Assam Budget: With Focus On Employment, Govt Presents Rs 3.21-Crore Budget. Check The Key Highlights

Ajanta Neog announced that Assam's GDP is estimated to grow to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in 2023-24 from Rs 3.93 lakh crore in 2021-22

Finance Minister Ajanta Neog in her Budget speech announced that the Assam government will recruit 40,000 people by May 10.

Source : Twitter/Ajanta Neog

Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog on Wednesday presented a Rs 3.21 lakh crore Budget for the financial year 2023-24. With a focus on employment generation, Neog announced that Assam's GDP is estimated to grow to Rs 5.5 lakh crore in 2023-24 from Rs 3.93 lakh crore in 2021-22. 

Calling it the first "Amrit Kaal" Budget, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "In the first Budget of our government, we achieved Rs 1.06 lakh crore expenditure, our second Budget expenditure is projected to touch Rs 1.22 lakh crore, while in the third one we aim to achieve a record expenditure of Rs 1.39 lakh crore with Rs 28,418 crore towards capital expenditure."

The finance minister in her speech said that the Assam government will recruit 40,000 employees by May 10. She said the government will invest Rs 5,000 crore to "transform" over 2 lakh unemployed youths into job creators.

"After adding the receipt of Rs 1,80,298.83 crore under the public account and Rs 2,000 crore under contingency fund, the aggregate receipts amount to Rs 3,21,742.71 crore. Taking into account the expenditure of Rs 1,79,326.48 crore under the public account and Rs 2,000 crore under contingency fund, the aggregate expenditure for the year is estimated at Rs 3,21,081.75 crore," Neog said. Thus, the estimated transactions during the year will result in an estimated surplus of Rs 660.96 crore, the minister said.

"This, together with the opening deficit of Rs 1,596.19 crore will lead to a budget deficit of Rs 935.23 crore at the end of the year 2023-24," she added.

Neog said that with the completion of two years of the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government on May 10, 40,000 youths will be recruited in various departments by that date, a step towards fulfilling the BJP's poll promise of providing one lakh government jobs.

"Our government already provided employment to about 42,000 youths across various departments. The remaining 18,000 are at various stages of recruitment, and this will also be completed very soon," she added.

Key Highlights of Assam Budget 

• State finance minister announced that to promote micro-entrepreneurs, the government will spend Rs 5,000 crore over the next three years to "transform" over 2 lakh youths into job creators. A total of Rs 1,000 crore was allocated for FY24 under the 'Mukhya Mantri Sva-Niyojan Mission' for creating self-employment.
• Assam government will recruit 40,000 people by May 10
• A total of Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for Assam Micro-Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme.
• About Rs 3240 crore has been assigned for enhancing Orunodoi entitlement by Rs 150. The total benefit will be Rs 1,400 per beneficiary per month.
• For Mukhya Mantri Ayushman Asom Yojana government has allocated Rs 135 crore. The scheme will provide annual health insurance of Rs 5 lakh to Rs 27 lakh additional families. The government also announced the launch of the Assam Urban Health Mission to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare for the urban population.
• Rs 404.94 crore is provided for accommodating 40 lakh new beneficiaries under NFSA. 
• Under Pragyan Bharati scheme Rs 2,500 crore has been assigned to building infrastructure, renovation, upgradation of schools, setting up of tea garden high schools, etc.
• For Assam Tea Industries Special Incentives Scheme, 2020, an amount of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked.  
• With a focus on surveillance, and strengthening institutions, Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the 'Mission for Prevention of Child'
• Rs 80 crore has been assigned for Assam Darshan Scheme.
• Organisation of Khel Maharan (sports event) and Sanskritik Mahasangram (cultural event) in revenue villages for identifying sports and cultural talent has also been announced in the state Budget 2023. 
• Beneficiaries of National Widow Pension not covered under Orunodoi to get a top-up of Rs 950/month
• The government will set up Assam State Commission for Right to Public Services. It will have powers to penalise designated public servants who fail to provide notified services within the stipulated time.
• Rs 15,102 crore has been provided under various heads for the development of infrastructure in form of roads and buildings under PWD.

Praising the Budget, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Assam Budget 2023 will script history as it endeavours to take Assam’s GDP to 5.5 lakh crore in 2023-2024, a significant milestone in our country’s march towards a $5-trillion dollar economy."