New Delhi, Dec 20: During a pre-budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Jaisalmer on Friday evening, various states presented several key demands.
Various states urged the central government to increase its contribution to land acquisition costs for projects. Additionally, some states proposed a boost in the allocation for 50-year interest-free loans.
Furthermore, there were requests for higher borrowing limits to facilitate fiscal activities, as well as an increase in the honorarium for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers.
Punjab and Kerala specifically requested special financial packages, advocating for more loans, grants, and flexible borrowing options.
States highlighted the importance of additional funding for disaster relief and requested an increased allocation for the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
There were also appeals for more resources for the Jal Jeevan Mission to enhance water supplies through tanks and storage.
As part of the pre-budget consultations, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired a meeting with states and Union Territories in Jaisalmer on Friday.
Accompanying her was Union Minister for State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, along with Chief Ministers from Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya, and Odisha; Deputy Chief Ministers from Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana; as well as the Finance Ministers of various states and Union Territories.
Also in attendance were secretaries from the Departments of Economic Affairs and Expenditure, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Finance.
The meeting was part of a series of engagements attended by ministers from states and Union Territories in Jaisalmer ahead of the GST Council meeting scheduled for Saturday.
The Finance Minister has previously met with various stakeholders, including representatives from MSMEs, farmers’ associations, and economists.
The Finance Ministry conducts multiple pre-budget consultations with experts, industry leaders, economists, and state officials annually. The formal preparations for the annual Budget for the upcoming financial year are already underway.
Following tradition, the Budget for 2025-26 is set to be presented on February 1, 2025.
This upcoming budget will be Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s eighth, and attention will be on the significant announcements and the government’s economic outlook. (Agencies)
