PANJIM: The State government has begun the preparatory work for
formulation of State Budget 2017-18, with every department being directed to
prepare their respective budget proposals for the year- that has herculean task
to draft the plan keeping in mind the austerity measures to be put in place
from the coming financial year.
With the counting for the State assembly polls scheduled on
March 11, the new Government will have barley ten days in hand to focus on the
Budget preparation and presentation. The Budget has to be placed before March
31.
“The
budget is also accounting exercise. The preparatory work for the budget has
started by all the departments. Once new government is sworn in, their
priorities would be reflected in the budget,” Amey Abhyankar, Special Secretary
(Budget), told media persons.
He,
however, refused to disclose anything in detail on the budget stating ‘once the
new Chief Minister is sworn in, we will come to know about the focus areas’.
“The
administrative and preparatory steps which are required for drafting of the
budget are being taken right now,” he said adding that all the Heads of
Department are asked to submit their accountings to the State Finance
Department.
When
contacted, HOD confirmed about receiving the directions asking to submit their
budget proposal to the Finance department before the counting on March 11, so
the new government will have the things ready in hand to study.
The departments’ proposal is mainly based on assumptions
regarding revenue changes, different levels of expenditures, new schemes,
developmental projects, etc.
It is interesting to note that the
departments will have to take into account the Finance Department circular
issued in November 2016, directing all to restrain their expenditures for next
five years for effective implementation of the 7th pay commission,
which is been imposed since January 1. It had asked department to rationalize
the expenditure on various components including social welfare schemes and
unwarranted developmental works from the coming financial year 2017-18.
