Kohima — Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Monday presented the budget for fiscal years 2023-2024, during the ongoing first session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA).
Later addressing a press conference, Rio remarked that the budget was “balanced” targeting the agri- allied, micro-farmers, and entrepreneurs.
He added that despite being election year, the deficit of the last financial year was only INR 40 crore, which earlier used to be “few hundreds”. Rio maintained that the budget management was “good” and the state received appreciation from the Finance Commission.
An annual development outlay for the fiscal year 2023-24 has been fixed at INR 82,000 lakh (INR 820 crore) with an increase of INR 4,500 lakh or 5.49% over the current financial year (Refer table).
Rio, who is the minister in-charge of finance, said, “Out of this, an amount of INR 25,000 lakh has been earmarked for state matching share for Centrally-Sponsored Schemes (CSS) to ensure release of funds by the Central government.
He informed that the government is taking steps to gradually increase the negotiated loan component from NABARD for all rural infrastructure projects since it has a low interest rate of 4.5% compared to loans from other sources that are above 9%. He added that this step will help the state to reduce the interest burden.
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Highlight of sector-wise allocation of funds
Agri and Allied Sector have been provided with a total outlay of INR 5,426 lakh. The Agriculture department has been provided INR 1,736.09 lakh for construction of offices and quarters, of which INR 706.09 lakh is earmarked for core activities like 65 agri farm roads, promotion of indigenous products and capacity building, exposure tours for farmers and INR 800 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Horticulture dept. has been provided INR 590 lakh for construction of horti- link roads, augmentation of marketing of horticultural produce, development of flower clusters and other core activities, and INR 150 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Soil and Water Conservation dept. has been provided with INR 400 lakh for construction of departmental guest house and other core activities, of which INR 150 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Veterinary and Animal Husbandry dept. has been provided INR 470 lakh for various activities like strengthening of pig breeding farms and setting up feed and fodder manufacturing units through private participation and pig breeding farms in the district, out of which INR 70 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Nagaland budget 2023-24: Sector-wise allocation of INR 820 c
Fisheries dept. has been provided with INR 350 lakh for development of cluster-based fisheries and to institutionalise farmer’s producers’ organisations; out of this INR 100 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Forest dept. has been provided INR 420 lakh for setting up high-tech nurseries to promote indigenous wild fruits in Nagaland; out of which INR 100 is state matching share for CSS.
Cooperation dept. has been provided with INR 250 lakh for construction of an office at Mokokchung for MARCOFED activities and other core activities.
Land Resources dept. has been provided INR 600 lakh for various activities like setting a learning centre for coffee, promotion of coffee tourism and livelihood through coffee, rejuvenation of natural streams, promotion of natural tea and providing rubber sheet rollers’ out of this INR 100 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Water Resources dept. has been allocated INR 354.48 lakh; of this INR 150 lakh is state matching share for CSS.
Rural Development has been allocated INR 3,400 lakh for farmer’s market and improvement of roads in various locations and the SIRD for construction of academic block and core activities. This includes INR 3,000 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
Department of Under Developed Areas (DUDA) has been allocated INR 2400 lakh for core activities and iconic projects including INR 100 lakh for state share of CSS.
Power dept. has been allocated INR 1,902.28 lakh of which INR 721 is for upgrading distribution and revenue while INR 1,181.28 lakh is for construction of transmission lines, construction of new electrical stores and others.
New and Renewable sector has been provided INR 220 lakh for infrastructure works at the new directorate complex and others, which include INR 30 lakh as state matching share for CSS; Electrical Inspectorate has been provided INR 100 for smart and green villages’ initiatives with the objective of energy conservation.
Industries and Commerce has been allocated INR 913 lakh for incentives under Startup Policy, ease of doing business, upgrading International Trade Centre (ITC) and other activities of PSUs; it includes INR 80 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
Sericulture dept. has been allocated INR 430 lakh; this includes INR 30 lakh for state matching share for CSS.
Geology and Mining dept.has been allocated INR 150 lakh for purchase of drilling rig. Nagaland State Mineral Development Corporation has been provided INR 318 lakh.
Road and Bridges dept. has been provided INR 5,680 lakh for development and improvement of road, rehabilitation of bridges and construction of a research lab centre at Dimapur. This includes INR 1,200 lakh as state matching share for CSS. Mechanical department has been allocated INR 100 lakh.
Road Transport has been allocated INR 678.51 lakh for construction of helipad in various parts of the state and others, while Motor Vehicle department has been allocated INR 412 lakh for construction of offices and installation of weigh bridges in the state.
Science and Technology dept: INR 443.33 lakh; Information Technology and Communication: INR 416 lakh; Planning machinery: INR 576.66 lakh; Tourism Dept: INR1,055 lakh; Economics and Statistics: INR 320.49 lakh; Dept. of Food and Civil Supplies: INR 300 lakh; Dept of Legal Metrology and Consumer Protection: INR 150 lakh; Dept. of Evaluation: INR 270 lakh;
Dept. of School Education: 3,056.11 lakh, this includes INR 1,800 lakh as state matching share for CSS; Dept. of Higher Education: INR 1,123.07 lakh including INR 230 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
·SCERT: INR 510 lakh including INR 250 lakh as state matching share for CSS; Dept. of Technical Education: INR172.37 lakh
Dept. of Youth Resources and Sports: INR 1,025 lakh; Dept. of Art and Culture: INR 350; Dept. of Health and Family Welfare: INR 2100 lakh including INR 1,400 lakh as state matching share for CSS; PHED: INR 1,795 lakh this includes INR 1500 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
Dept. of Public Works (Housing): INR 3367.99; GA housing: INR 2,505.49 lakh; Police housing: INR 919.60 lakh.
Justice and Law dept.: INR 295.47 lakh including INR 100 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
Excise: INR 132.42 lakh; Urban Development: INR 774.03 lakh, including INR 100 as state matching share for CSS.
Municipal Affairs Dept: INR 230 lakh including INR 30 lakh as state matching share for CSS; Information Public Relations: INR 310 lakh; Labour dept.: INR 330.50 lakh; Employment, Skill Development and Employment: INR 319.73 lakh including INR 30 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
Dept. of Social Welfare: INR 1,123.40 lakh including INR 800 lakh as state matching share for CSS; Women Resources dept.: INR 300 lakh
The General Services Sector has been provided INR 4,126.48 lakh including INR 300 lakh to the Printing and Stationery dept.; INR 125 lakh to the Administrative Training Institute; INR 720 to the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Secretariat while INR 968.08 lakh has been provided to the Fire and Emergency Services.
Election dept.: INR 90.12 lakh; Home dept., Disaster Management: INR 320 lakh; Tribal Affairs: INR 150 lakh; Minority Affairs: INR 315 lakh including INR 100 lakh as state matching share for CSS.
Other allocations include INR 1200 lakh for state matching share for CSS; another INR 12,500 lakh has been incorporated into the respective demands of CSS implementing departments; INR 2500 lakh for land acquisition; INR 1000 lakh for CMCF; INR 100 lakh for monitoring cell activities; INR 150 lakh for GIS and Remote Sensing Centre; INR 180 for SDG initiatives and INR 3000 lakh for innovative programmes.
