Mukul initiates pre-budget talks with public

SHILLONG: After Bihar, Meghalaya became the second state in the country to hold pre-budget discussions with the people in general. The state has also become the first in the northeast to conduct pre-budget exercises, which were first initiated in the country by Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

The exercise is aimed at receiving the views and opinions of all stakeholders in the interest of better governance and ensuring participation of the public in the state's budgeting process.

Chairing the second round of pre-budget deliberations here today, chief minister Mukul Sangma said that 2012-13 is a "critical financial year" as it would determine the approach to the 12th Five Year Plan. He said that the proposals and deliberations of all concerned would be taken into consideration before the preparation of the state budget. The first round of talks was conducted in the Garo Hills on February 14.

Sangma said the move would help the government assess the issues that concern the common man from close quarters and give due consideration to their needs. "It's high time the common people became part of the pre-budget consultations so we can meet their aspirations, negate any negative ramifications for the next generation and maintain due transparency," he told the participants.

He claimed that fiscal resources in Meghalaya have "shown steady improvement" over the years going up from Rs 518 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 1,037 crore in 2011-12. The state has been able to keep fiscal deficit as low as below 3% of the GDP, he added. "The first year of the 12{+t}{+h} Five Year Plan - 2012-13 - will actually lead us on how to structure the development in a manner that enables us to have proper schemes and sustainable investments in conformity with the expectations of the people," he said.

Referring to the state's flagship programme on Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Programme, he emphasized, "We need to improve the per capita income to a target of 11% growth by improving the state's capacity through human resource development and on the strength of natural resources creating renewable resources and ancillary activities."

The CM said that the proposals and deliberations of all concerned would be taken into consideration before the final preparation of the state budget. The participants in the discussion, the first of its kind in the northeast, included representatives from several sections of society and non-governmental organizations. Most of the participants stressed on revamping the rural sector in the state, especially agriculture for sustainable and holistic development.