The Odisha State government on Friday has presented the first supplementary budget of Rs 11,200 crore in the Assembly. It comes as a part of re-prioritisation of allocations with COVID-19 pandemic at the centre of focused efforts. Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari, presented the budget, and said the provisions include Rs 2,273 crore for administrative expenditure, Rs 7,438 crore for programme expenditure, Rs 1,484 crore towards disaster management funds and Rs 5 crore towards transfer to local bodies. 

The Minister said the budget focus is on health, food and social security, livelihood and employment generation, besides, giving a boost to domestic demand and revival of the State economy. The packages announced by the Chief Minister like COVID-19 warrior special assistance and in handloom, textiles and handicraft sector, MSME and Mission Shakti have been fully funded, he said. The supplementary budget size is about 7.5% of the 2021 Budget estimates, which sticks to the good practices of keeping the provision well below 10% of the annual budget. 

The allocations under the administrative expenditure and transfer to local bodies are to be financed against adjustment and surrender, the Finance Minister said that allocations under the disaster management funds will be financed against year-end balance and anticipated receipts from the National Disaster Response Fund.The Finance Minister said, "We have to continue with the cautious approach as possibility of another wave of Covid infection as witnessed in other countries cannot be ruled out."

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