HEALTH & WEALTH IS THE ‘SURPLUS’ MASALA IN SAWANT’S POLL YEAR BUDGET

PANJIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday presented a revenue surplus budget of Rs 26,855 crore with a focus on infrastructure development. 

Presenting the budget, Sawant said estimate of income for financial year 2024-2025  is Rs 26,465 while estimated revised expenditure estimate for financial year 2024-2025  is Rs 26,855 crore.  He said the state had received a special financial assistance of Rs 750 crore from the Centre in the current financial year while it is expected that Rs 1506 crore of assistance will be received from the Centre in 2025-24.

The Chief Minister said that fiscal deficit for 2024-25 is likely to be Rs 3,149 crore. He announced a provision of Rs 43 crore for Planning and Statistics and Rs 10 crore for Data Analysis Centre.

Sawant said Rs 10 crore has been allocated for  Swayampurna Goa 2.0 while Rs 25 lakh for Goa CSR Authority.

He said number of fellows under  Chief Minster Fellowship Programme has been increased to 20 and a provision of Rs 93 lakh has been made for them.

The Chief Minister said that focus has been laid on developing infrastructure development in tourism, Information Technology (IT), industry and employment.

   He announced that  Rs 10 crore has been allocated for renovation of memorial of Goa’s first Chief Minister late Bhausaheb Bandodkar through GSIDC at Miramar.

Housing loan scheme for government employees will be restarted and a provision of Rs 15 crore has been made for the same, he said.

Sawant said for health department, a provision of Rs 2,121.86 crore has been made,  out of which Goa Medical College (GMC) will be allocated Rs 1,071 crore

The Chief Minister said provision for Public Works Department (PWD) has been increased by 10.75 % for 2024-25 and it stands at Rs 2,976 crore.

Later, addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said,” For the first time we have presented a Gender Budget Statement and have also introduced medium term fiscal plan. Rs 20,000 crore has been allocated for revenue expenditure and 6055 for capital expenditure.”

The Chief Minister said for restoration of temples destroyed earlier, a temple will be constructed and provision of Rs 20 crore has been made for that. Land has not been identified for the same, he said, adding the construction will be completed within next two years.

Sawant also announced that a provision of Rs 10 crore has been made for the Exposition of  Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) at Old Goa.

He said 30 per cent of the budget in 13 departments has been dedicated for women of the State, which he said will bring about women-led development.