Imphal (DIPR): Chief Minister N. Biren Singh who is also the Minister in-charge of Finance, tabled the full Budget Estimates, 2023-24 in the Assembly on Tuesday. This sitting is the second part of the 3rd Session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly which was adjourned on February 3.
Before the presentation of Budget 2023-24 by the Chief Minister, the House took up Questions & Answers. During the question hour MLAs K. Ranjit Singh, Surjakumar Okram, Ngursanglur Sanate and K. Meghachandra Singh raised questions on the floor of the House.
During the question hour, Leader of the House Biren replying to a question raised by MLA Surjakumar Okram, informed the House that the present payment pending for pensioners is Rs 439 crore. He also said that the dues will be cleared by March, 2023 for gratuity and ROP by June 2023. He further said that there is no plan for restoration of Old Pension Scheme for the government employees of the State.
He maintained that the number of pensioners who have not got First Payment of Commutation and Gratuity is approximately 1121. These are mainly those who have retired in 2021 and 2022. However, almost all pensioners have received Monthly Pension, GPF, Leave Encashment. There are presently 807 pensioners drawing provisional pensions or not opting for commutation. Provisional Pension cases are mainly due to court cases, ongoing Departmental Enquiry, Vigilance Cases, he added.
Replying to MLA K. Ranjit Singh, Biren informed that about Rs.6.33 crore of revenue could be collected in a year as revenue tax under Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reform Act, 1960. Computerization of land record will be completed soon. The government will be implementing online payment of land taxes also, he added.
Responding to a question raised by MLA K. Ranjit Singh, Forest Minister Th. Biswajit Singh informed that a total no. of 209.13 lakh seedlings have been planted during 2018-19 to 2021-22.
Answering to a question raised by MLA Ngursanglur Sanate, Biswajit informed that an MoU has been signed with the Godrej Agrovet Ltd. in connection with the plantation of edible oil and oil palm and for a viable Gap Payment Mechanism. He also stated that 1200 hectares have been included in the 2nd phase and also surveyed by the State Level Standing Committee, Oil Palm Manipur at Nungsheipunji village of Pherzawl district.
Later, Leader of the House Biren presented full Budget Estimates, 2023-24 in the House. During the presentation of the budget, he informed that in the Budget Estimate 2022-23, total expenditure estimated was Rs. 34930 crore. The total expenditure during RE 2022-23 has been revised to Rs. 35882 crore.
Revenue receipts and capital receipts were estimated at Rs. 24448 crore and Rs. 9252 crore respectively in Budget Estimates 2022-23. This has now been revised to Rs. 25601 crore and Rs. 9836 crore in RE 2022-23 respectively. All overall receipts and expenditure figures are inclusive of Ways and Means Advances and Repayments, he conveyed.
Taking into account all the receipts and expenditures, the current year is expected to have a budgetary deficit of Rs. 445 crore in RE 2022-23 as against the deficit of Rs. 1230 crore in BE 2022-23. The fiscal deficit for 2022-23 (RE) is projected at Rs. 2550 crore, which is 6.8 percent of GSDP.
The total receipts are estimated at Rs. 34131 crore. The revenue receipts are estimated at Rs. 27547 crore and capital receipts at Rs. 6584 crore. Total estimates of State’s own tax and non-tax receipts are Rs. 3200 crore and Rs. 400 crore respectively, the Chief Minister elaborated.
He also stated that for the year 2023-24, a total expenditure of Rs. 35022 crore has been earmarked out of the Consolidated Fund of the State. The total Revenue Expenditure is estimated at Rs. 20292 crore. Capital outlay is estimated at Rs. 10013 crore. Budget deficit is estimated at Rs. 891 crore, which is a reduction from last year’s budget deficit of Rs. 1230 crore. Fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs. 2760 crores. This is 6.1 percent of the GSDP. During 2023-24, the total outstanding debt as a percentage of GSDP is projected at 39.935.50 percent. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2023-24 is estimated at Rs. 45145 crore, he maintained.
The Leader of the House also presented the Fourth Report of the Business Advisory Committee, 2023 and the Supplementary Demands for Grants, 2022-23
