With a focus on agriculture and allied activities along with infrastructure, the chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat presented a budget of Rs 57,400.32 crore for the financial year 2021-22 on Thursday in the assembly at Bharadisain.  The budget estimates are about eight per cent higher than the budget of last year. Presenting the fifth budget of his government, the CM said that the effect of Covid-19 pandemic was expected on the economy of the state but the state was vigilant on the issue.

The CM said that total receipts for the year 2021-22 are estimated at Rs 57,024.22 crore out of which Rs 44,151.24 crore are estimated under revenue receipts while Rs 12,872.98 crore are capital receipts. The tax revenue for the year is estimated at Rs 20,195.43 crore which includes Rs 7,440.98 crore as state’s share in central taxes while non tax revenue is expected at Rs 23,955.81 crore in the FY 2021-22.

The CM said that the total expenditure for the FY 2021-22 is expected to be at Rs 57,400.32 crore. It is estimated that an expense of Rs 44,036.31 crore would be made under revenue account head while Rs 13,364.01 crore would be spent on capital account head in the year 2021-22. An estimated Rs 16,422.51 crore would be spent on salaries and allowances of the state government employees. Similarly Rs 6,052.63 crore is estimated to be spent on payment of interests on loans.

One of the highlights of the budget is that it is a statement of profit with an estimated revenue surplus of Rs 114.93 crore. However a fiscal deficit of Rs 8,984.53 Crore is estimated for the year 2021-22 which is 3.23 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the state.

Focussing on the agriculture and allied activities, a proposal Rs 87.56 crore is made under Traditional Agriculture Development Scheme. Similarly a provision of Rs 245 Crore is made for payment of sugarcane farmers, Rs 20 crore for Chief Minister Agriculture Development Scheme and Rs 67.94 crore for the National Agriculture Development Scheme.  In the budget a provision of Rs 240 crore is made for Jamrani Dam, Rs 667.76 crore for Jal Jeevan Scheme, Rs 150 crore for Song drinking water scheme and Rs 328 crore for Peri Urban Scheme. A provision of Rs 197.61 crore is made for PM Awas Yojana (rural) and Rs 94.43 crore for National Rural Livelihood Mission. For creation of capital assets under Public Works Department (PWD) a provision of Rs 151.29 crore is made in the budget. For Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan a provision of Rs 1154.62 crore is made while Rs 150 crore is kept for Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana.