Budget to focus on full utilisation of allocations, says Assam Finance Minister

Guwahati, June 25 (IANS) Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah on Thursday said the state government’s upcoming Budget will lay special emphasis on ensuring complete utilisation of allocated funds while maintaining fiscal discipline and accelerating development works across sectors.

Addressing the BJP’s pre-Budget consultation programme, Mallabaruah had said nearly 90 per cent of the current financial year’s budgetary allocations have already been utilised, reflecting the government’s improved implementation capacity.

He added that the objective now is to move towards achieving almost 100 per cent expenditure of sanctioned funds to maximise the impact of public spending.

The Finance Minister said the government is preparing the Budget after consulting various stakeholders and taking into account suggestions from different sections of society.

He noted that effective utilisation of financial resources remains a key priority to sustain Assam’s development momentum.

Mallabaruah said the state has witnessed significant improvement in fiscal management over the past few years, enabling the government to undertake major infrastructure, welfare and economic development initiatives without compromising financial stability.

He asserted that the forthcoming Budget would continue to prioritise investment in infrastructure, employment generation, agriculture, education, healthcare and social welfare while strengthening Assam’s long-term growth trajectory.

The Finance Minister also highlighted the government’s focus on transparency and accountability in public expenditure, saying departments have been instructed to ensure the timely execution of projects and efficient utilisation of budgetary allocations.

The Assam Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly is scheduled to commence on July 6, during which the state Budget for the current financial year will be presented.

The government is expected to unveil measures aimed at boosting economic growth, improving public service delivery and accelerating implementation of flagship schemes across the state while maintaining fiscal prudence.

This is the first budget after the recently concluded Assembly polls. The BJP, for the first time in the state, crossed the majority mark on its own by winning 82 seats. The BJP-led alliance won 102 seats in the 126-member Assembly in the state. The Congress party suffered a crushing defeat, with the opposition party winning just 19 seats, its lowest tally in history.

–IANS

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