38-day-long Budget discussions from 19

JAMMU: With all eyes on how it shapes up the all-important annual budget, particularly in the absence of a political dispensation, the Governor’s administration, led by Satya Pal Malik, is all set to hold discussions on the proposals for the budget 2019-20 from 19th of November in the winter capital Jammu, running around a couple of weeks behind the usual timeline followed by successive governments in recent times.
Discussions on Budget Proposals for Revenue and Capital Expenditure for Revised Estimates 2018-19 will also be held in the 38-day-long process which would culminate on December 26, a week after the crucial Panchayat elections would get over.
The Governor’s administration has also stretched the discussions this time to over a month, compared to 11 days period followed last year by PDP-BJP coalition government.
“Discussions on Budget Proposals for Revenue and Capital Expenditure for Revised Estimates 2018-19 and Budget Estimates 2019-20 shall begin here on 19 November 2018,” read a communiqué by the Director Budget, Imtiyaz Ahmad, who asked the Administrative Departments to furnish budget proposals to the Finance Department both in soft and hard form by 20 November 2018.
“Action Taken Report on Budget announcements and complete details regarding Establishment Budget have also to be provided to the Finance Department by November 20,” it said.
According to the communiqué, the discussions on the Budget proposals of Kashmir-based Heads of the Departments shall be held through video-conferencing while the Administrative Secretaries and the Jammu-based Heads of the Departments shall join the discussions on scheduled date and time in the Committee Room 1st Floor, Civil Secretariat Jammu.
As per the schedule announced by the Finance Department, the Budget discussions of Resource Mobilization (CCT/EC/Resource Section) shall be held on Nov 19 at 3 pm; Agriculture Production, Horticulture and allied corporations on Nov 26 at 2.30 pm; Cooperative on Nov 26 at 5 pm; Animal & Sheep Husbandry & Fisheries on Nov 27 at 2.30 pm; Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department on Nov 28 at 2.30 pm; Forest, Ecology & Environment, ARI & Trainings &Stationary on Nov 29 at 2.30 pm; Revenue, Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction on Nov 30 at 2.30 pm; Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs on Dec 3 at 2.30 pm; General Administration Department on Dec 4 at 2.30 pm; Industries and Commerce on Dec 6 at 2.30 pm; Home Department on Dec 7 at 2.30 pm; PWD on Dec 10 at 2.30 pm; Irrigation & Flood Control and PHE Department on Dec 11 at 2.30 pm; Power Development Department on Dec 12 at 2.30 pm; Health &Medical Education on Dec 13 at 2.30 pm; Housing & Urban Development Department Dec 14 at 2.30 pm; School Education, Youth Services & Sports, Technical Education Department on Dec 17 at 2.30 pm; Higher Education on Dec 18 at 2.30 pm; Tourism& Culture Department on Dec 19 at 2.30 pm; Social Welfare Department and allied Corporations and Tribal Affairs Department on Dec 20 at 2.30 pm; Consumer Affairs &Public Distribution Department on Dec 21 at 2.30 pm; Transport and allied Corporations on Dec 24 at 2.30 pm and Science and Technology on same day at 4.30 pm; Planning Development &Monitoring, Hospitality &Protocol, Estates, Ladakh Affairs on Dec 26 at 2.30 pm, Information Department on same day at 5 pm; and Finance and allied Corporations on Dec 27 at 2.30 pm & Labour & Employment on same day at 4 pm.