Bhubaneswar: The Minister of ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare, Nityananda Gond presented the budget for the year 2024-25 in the State Assembly today, expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Speaker Surama Padhy.
Highlighting the significance of the budget, Minister Gond emphasized that the state’s Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes constitute 22.85% and 5.06% of the total population, respectively, while minorities account for 17.13%, as per the 2011 census.
For the financial year 2024-25, a total budget allocation of Rs 5749 crore has been made, a 23% increase from the previous year’s allocation of Rs 4651.77 crore.
Minister Gond outlined major expenditure priorities in the proposed schemes, focusing on program expenditure (P&E). The budget aims to address the developmental needs of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, minorities, and backward classes.