CM tables Rs.8,090 crore budget, announces 2011 as Year of Innovation

GANGTOK, 27 March: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who also holds the finance portfolio, proposed a budget of Rs. 8,090.24 crores in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly yesterday. Holding it up as a “balanced budget”, which has a deficit of merely Rs 20 lakhs on a proposed expenditure of Rs. 8,090.24 crores, he explained that the State’s tax revenues were projected to climb over 27 per cent. The voting and passage of the budget is scheduled for 28 March, Monday. He also declared the year 2011 as the “Year of Innovation” for Sikkim.
“This is the final year of the 11th Plan and hence there is more emphasis being given on completion of ongoing projects and improvement in quality of implementation. Furthermore, there is going to be increased monitoring through use of new tools that will be introduced. More training programs of high quality are on the anvil for our young officers to help inculcate a stronger sense of purpose in them. This will equip them with the latest knowledge and skills to serve the people of Sikkim more professionally,” stated the Chief Minister.

“The budget continues to be Pro-poor and rural centric in alignment with stated goals of Government with satisfactory all round economic growth in Sikkim buoyed by the economic growth that the country is experiencing at over 8.5 percent,” stated the Chief Minister in his Budget speech.
He however, cautioned against price rise due to increase in fuel costs. “Volatility in the world may impact inflation adversely and hence it is important to see that we can hedge this through more production of our own food needs and use of electric power in transportation of the future since we are going to be more than self-¬sufficient in this due to our hydro power generation,” he stated.
While stating that Sikkim continued to receive accolades and recognition for development in all major sectors and for progress achieved in the core targets of the UN Millennium Development Goals, he added that the number of tourists visiting Sikkim had now exceeded 7 lakhs.
He added that the various missions undertaken by the State Government would continue to be supported and that the mission-mode was also going to be oriented towards bringing in greater cooperation between departments and their budgets. This, he said, would be in keeping with the Government of India policy.
The missions included elimination of poverty by 2015 “for which all schemes are converging to make this a positive outcome”; eradication of illiteracy by 2015 “for which the quality of education will be further enhanced and further training of teachers” and with ICDS children being provided with free uniforms along with the meals they are already receiving; Organic farming and marketing of the produce, “and this is a paradigm changing program which is well on its way to becoming a reality. More outlets and ‘Kisan Bazaars’ are planned”, he stated while explaining that all aspects of farming will be further improved with technological interventions.
“This budget is also youth-centric in terms of higher education and skills development - this ongoing scheme will be further improved with more resources,” he explained.
Speaking on the Green Mission, he informed that this mission is now becoming a way of life for the rural people. “More and more encouragement is being given to plant trees and increasing green cover,” he said.
Under Rural Housing, 6,000 houses are to be built at an average cost of Rs 4.40 lakhs each and a total of Rs 264.62 has been earmarked in the budget for this, he informed. “This is the Mukhiya Mantri Awas Yojana Kutcha House Free Sikkim program which seeks to expand the scope and method in implementation. From a fragmented approach to an integration of various schemes is the mantra in this program,” he explained.
In the social sector, the Chief Minister said that all forms of backwardness will be tackled with greater zeal and senior citizens will be given primacy with the establishment of the Mukhya Mantri Jyestha Nagrik Sewa Samman Kendra.
As per the Chief Minister, the new initiatives, with an eye on the future of planning and growth, include the following:
• FRBM 2010 - the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act which will kick in this year. This will ensure that there is greater responsibility in terms of revenue expenditure whilst increasing Tax and Non Tax revenues. There will be a process orientation to enable  greater monitoring of expenditure. Also new sources of tax revenues are planned widening the tax base.
• HDR 2011 - this is to come up with a Human Development Report incorporating the latest knowledge creation in this area.
• Innovation - the year 2011 -12 has been declared as the ‘Year of Innovation’. Emphasis will be given to seeking out and disseminating innovations and processes in both private and Government sectors. Major documentation on traditional innovation will be done.
• Urban infrastructure will be given emphasis in the ongoing scheme of improvement in the quality of life of the citizens.
• Transformation in urban transport is being hinted at in terms of solving some of our urban woes that are already upon.
• Water - this is a crucial area of intervention. New and innovative ways of conservation and use of water will be targeted.
• Increase in payments to various categories of people will be done since prices have risen over the years. So old age pension, disability pension etc are increased. Those working in ICDS Centres will also see increased emoluments.
• Cooperative Movement will be further energized.
• Rural, cultural, religious and eco tourism will continue to receive the attention of the Government. This is a source of much of the new livelihoods that are being created in Sikkim.
Finally, the Chief Minister has appealed to all sections of the Sikkimese society to come forward and assist in the creation of a “modern and forward looking Sikkim”.
“I take accountability but the citizens are the main stakeholders who must also show responsibility toward the ‘common good’. They must also be part of the process in this quest for inclusive growth,” he concluded.
[ANAND OBEROI]