The Budget session of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) was concluded today with the passing of Rs. 3271.3148 crore budget against the estimated receipt of Rs 3157.6633 crore with a deficit amount of Rs 113.6515 crore for the financial year 2022-23 for the Bodoland Territorial Council districts.
The BTC Budget session was chaired by Katiram Boro, speaker of Bodoland Territorial Council Legislative Assembly (BTCLA) held at BTCLA House, Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar. The budget of BTC for the year 2022-23 presented by Chief Executive Member (CEM) Pramod Boro who is also holding the finance portfolio was hailed by leaders of the ruling party and the opposition as well. There was no debate on the budget other than the implementation of schemes, planning, and liabilities.
Notably, on Monday, Chief executive member of BTC Pramod Boro, who also holds the Finance department, presented a normal budget estimate of BTC of Rs 3271.3148 crore against the estimated receipt of Rs 3157.6633 crore with deficit amount of Rs 113.6515 crore for the financial year 2022-23 for consideration of the house.
In his budget speech, he informed that the budget allocation for the year 2021-22 includes consolidated State-Owned Priority Development (SOPD), Assistance to BTC for Infrastructure development.
In his speech after the approval of budget, deputy chief of BTC Gobinda Chandra Basumatary said “BTC budget for 2022-23 was a pragmatic and pro-people as many new proposals have been included for the overall benefits of the people. Important departments were given maximum priorities for sustainable development. Since, it is the council budget, it is a minimum budget but an optimum to meet the target.” He said adding that education, PWD, health, and agriculture were given maximum importance for the larger interest of people.
MCLA of UPPL Sanjay Swargiary said the budget was broad-based and significant for a new change in the region. He said the budget gad a target to cover at least 1000 km of road in the BTC region which is going to be a record. He said there had been no connecting roads in Udalguri and UT road by the previous government had not connected important towns in the Udalguri district.
Meanwhile, Opposition BPF party members have expressed their dissatisfaction over the Budget tabled for the BTC.
Opposition BPF party members have put queries on various developmental aspects in the BTC districts and that led to a healthy discussion over the Budget presentation.
The Budget session saw a strong debate over the Budget presentation for the 2022-23 financial year.
BTR CEM Pramod Boro said that the budget was popular for humanity welfare-oriented for the BTR districts.
BPF MCLA and leader of opposition Derhasat Basumatary in his speech said the budget was overall good for the people but the council should concentrate on the execution of schemes and proposals. He said many proposals and assurances have been given in the budget and they are also ready to cooperate with the success of all pro-people schemes for implementation. He, however, said the government should maintain transparency keeping the opposition in faith about the planning and execution.
CEM of BTC Pramod Boro thanked all the Executive Members, MCLAs of both in position and opposition and officers for extending support for the approval of his budget. He said they failed to take a satisfactory budget due to the drop in economy for the Covid-19 pandemic but this year they tried to reform it with a more inclusive strategy. He added that they have faced many hurdles to bringing more development to the region because of Rs. 2300 crore liabilities made by the previous government but despite this fact they are working with renewed strategy and assured that within 2-3 months the martyr families of the Bodoland movement will be given ex -gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each.
Boro said there had been liabilities of Rs. 389 crore in Chief’s Discretionary fund, over Rs. 900 in PWD and big liabilities in WPT&BC, GAD, education, agriculture, water resources, etc. He alleged that many suppliers from UP, Bihar, and Karnatak who supplied various items used to come and meet him to convey for releasing pending bills of the previous term. He also said the present government had been trying to provincialize the venture schools of BTC through clause 6.1 of the BTR accord as venture schools have vast contributions to giving education in backward regions.
