Chief Minster Pramod Sawant unveiled his budget proposals for 2023-24 with a marathon two-hour speech that touched upon almost all sectors fortifying his Swayampoorna Goa narrative. Although there is a visible financial mismatch in revenue projections and the growth with the government starring at a whopping Rs 11,000 crore debt funding, the CM has brought in a wave of positivity that has succeeded in overshadowing the doom and gloom that financial pundits have been painting over Goa's economy.
Against the backdrop of Goa losing out Rs 800 crore on GST compensation from the Centre, the State is still banking on the resumption of mining and enhanced State GST collections. Also, the State is banking heavily on the ''double-engine'' governance, with financial aid from the Centre. These are uncomfortable situations for any State seeking to take a giant leap into the future.
More importantly, the chief minister has shown sensitivity to the need of the hour and has touched up areas that desperately needed attention. While deft touches were given to the concept of self-reliance, there have been encouraging attempts to wade into technology and online system, and that's another positive.
In addition to the existing web-based services, the CM has proposed an inter-department hub to be activated this year, digital payment gateways for government corporations, time-bound delivery of public services via an Online Portal, State Water Informatics System at Sinchayi Bhavan Porvorim to provide real-time data on water availability and its distribution in the State, an app for passenger information system of KTCL routes and bus stops, the introduction of Intelligent Transport Management System to integrate buses and other modes of last mile connectivity, a GIS-based monitoring system to avoid duplication of works by multiple govt. Many others provide ease and accessibility to citizens.
There are also innovative schemes that are centred around the welfare of common citizens. For example, the Mukhyamantri Saral Pagar Yojana aims to provide employees instant wages anytime in the month proportional to the number of days worked.
Sawant has presented a wholesome budget that has something for every segment. Moreover, the CM, via his budget, has acknowledged past shortcomings and engaged in course correction with positive steps. The proposal reflects a sense of intent; the question is about implementation and delivery.
The projections may pale against a dismal record of Sawant accomplishing less than 40 per cent of the 2022-23 budget proposals. However, no government has ever achieved cent per cent success in achieving budgetary announcements over a one-year horizon because it is a work in progress. Unfulfilled promises of the past year should not deter the government from pursuing new goals.
The only worry for Sawant is that he faces a tight fiscal condition, and his revenue streams are not matching expenditure requirements. The budget provides the feel-good factor that makes everyone happy and creates a lovely illusion. However, the reality is different, with the government sometimes feeling pangs of austerity. So the government will have to continue walking a tightrope doing a delicate balancing act between revenue and expenditure. A significant positive for the Goa government is that it enjoys the Centre's confidence, and Sawant's concluding comment, "Bivpachi Garaz Na'' says it all.
