Spokesperson of the Govt said that the State Government has done well in establishing an institutional mechanism on fiscal transparency and accountability as evident from the year-on-year presentation of outcome budgets. These outcome indicators tend to serve the limited purpose of measuring the department-wise performance against the targets.
He said that Even the CAG report in its background note mentioned the same and has appreciated efforts of State Government in this direction. He said that the budget estimates both for receipt and expenditure of the State Government were framed as per estimates received from the departments which are examined at the level of Finance Department in view of actual receipt and expenditure trend of last three years. As these estimates are framed a year advance any deviation ( increase and decrease) in these estimates during the course of year are reflected/ taken into account in the Revised Estimates of the year, which are placed before the State Legislature as per set norms and practice being followed by all States as well as Union Government.
He said that in addition, token provisions are being made under receipt and expenditure in almost all centrally sponsored schemes which leads to major deviation both under Receipt, estimates and expenditure on receipt of actual releases from the Central Government. He said that expenditure was bound to increase due to liabilities on Pension, Wages, Interests, Salaries, maintenance etc. Moreover, the State Budget is more transparent in comparison to other states, he said. Moreover, the State Government is fulfilling the conditionalities imposed by the 13th Finance Commission, he said.
