Finance Minister presents Budget Estimates 2021-22
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, February 05 2021: Deputy Chief Minister who is also in charge of Finance Yumnam Joykumar Singh today presented the 5th and last Budget Estimates of the Government of Manipur for the year 2021-22 .

Presenting the Budget Estimates, the Finance Minister informed the House that the total receipt is estimated at Rs 26,024 crore, revenue receipts at Rs 21,520 crore and capital receipts at Rs 4,504 crore.

Total estimates of State's own tax and non-tax receipts assumed in the Budget Estimates 2021-2022 is Rs 2,055 crore and Rs 388 crore respectively while the receipt from the State's share in Central Taxes & Duties is estimated at Rs 4,765 crore.

For the year 2021-22, a total expenditure of Rs 28,824 crore is proposed out of the Consolidated Fund of the State.

Total Revenue Expenditure is estimated at Rs 19,970 crores while Capital outlay is estimated at Rs 5,526 crore.

Finance Minister presents Budget Estimates 2021-22

The Finance Minister also highlighted the likely fiscal position during the next year.

Fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 3,976 crore with 9.22% of the GSDP and the total outstanding debt projected at 32% of the GSDP during 2021-22 against revised estimate of 33%.The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2020-21 is estimated at Rs 37,682 crore at current prices.

In the next financial year 2021-22, the estimated GSDP at the current prices would have reached the level of Rs 43,121 crore, said Joykumar.

The Finance Minister also stated that post unlock, the economy has started showing signs of recovery and added that the commencement of immunization programme against COVID-19 is likely to further improve confidence.

The Government is confident that the economy will not only recover but also show strong growth in the coming months.

Joykumar further said that the preceding years are testimonies of what this Government stands for and the action of the Government is a testament of "our focus for a people-oriented governance".

2020-21 has been an eventful year and the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact unlike any other events.

The impact on the lives of the people of the State and especially their livelihoods has been unprecedented.

At the same time the pandemic has also put a severe strain on Public Finances of the State.

However, this Government has ensured that it fulfils the responsibility for which the people elected it to power, he added.

The Finance Minister further informed the House that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe economic dislocations across the globe including India and therefore Manipur cannot remain immune from the impact.

In spite of the negative impact, which has drastically reduced the receipts of the State, the Government has ensured availability of adequate resources for payment of salaries, pensions, meeting other committed expenditure and meeting critical expenditure, especially in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While giving the Budget speech, the Finance Minister also placed before the House some of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission for the period 2021-26 .

For 2021-22, the Commission has assessed Rs 4,716 crore as tax devolution for the State.

Against this, the Govt.of India in its Budget 2021-22 has made provisions for Rs 4,765 crore as State's share in Central Taxes for 2021-22 .

The Commission has recommended revenue deficit grant of Rs 2,524 crore for Manipur for 2021-22.There is a substantial reduction in revenue deficit grant from the 2020-21 figure of Rs 2,824 .

The 15th Finance Commission has recommended grants for Zilla Parishads, Gram Panchayats, Autonomous District Councils and the Urban Local Bodies and an amount of Rs 195 crore is recommended for 2021-22.Additional amount of Rs 44 crore is earmarked as Health Sector Grants through local Governments and this amount shall be used for strengthening health infrastructure at rural and urban local bodies' level.

Out of Rs 195 crore, 60% of the Grant shall be tied whereas 40% of the Grant shall be untied.

Yumnam Joykumar Singh also informed the House that the 15th Finance Commission in its report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 has prescribed certain entry level conditions for availing Local Bodies Grants.

For the Rural Local Bodies level, the Commission has recommended online availability of both provisional accounts of the previous year and audited accounts of the year before as the entry level condition to avail of the grants.

The Commission has also laid down entry level conditions for availing grants for Urban Local Bodies as well.

Urban Local Bodies have to mandatorily prepare and make available online in the public domain annual accounts of the previous year and the duly audited accounts of the year before previous.

Further, States have to appropriately notify floor rates of Property Tax and thereafter show consistent improvement in collection in tandem with growth rate of State's own GSDP.

In his concluding remarks, the Finance Minister stated that the last five years of the Government has seen the State move forward on all fronts and sectors.

The actions and achievements have been duly recognised in various forums.

Handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and management of the economy and public finances during this dire time have reaffirmed the trust of the people in the present Government.

The Government will continue to work tirelessly for the people of the State and this Budget is proof of this commitment.

It is not miracles but hard work, cooperation, grit and the blessing of the people that has enabled the Government to make many achievements in a short span of four years.

It is a strong belief of the Government that the people will continue to put their trust in the Government and allow to serve for many more years to come.

Revised Estimates 2020-21
In the Budget Estimate for 2020-21, total expenditure estimated was Rs 20,870 crore and the total expenditure during RE 2020-21 was revised to Rs 24,986 crore.

The Finance Minister informed that revenue receipts and capital receipts were estimated at Rs 18,083 crore and Rs 2,063 crore respectively in Budget Estimates 2020-21 .

This has now revised to Rs 17,517 crore and Rs 4,853 crore in RE 2020-21 respectively.

The Capital outlay has increased significantly from the Budget Estimates of Rs 3,356 crore to Rs 4,541 crore in the Revised Estimates.

All overall receipts and expenditure figures are inclusive of Ways and Means Advances and Repayments.

Taking into account all receipts and expenditures, the current year is expected to have a budgetary deficit of Rs 2,616 crore in RE 2020-21 as against the deficit of Rs 723 crore in BE 2020-21 .

The fiscal deficit for 2020-21 (RE) is projected at Rs 3,743 crore, which is 9.93 % of GSDP.

Demands for Supplementary Grants for the year 2020 - 2021
The Deputy Chief Miniser also presented the Supplementary Demands for Grants 2020-2021 .

The Supplementary Grants sought for, are of the order of Rs 5,533 crore covering 39 Demands and 1 Appropriation.

Out of this, Rs 2,346 crore is charged on the Consolidated Fund of the State and Rs 3,187 crore is to be voted by the House.

He stated that this is inclusive of the repayment of Ways and Means Advances.

Demands for Excess Grants
Demands for Excess Grants for the year 2016-2017 was also presented by the Deputy Chief Miniser.

He said that during the financial year 2016-17, an excess expenditure of Rs 50.73 crore occurred under one Appropriation which is related to revenue expenditure and the excess under revenue expenditure was mainly due to re-payment of ways and means advances, payment of interest on market loans etc. The excess amounts over the charged appropriation need regularization as recommended by the Committee on Public Accounts.

The PAC has made valuable recommendations for the improvement of the budgeting system and for enforcing stricter financial discipline.

He also informed the House that Government has accorded due regard to the recommendations of the Committee.

Question and Answer
Replying to a question raised by MLA Shri K Ranjit Singh, Transport Minister Vungzagin Valte informed the House that Manipur has received a total number of 14 (fourteen) Semi Low Floor Buses (SLF) under Jawaharhal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM) in the year 2012.However, out of the total 14 buses, only 1 bus is operational.

Government has a plan to auction some of the buses to Tourism Department and LDA, the Minister added.

Responding to a question raised by MLA Surjakumar Okram, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said that the total number of doctors, paramedical staff and other official/staff in Government and empanelled private hospitals that contracted COVID-19 on Covid duty as on date are 974 and the number of such persons that expired as on date is 1(one), as the interpretation of Covid warriors is limited only to those persons rendering their duty/service in identified institutions including private hospitals.

The claim for compensation of Rs 50 lakh insurance cover under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to the family members is under process.

Application for job under Die-in-Harness Scheme will also be processed when required, he added.

In another question raised by MLA K Ranjit Singh, Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi stated that due to drought like situation in the State, Agriculture Department provided 130 pumps to the farmers from 2017-2020 .

So far, District Agriculture Officer concerned has retrieved 7 pumps and is in department's custody.

Out of the 7 pumps, 6 are functioning while 1 is not serviceable.

Papers laid on table of the House In today's session, leader of the House, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar Singh, Commerce & Industries Minister Th Biswajit Singh and Law & Legislative Affairs Minister Th Satyabrata Singh laid 15 ( fifteen) papers on the Table of the House.

Leader of the House N Biren Singh laid The Manipur Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No 6 of 2020) which was promulgated by the Governor of Manipur on October 14, 2020; the 48th Annual Report of the Manipur Public Service Commission, 2019-2020; the Annual Report of the State Vigilance Commission, Manipur, 2019-20 and the Annual Report of the Manipur Lokayukta, 2019-20.While Y Joykumar Singh laid the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No 2 of 2020); the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Third Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No 4 of 2020); the Manipur Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No 3 of 2020); the Manipur Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No 5 of 2020); State Finance Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 31, 2019; Economic Survey Manipur, 2020-21 and The Manipur Gazette-Extraordinary No 308 published by the Government of Manipur, Finance Department (Lottery Section) .

The ordinances were promulgated by the Governor of Manipur during 2020 on different dates, 18th May; 20th September; 22nd May and 6th October respectively.

Commerce and Industries Minister, Th Biswajit Singh laid Ordinances, the Manipur Industrial Single Window Clearance Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur ordinance No7 of 2020) and the Manipur Public Services Delivery Guarantee Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No 8 of 2020) which were promulgated by the Governor of Manipur on December 14, 2020 .

The Manipur Court fees (Manipur Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 (Manipur Ordinance No1 of 2020) which was promulgated by the Governor of Manipur on May 15, 2020 and the Presidential Order and Ministry of Law & Justice's Notification were laid on Table of the House by Law & Legislative Affairs Minister Th Satyabrata Singh.

As part of today's business, Government Bills were also introduced.

The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Third Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 13 of 2021) and The Manipur Fiscal Responsibility and Budget management (Second Amendment ) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 14 of 2021); the Asian International University, Manipur Bill, 2021 (Bill No1 of 2021) and The Manipur Private Universities Bill, 2021 (Bill No 2 of 2021) and The Manipur Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2021 (Bill No 5 of 2021) were moved and introduced by the respective Ministers, Deputy Chief Minister (Y Joykumar Singh, Education Minister SRajen Singh and Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi Singh.