Odisha Presents Vote on Account Budget With Outlay of ₹2.55 Lakh Crore

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Finance Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha presented a Rs 2.55 lakh crore budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, with a focus on empowering youth, bolstering agriculture, and strengthening infrastructure. This budget includes a vote-on-account grant of Rs 1.18 lakh crore for the first four months.

The budget allocates the highest sum of Rs 24,764 crore to the School and Mass Education department, followed by Rs 22,543 crore for Panchayati Raj, highlighting the government’s commitment to education and grassroots development.

With an allocation of Rs 19,729 crore, the Health Department receives a substantial budget to improve healthcare infrastructure and services.

The government prioritizes infrastructure development with allocations of Rs 13,267 crore for Water Resources, Rs 10,950 crore for Works, and Rs 700 crore for railway projects. Additionally, Rs 6,194 crore is earmarked for road development and Rs 1,000 crore for the capital region metro rail project.

Recognizing the importance of agriculture, the budget allocates Rs 4,000 crore for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Rs 100 crore for Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana, Rs 2,000 crore for Basudha Yojana, and Rs 2000 crore revolving fund for paddy procurement.

The budget demonstrates a commitment to youth empowerment with an allocation of Rs 852 crore for sports infrastructure development. Schemes like Mission Shakti (Rs 2,761 crore) and NRLM (Rs 1,162 crore) aim to empower women and communities.

Key facts and figures:

• Total budget: Rs 2.55 lakh crore
• Vote-on-account for first four months: Rs 1.18 lakh crore
• Top 5 allocations:
  • School & Mass Education – 9.71%
  • Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water – 8.84%
  • Health & Family Welfare – 7.74%
  • Water Resources – 5.2%
  • Planning & Convergence – 4.72%