GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 26th July. The first budget of Odisha’s BJP government, presented on Thursday by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, has renamed around 40 programmes of the previous BJD government while deciding to continue with the schemes.
In his budget speech before the State Assembly, Majhi, who also holds the finance portfolio, emphasized the continuity of governance.
“While continuing existing schemes, certain new schemes have been proposed to meet the hopes and aspirations of people,” he said.
The new budget integrates this scheme with the state’s Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana to provide cashless healthcare.
Other notable changes include renaming the Aahaar Yojana, which provided meals at Rs.5, to Sri Anna Yojana, and the Make in Odisha scheme to Utkarsha Yojana.
This move mirrors the Modi government’s strategy of renaming welfare schemes previously named after Nehru-Gandhi family members. Recently, the Odisha sports department had to revert its decision to drop Biju Patnaik’s name from the state’s sports award after backlash, maintaining it as the Biju Patnaik Sports Award.
Economic Outlook
The budget and economic survey highlight the stable economy inherited from the previous government. The state’s economy size is Rs. 8.3 lakh crore as per the 2023-24 estimate, growing at 8.5 per cent in 2023-24 compared to 7.9 per cent in 2022-23. Odisha’s economy ranks 13th among 17 major states, with a per capita income of Rs. 1,61,437, which is 12.4 per cent less than India’s average.
Budget Highlights
The 2024-25 budget presented is Rs. 2,65,000 crore, a 15 per cent increase from the previous year. Key allocations include:
- Agriculture and allied sectors: Rs. 33,919 crore (36% increase)
- Public healthcare: Rs. 21,000 crore (8% of the state budget)
- Education: Rs. 35,536 crore
- SC/ST development and OBCs and minorities: Rs. 63,299 crore
BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik criticized the BJP-led state and union governments, calling the state budget a rebranding of over 40 BJD-era schemes. He also expressed disappointment with the union budget.
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