''Outcome budget'' presented, gender budgeting in offing

Patna, Mar 24 (UNI) Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today presented the ''Outcome budget'' for 2006-07 in the state Assembly.

Presenting the ''Outcome Budget'', Mr Modi said its objective was to focus attention on outcome rather than expenditure, which the people were interested in.

Later, Mr Modi told newspersons that the NDA government believed that the outlays did not necessarily mean outcomes and hence the ''outcome budget' was one initiative of the government in accordance with the belief.

He said it was also a pre-expenditure instrument to help realise the governments vision through well defined outputs/outcome as a supplement to the current system of the post expenditure review.

Mr Modi said the government would incorporate 'gender budgeting' and 'performance budget' with the states annual budget from the next financial year.

The 'gender budgeting' would reflect fund spent for progress of women in different departments.

Similarly, the government would also highlight the fund spent on welfare of SCs and STs in the government departments.

Meanwhile, Bihar assembly passed the state annual budget for 2006-07, thus authorising the government to withdraw a sum of more than Rs 29220.64 crore from the state consolidated fund for meeting expenses accrued under different heads till March 31, 2007.

The related Bihar Appropriation Bill, 2006 was also passed by the voice vote.

Detracting from the earlier practice, funds meant for different departments would be placed this time in a single installment.

UNI DH TJP RD SC KN2048