The Odisha Assembly passed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024 amid a walkout by the opposition BJD and Congress on Thursday.
This bill authorizes the state government to utilize Rs 12,156 crore from its consolidated fund for the remainder of the fiscal year 2024-25.
Chief Minister Mohan Majhi introduced this supplementary budget in the Assembly on November 26, which increased the annual budget to Rs 2.65 lakh crore, initially presented in July.
With Majhi away in Mumbai for the inauguration of Maharashtra’s new government, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan tabled the bill in the Assembly on his behalf.
Harichandan, advocating for the bill, stated that the supplementary budget includes an extra Rs 10,155 crore for program expenses. This encompasses Rs 8,121 crore for state sector schemes, Rs 2,011 crore for centrally sponsored schemes, and Rs 23 crore for central sector schemes.
The supplementary budget also sets aside Rs 92 crore for the new Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) and Rs 142 crore for Constituency Wise Allocation (CWA) within the Rural Development department.
Additionally, the minister announced allocations of Rs 125 crore for hosting Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar in January 2025, Rs 130 crore for creating a centre of excellence across 22 ITIs, Rs 26 crore for the Srimandir Parikrama project, and Rs 5 crore for the Ratna Bhadar of the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri.
Furthermore, Rs 1,196 crore has been allocated for the Subhadra Yojana, a significant cash incentive program for women. The government has already disbursed Rs 4,180 crore as the first installment of Rs 5,000 to 80 lakh women. The scheme promises Rs 10,000 per year in two installments to eligible women over the next five years, aiming to extend its reach to 1 crore women.
