 crore surplus that would keep Goa on a path of 6.2% economic growth.

Speaking for barely seven minutes, Parrikar, who also holds the finance portfolio, sought a vote-on-account for Rs 8,145 crore to meet the government’s expenditure for the first five months of the coming financial year.

He also chose not to introduce new schemes or tax proposals and said his government would announce details of various new schemes and policies, “including the road-map for its implementation” in due course.

“The thrust of the government will continue to be on agriculture, health, education, IT, employment, infrastructure and overall sustainable economic development,” he said.

Though his brief speech was low on details, Parrikar’s words carried a lot of significance. Delivering his second budget under the cloud of his grave ailment, Parrikar struck an emotional note as he thanked Goans for the “love, affection, praise, honour, and countless blessings” that he had received.

“Once again, I promise that I will serve Goa with sincerity, integrity and dedication till my last breath,” Parrikar, who had presented his last budget just five hours after he was discharged from hospital, said.

Parrikar, who was escorted to his seat by a doctor and two marshals, also chose to send out a signal when he said: “Man is never alone, but the world extends support to only the one who sees dreams, and spends his lifetime to make them come true.”

Wednesday’s Budget was also the first time that a paperless budget has been presented in the state with all budget documents loaded on tablets and given to the ministers and MLAs.

“I am happy to announce that I am presenting for the first time ever a paperless budget with all the documents in soft copy format,” said Parrikar.

One important figure that raised several eyebrows is the sharp increase in the state’s fiscal deficit, which has shot up drastically to Rs 1,418.7 crore from Rs 763.7 crores. But in percentage terms, Goa’s fiscal deficit remains a comfortable 1.67%. This is well within the 3% stipulated by the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, said finance secretary Daulat Hawaldar, as he explained that the fiscal deficit had increased along with the increase in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

Per capita income of the state has continued its upward trajectory and the Directorate of Planning, Statistics & Evaluation pegged it at Rs 4.6 lakh in 2017-18.

Parrikar said the government stood to earn Rs 16,035 crores in 2019-20 as against Rs 13,664.95 crore estimated for 2018-19. Goa’s own tax revenue, including the state’s share of central taxes, is estimated to be Rs 9,039 crore in 2019-20 as against Rs 8,257 crore estimated a year earlier.

The finance minister also estimated Goa’s total public debt at Rs 15,008.7 crore.