Budget shows inability to collect taxes: Serto Kom
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 26 2023: Even though the government has brought out a big budget this year, it still shows the government's inability to collect taxes for implementing the budget, observed social researcher Serto Tondana Kom.

Addressing the media at Manipur Press Club here on Sunday, Serto said that there is need to change the outlook of the government which focuses on some specific departments even though the budget 2023-24 shows a sizeable budget.

It projects the government's capability of collecting only 12 per cent of tax revenue and 1 per cent of non-tax revenue.

Karnataka's budget shows 72 per cent as state revenue while Manipur's budget shows only few portions.

Despite this situation, the government fails to project any effort to enhance revenue collection, but shows its dependency on central funding, he said, while drawing attention of the government to put more efforts in this area.

He further said that tourism, art & culture and YAS are the sectors that project a good image of the state to the global arena.

However, the budget allocation in these sectors is relatively small.

Mithun is one of the indigenous cattle species of the state but it is now almost extinct and the government should take up initiatives to promote Mithun rearing under the veterinary and animal husbandry department, he suggested.

The budget 2023-24 could be termed as a big budget in northeast excluding Assam.

Similar to the past budget, the government is focusing on community & rural development as the budget 2023-24 shows a sizeable allocation.

However, no significant development could be seen in this sector.

The official website of the department has not been updated as it shows old and outdated records only, he said.

He also drew attention of the government towards the need to prioritise sectors like agriculture, horticulture, commerce & industries to bring socio-economic development in the state.

He also pointed out that agriculture and horticulture departments are in the 16th and 29th position respectively in the government's priority list as per the budget.

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