Imphal: Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Yumnam Joykumar Singh, who also holds the portfolio of Finance Friday presented a Rs 28,824 crore State Budget for the financial year 2021-2022 with an estimated deficit of Rs 3,976 crores (which is 9.22 per cent of the GSDP).
The total receipt is estimated at Rs. 26,024 crore, revenue receipts estimated at Rs. 21,520 crore and capital receipts at Rs. 4,504 crore. Total estimates of State’s own tax and non-tax receipts assumed in the Budget Estimates 2021-2022 is Rs. 2,055 crore and Rs. 388 crore respectively while the receipt from the State’s share in Central Taxes & Duties is estimated at Rs. 4,765 crore.
For the year 2021-22, a total expenditure of Rs. 28,824 crore is proposed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State. Total Revenue Expenditure is estimated at Rs. 19,970 crore while Capital outlay is estimated at Rs.5,526 crore.
The Finance Minister also highlighted the likely fiscal position during the next year. The fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs. 3,976 crore with 9.22 per cent of the GSDP and the total outstanding debt projected at 32 per cent of the GSDP during 2021-22 against the revised estimate of 33 per cent.
The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2020-21 is estimated at Rs.37,682 crore at current prices. In the next financial year 2021-22, the estimated GSDP at the current prices would have reached the level of Rs. 43,121 crore.
The Finance Minister in his budget speech mentioned how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the whole world and that Manipur was not immune to its impact. The pandemic “drastically reduced the receipts of the state”, in spite of that “our Government ensured availability of adequate resources for payment of salaries, pensions”, among other things. Post unlocking, the economy has started showing signs of recovery and there will be strong growth in the coming months.
While presenting the fifth budget of the present government, Finance Minister said that the preceding years is a testimony to what this Government stands for and the actions of this Government is a testament of our focus for people-oriented governance.
While giving the Budget speech, the Finance Minister also placed before the House some of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission for the years 2021-26.
For 2021-22, the Commission has assessed Rs.4,716 crore as tax devolution for the State. Against this, the Govt. of India in its Budget 2021-22 has made provisions for Rs. 4,765 crore as State’s share in Central Taxes for 2021-22.
The Commission has recommended revenue deficit grant of Rs. 2,524 crore for Manipur for 2021-22. There is a substantial reduction in revenue deficit grant from the 2020-21 figure of Rs.2,824.
The 15th Finance Commission has recommended grants for Zilla Parishads, Gram Panchayats, Autonomous District Councils and the Urban Local Bodies and an amount of Rs. 195 crore is recommended for 2021-22. An additional amount of Rs.44 crore is earmarked as Health Sector Grants through local governments and this amount shall be used for strengthening health infrastructure at rural and urban local bodies’ level. Out of Rs.195 crore, 60 per cent of the Grant shall be tied whereas 40% of the Grant shall be untied.
The budget emphasizes the need to strengthening and improving the Health Sector, especially in considering the lessons learnt from battling the Covid-19 pandemic. These measures include a total of Rs 70 crore for Covid-19 related expenditure in Revised Estimate(RE) 2020-21 and Rs 30 crore Budget Estimate (BE) 2021-22. The government plans to start the academic session of the newly established Churachandpur Medical College which “will provide a pool of trained health personnel tp meet identified gaps in the Health Sector”. To this end Rs 108 crore RE 2020-21 and Rs 118 crore BE 2021-22 have been provided for the college. Rs 27 crore has been set aside for the implementation of e-medicine and tele-medicine service in the state, Rs 20 crore for CMHT and significantly Rs 170 crores has been provided to JNIMS, the premier medical institute in the state in this year’s budget.
The government has also allocated Rs 20 crore for the “Go To School Mission” as part of its avowed objective of “investing in our future” as the Deputy Chief Minister puts it in his budget speech. The budget has also set aside Rs 2.5 crore for the construction of a Girl’s Hostel in Sainik School, Pangei while Dhanamanjuri University has been provided Rs 7.8 crore.
In tune with the State Government’s priority of providing safe drinking water and proper sanitation, Rs 1200 crore has been allocated for the NDB-assisted drinking water supply project of which state’s share is Rs 283 crore. For the Imphal; Sewerage Project Phase-II, Rs 225 crore has been allocated out of which state’s share is Rs 25 crore.
Some other areas of thrust of this budget are Water Resources and Flood Control, Tourism, Agriculture, Rural Development, connectivity, Heritage and Culture. One of the major highlights of Joykumar Singh’s budget is the refreshing concept of Gender Budgeting. In his own words, “the government has a big role in bringing about gender empowerment”, and that “a concerted effort across the different organs and Departments of trhe Government is a must”. “Wherever necessary, specific schemes or programmes will be formulated to address gender issues”.
In his concluding remarks, the Finance Minister stated that the last five years of the Government has seen the State move forward on all fronts and sectors. The actions and achievements have been duly recognized in various forums. Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic and management of the economy and public finances during these dire times have reaffirmed the trust the people of the State have in the present Government. The government will continue to work tirelessly for the people of the State and this Budget is proof of this commitment. It is not miracles but hard work, cooperation, grit and the blessing of the people that has enabled the Government to make many achievements in a short span of four years. It is a strong belief of the Government that the people will continue to put their trust in the Government and allow to serve for many more years to come.
