In the urban expanse of Guwahati, the governmental body of Assam unfolded an intricate financial tableau on Monday, revealing a substantial budget of Rs 2.9 lakh crore for the impending fiscal year of 2024-2025. Noteworthy was the fiscal quirk – a deficit of Rs 774.47 crore, defying the conventional fiscal expectations. The astute Finance Maestro, Ajanta Neog, presided over this fiscal unveiling, artfully steering away from imposing any novel taxation burdens on the populace. Neog, in her fiscal oration, went beyond the mundane numbers, revealing a societal ambition: the facilitation of education for a commendable cohort of 10 lakh young women, guiding them through the academic echelons to post-graduation, with the noble intent of eradicating the specter of child matrimony from the societal tapestry.
The tapestry of fiscal projection for 2024-25, woven meticulously by Neog, unfolded a panorama of financial inflows. A substantial Rs 1,43,605.56 crore graced the coffers under the Consolidated Fund of the state. The financial tapestry continued its rich pattern with an infusion of Rs 1,44,550.08 crore into the Public Account, accompanied by a strategic deposit of Rs 2,000 crore into the Contingency Fund. The grand summation of these financial currents reached an imposing total of Rs 2,90,155.65 crore.
In contrast, the financial tableau sketched its expenditure narrative. The outlay from the Consolidated Fund for the fiscal epoch of 2024-25 stood at an estimable Rs 1,43,890.62 crore, a testament to the governmental fiscal acumen. Neog, in her fiscal narration, delved into the nuances, factoring in an additional expenditure of Rs 1,42,670.09 crore under the Public Account, coupled with a judicious allocation of Rs 2,000 crore from the Contingency Fund. The cumulative financial tapestry thus unveiled painted a portrait of meticulous governance, with the aggregate expenditure projected at Rs 2,88,560.71 crore.
Addressing the economic dimensions of the state, Neog illuminated the canvas with the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), prognosticating its ascension to an impressive Rs 6.43 lakh crore in the imminent financial year, a substantial ascent from the preceding Rs 5.7 lakh crore witnessed in 2023-24. The economic landscape, thus depicted, showcased the resilience and growth potential embedded in the economic sinews of Assam.
