Tax-free deficit budget present in Sikkim

Gangtok, Feb 23 (UNI) Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, also holding the Finance portfolio, today presented a tax-free deficit budget of Rs 4179.08 crore for the fiscal 2006-07.

While the total projected receipt of the state was put at Rs 4115.45 crore, the total projected disbursement was kept at Rs 4179.08 crore leaving a defict of Rs 63.63 crore.

However, no new tax was imposed .

Presenting the budget, Mr Chamling said human security was the theme of his budget and announced a number of steps to improve the quality of life of the people of state.

The Chief Minister announced to continue the government's efforts to secure full safety and security to the people of the state, work to brdging the rural-urban gap by providing urban facilities to the rural people, provide safe drinking water, quality power and education to the people of the state.

More housing for the poor households, total sanitation, more opportunities to the educated youth for self-employment and the observance of 2006 as the capacity building year by providing a number of training programmes were other steps taken for the development of the quality of life of the people of the state, he said.

Mr Chamling said his government was determined to wipe out the fiscal deficit by taking a number of stringent fiscal measures.

He said a blanket ban would be enforced on the extension of services of retiring employees, and a large number of posts to be vacated in 2007-08 due to retirement would be eliminated.

A ten per cent deduction in non-plan expenditure, stringent austerity measures in all government spending, more vigilance and levy of taxes on certain services and commodities would be imposed to bridge the budget deficit.

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