Jammu, January 18, (Scoop News)- A preparatory meeting to draw broader outlines for the next year’s Budget (2014-2015) was held here today under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather, in view of the Government’s move to advance the Budget Session of the State Legislature aiming at passing of full budget instead of ‘Vote on Account’, well before the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct by the Election Commission of India, expected anytime in the beginning of March, 2014.
A threadbare discussion was held to device various strategies regarding presentation of Budget immediately after passing of Motion of Thanks on the Governor’s Address by the House. A tentative calendar was worked out for presentation of ‘Demands for Grants’ before the House and passage of the Appropriation Bill towards the close of February 2014.
The Economic Advisor to Government, Jalil Ahmed Khan; Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, B. B. Vyas; Commissioner Excise, Ms. Vineeta Gupta; Commissioner Commercial Taxes, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi, Director General Budget, Dr. M. Ishaq Wani, Director General Accounts and Treasuries, Mirza Altaf Hussain, Chief Coordinator Finance, Ms. Rashim Kashyap and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
It was also decided in the meeting that the pre-budget consultations with various stake holders shall be initiated from January, 24th and 25th at Srinagar followed by the discussion at Jammu on 27th and 28th January, 2014. There shall be consultation with the representatives of Chambers of Commerce and Industries, Federations of Industries, Hoteliers, Traders, Intellectuals and Experts and Group of Farmers separately at Srinagar and Jammu.
It may be noted that the Budget Session of 2014-15 is proposed to be advanced by about three weeks from the previous year when it started on February 28th, 2013.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister asked the concerned officers to complete their respective assigned tasks regarding preparation of Budget proposals and allied matters in a time bound manner as per the tentative schedule worked out. He also asked to complete Economic Survey Report for the year 2013-14 at the earliest for its presentation in the ensuing Budget Session.
In the meanwhile, a team of senior officers of the Government comprising of the Economic Advisor, Principal Secretary to Government, Planning and Development Department, Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department and other related officers is rushing to Delhi to hold discussions in the Planning Commission on 23rd January, 2014 to firm up resource position for the next year’s Annual Plan which shall be a part of the Budgetary proposals.
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