PATNA: The budget session of the state legislature will begin on Friday with the address of governor Phagu Chauhan to the joint sitting of the House in the Central Hall.
Deputy CM-cum-finance minister Tarkishore Prasad will table the state’s Economic Survey Report for 2020-21 in the assembly on the opening day of the session after the governor’s address. The 2021-22 state budget will be presented on February 22.
The slightly over a month-long budget session will have 22 working days in the state assembly, after which it would be adjourned sine die on March 24, as per the schedule released by the office of Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha.
It being the first budget session of the state legislature after the recently concluded assembly elections in the state, the governor, in his address to the joint session, is likely to thank the Election Commission for successfully conducting the polls.
The governor might also refer to a few new policy prescriptions of the state government, including creation of job opportunities for the youths.
The governor is also likely to highlight the achievements of both the Centre and state government with regard to the tackling of the coronavirus pandemic, even as the state government has started an inquiry into the alleged data fudging.
While the Economic Survey Report for 2020-21 might not refer to the outputs on the issue of tackling the coronavirus pandemic, the quantum of the 2021-22 budget, along with the volume of expenditure made during the 2020-21 fiscal that was marred by the pandemic, will be eagerly awaited, as the pandemic had caused disruptions in economic activities during the first two quarters last year.
While former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi had presented Rs 2.11 lakh-crore budget for the 2020-21 fiscal, the observers would be keen to know the size of this year’s budget and other details pertaining to the new fiscal.
Meanwhile, the assembly Speaker convened an-all party meeting on Friday to convince the opposition members to ensure smooth running of the House.
Among those who participated in the meeting were deputy CM Prasad, ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Shrawan Kumar as well as leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, Congress member Ajit Sharma and representatives of other parties.
Tejashwi told media persons that the opposition pleaded for proper replies from the government to the questions and issues that would be raised by them. He referred to the issues like the coronavirus pandemic, under-utilisation of funds meant for schemes and projects and the government’s alleged indifference to the demand for inquiry into some “scams”.
The deputy CM said the government would address the questions and concerns that would be raised by the opposition members.
Security tightened: The Patna district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in and around the Vidhan Mandal premises for maintaining law and order during the budget session of the House from February 19 to March 24. DM Chandrashekhar Singh and SSP Upendra Kumar Sharma, in a joint order issued on Thursday, said police personnel and magistrates would be deployed in adequate numbers on the assembly premises.