Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said that the state’s budget for the financial year 2025-26 would play a significant role in the development of the state, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s goal of building a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The Rs 32,423.44 crore tax-free Budget for FY 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on the first day of the ongoing budget session of the Tripura assembly on March 21, was adopted in the house on Friday.
Participating in the budget discussion in the state assembly, the Chief Minister said that this budget has been presented in the interest of people from all sections of society.
“This budget is for the welfare of women, students, youth, Divyangjan (otherwise abled people), tribals, Scheduled Castes, OBCs, minorities, employees, pensioners, ex-servicemen, and above all, the general public,” he told the house.
The Chief Minister said that under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has risen from 11th place to 5th place in terms of economic stability and growth in the world.
“Government under the leadership of Modi has been vigorously working towards becoming the third-largest economy in the world by 2030. Tripura government is also working in that direction and to increase GSDP, per capita income, infrastructure development and to maintain fiscal discipline,” he said.
CM Saha stated that the people of Tripura have returned the BJP-led government to power for the second time (in 2023), trusting in the development vision of PM Modi.
He mentioned that the state budget has given priority to six issues – proper allocation of resources, economic growth, welfare and development, fiscal responsibility, revenue planning, and transparency and accountability.
“The state’s own revenue collection in the financial year 2017-18 was Rs 1,915 crore. The potential revenue collection in the financial year 2025-26 is expected to be Rs 4,514 crore. This proves our goal of building a self-reliant Tripura,” the Chief Minister stated.
CM Saha emphasised that the present state government does not want to burden the state with debt.
“This year, we are keeping the debt within the permissible limit of 3 per cent of GSDP. For 2025-26, we have made a provision of only Rs 1,225 crore as market debt. The state government is trying to take up the maximum number of projects under the External Aided Scheme. Currently, we have 10 ongoing projects.”
Claiming that the Tripura government’s success is being recognised all over the country, he said that through the successful implementation of various central projects, not only is the socio-economic development of the people of the state taking place, but infrastructural development is also coming to the attention of the people.
Not only the budget, but beyond that, our double-engine government (Centre and state) is particularly sensitive in improving the quality of life and employment opportunities for people across the state.
“Our goal is to provide overall development to citizens from all walks of life,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that a review of the budgets of previous years shows that the state budget allocation is increasing every year during the tenure of the BJP government. The Budget allocation for the financial year 2017-18 was Rs 15,956.56 crore.
The proposed Budget allocation for the current financial year 2025-26 has increased to Rs. 32,423 crore, which is a 103.21 per cent increase, he pointed out.
Meanwhile, Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy while presenting the annual Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal on the first day of the Budget session of the state Assembly on March 21 had announced 13 new schemes for the welfare of farmers, girls, women, youth and the poor people.
The Finance Minister announced a new scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana’.
Under this scheme, the state government would cover the cost of marriage for a girl child from ‘Antyodaya’ (poor) family and an amount of Rs 50,000 would be spent by the state government.
“Mass marriage would be conducted at Subdivision level. An amount of Rs 10 crore is allocated for this purpose.”
He announced another new scheme ‘Mukhyamantri Balika Samriddhi Yojana’. Under this scheme, an investment of Rs 50,000 would be made against a new born girl child of ‘Antodyaya’ (poor) family and the amount can be encashed with the value at maturity, after the girl attains 18 years of age. A Budget provision of Rs 15 crore is allocated for the scheme for the year 2025-26.
(IANS)
