The Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday presented its second supplementary budget for the current fiscal year, amounting to a substantial Rs 13,476.94 crore. The budget was tabled in the state assembly by Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda, who also holds the finance portfolio.
Key Allocations and Department-Wise Breakdown
Out of the total outlay, the revenue head accounts for Rs 8,448.57 crore, while the capital head receives Rs 5,028.37 crore. A significant portion of these funds is directed towards the state's flagship welfare schemes, aligning with earlier indications.
The budget outlines major provisions for several key departments:
- Rural Development: A massive Rs 4,000 crore has been allocated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for housing.
- Women & Child Development: An allocation of Rs 1,794 crore is made for the 'Mukhyamantri Ladli Behna Yojana 2023', following the recent hike in the monthly benefit to Rs 1,500 per beneficiary.
- Farmers' Welfare & Agriculture: Rs 500 crore has been provisioned under the Bhavantar Bhugtan or flat rate scheme for farmers.
- Food & Civil Supplies: Rs 2,000 crore is set aside under the capital head for loans to procurement institutions.
- Panchayat Department: Rs 1,633 crore is earmarked as grants to local bodies.
Infrastructure and Project-Specific Funding
The supplementary budget also includes critical funding for infrastructure and development projects across the state.
Under the Industrial Policy department, Rs 650 crore is allocated for land acquisition, survey, and demarcation. The Narmada Valley Development department receives Rs 600 crore for land acquisition and rehabilitation work in areas affected by the Sardar Sarovar Project's submergence. An additional Rs 200 crore is provided for the Bargi canal diversion scheme and Rs 94 crore for the Indira Sagar project.
Furthermore, the Public Works Department (PWD) gets a provision of Rs 300 crore for compensation related to land acquisition.
Legislative Process and Next Steps
The presentation of this budget follows a report in late November which indicated the state's plan to bring a supplementary budget of approximately Rs 14,000 crore. According to top sources, the state assembly is scheduled to discuss and debate this supplementary budget for over three hours on Thursday before granting its approval.
This financial move underscores the state government's focus on bolstering its key social welfare initiatives and infrastructure projects in the latter half of the fiscal year.
