CM attends pre-budget meeting convened by Union Finance Minister

GANGTOK, 09 June: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling attended the pre-budget consultation meeting called by the Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley.

While addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister dwelled on the economy of the state of Sikkim and the many fiscal measures to tide over the national, global financial uncertainties.

A press release from the Principal Secretary to the CM, RS Basnet informs that the Chief Minister called the meeting very crucial and appropriate in the context of the challenging economic scenario and its impact on the overall goal of sustaining growth and development process.

Talking on the problem of fiscal management, the Chief Minister informed the meeting of the relative lack of economical and social infrastructure and problem of un-employment as major constraints to achieve economic prosperity.

However, the Chief Minister informed the gathering of the comprehensive fiscal reforms undertaken by the Sikkim Government duly maintaining the fiscal deficit well below 3% by increasing own tax and non tax revenue, eliminating exemptions, levying user charges apart from reducing avoidable expenditure, as per the release.

On behalf of the people of Sikkim and the Government, the Chief Minister felicitated Arun Jaitley on being appointed as the Union Minister for Finance and Defence and wished him success in his assignment, it is added.