In India, a budget is not a collection of numbers and figures, but an expression of the needs and aspirations of the citizens. Giving a practical sense to the meaning of this statement, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has initiated a dialogue with all sections of the society for the upcoming Rajasthan Budget 2016. Giving an extension to this feat from last year (Raje invites budget suggestions from citizens every year), Vasundhara Raje has herself gone to all divisional headquarters of the State to seek inputs and insights on the upcoming Rajasthan budget 2016.
The course started with a meeting between State Government officials and State Tax Advisory Committee in which members of the committee gave their inputs as to how the budget could be made more people friendly. CM Raje called on the industries and businesses to bring change in existing mindsets and support advancement of technology in taxation. While she reiterated her commitment towards simplification of taxation, she also advised the industries to have enriched relations with the labour organizations so that more investors show confidence in the State. CM Vasundhara Raje took serious feedback on ideas and enhancements related to the budget and assured that this budget for the state of Rajasthan will be a prototypical financial plan that shall truly meet the aspirations of the people.
On the same day, CM of Rajasthan Smt. Vasundhara Raje also took feedback from various sections of the society. In the budget discussion with the agro-community (agriculture, dairy and animal husbandry), CM said to the farmers that Rajasthan should soon become the first organic-farming state in the country. Laying utmost importance on organic farming and its benefits, subjects like importance of use of new technologies, ensuring the availability of markets for agricultural products, water management for agriculture, focus on animal husbandry, increasing participation of women in agriculture, new agricultural education courses and institutions, problems of stray animals were also discussed. The meeting was followed by another feedback session with representatives from Tribal communities of the state.
“The state government’s effort is to make the budget more inclusive and development-oriented. Every section of society should give their suggestions for the budget,” Raje said.
Another session series on Budget 2016 was carried out in Indira Gandhi Panchayti Raj Institute that involved representatives of NGOs, civil society and consumer forums. Vasundhara Raje stated that the attempt of the State Government is to make budget 2016 more inclusive and leading to development on the ground. The idea is to involve all sections of the society. Public support is crucial for the advancement of the state. NGOs, civil society and the public should come forward to help the Government, so we can create a prosperous and new Rajasthan. In a unique attempt to involve the youth and women, CM Raje met various youths, women and meritorious students and asked for their advice for the Rajasthan budget 2016. Raje said that she would tour all divisional headquarters in the state to seek suggestions from public representatives and the people for drawing up a budget that addresses the needs and necessities of the public.
True to her word, CM Vasundhara Raje has taken feedbacks from public representatives at all divisional headquarters, to ensure proper understanding of regional needs and feedback from the ground level.
“I am touring all the divisional headquarters in order to seek the suggestions and learn of the demands of public representatives and the people with a view to incorporate them in the upcoming budget”, Raje said at the meeting.
The meeting lasted for over five hours and was attended by core committee members from Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Barmer along with district administration and police officials.
CM Raje has also invited proposals to facilitate the drawing up of a “people-friendly budget” that would ensure inclusive development of all the constituencies. In the Pre-budget meetings, public representatives were asked to submit three suggestions each as per the requirements and aspirations of the people and the areas they represented. Chief Minister Raje assured the elected representatives that efforts would be made to accommodate maximum of their suggestions in the state budget likely to be presented in second week of March.
The wide array of suggestions did not stop here. After seeking suggestions from various segments of the society and elected representatives from all divisions, CM Vasundhara Raje took to twitter to ask the citizens of the State to become a part of the budget drafting process:
हमारा प्रयास है कि #Budget2016 अधिक समावेशी व विकास को धरातल पर लाने वाला हो–इसलिए हर वर्ग से सुझाव लिए जा रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/LsrmXBkRUY
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) February 8, 2016
It was interesting to see that while the traders and business sectors wanted lower taxes, some noteworthy suggestions came during the discussions on requirements for women. Several representatives from women’s organizations requested for a separate special single-window system for women entrepreneurs. The women representatives also requested that the government provide hostel facilities to working women across the state even as the self-help groups requested help for marketing their products. Other suggestions revolved around sanitation, plantation, lower taxes, water and power along with better sports facilities. Raje took a serious note of both complaints and suggestions and assured of maximum incorporation in the upcoming Rajasthan budget 2016.
