BENGALURU:  Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa is set to present the state Budget for the ensuing fiscal year 2021-22 in the Assembly on Monday, March 8,  an official has said.

Since Yediyurappa took over the pedals of the southern state as Chief Minister for the fourth time on July 26, 2019, he presented in the House the state Budget then JD-S chief minister H.D Kumaraswamy presented on February 8, 2019 for fiscal 2019-20 and got it passed by voice vote on July 29, 2019 to ensure continuity.

Putting behind the travails of the virus that disrupted normal life for nearly a year, the budget is expected to focus more on development works and women's welfare. "The state Budget will give priority to development works and women's welfare. This is my assurance to all women in the state," said Yediyurappa a week ago at a public event at Soraba in his home district of Shivamogga.

The month-long Budget session of the state legislature which began on March 4, is expected to pass the Budget by this month-end for implementation from April 1. The pandemic, however, stalled most of the development works though allocations were made in the Budget but could not be spent due to Covid-induced extended lockdown and restrictions to prevent the virus spread.

"Besides coronavirus, heavy rains and floods during the extended southwest monsoon in August-October also reduced tax collections and revenue mobilization, as the economy was unlocked gradually and the new normal set in to check the infection," said the official.

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