The Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024, was approved by the Odisha Assembly on Thursday, enabling the state government to use ₹12,156 crore from its Consolidated Fund for the balance of the fiscal year 2024–2025. Despite a walkout by Congress and BJD opposition members, the measure was approved. In addition to the ₹2.65 lakh crore yearly expenditure that was declared in July, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who oversees the Finance ministry, submitted the extra budget of ₹12,156 crore on November 26. The Supplementary Appropriation Bill was introduced in the Assembly by Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan when Majhi was away in Mumbai for the swearing-in ceremony of Maharashtra’s new government.
In his speech, Harichandan outlined the main features of the supplemental budget in favor of the measure. Program expenditures were ₹10,155 crore, he stated, with ₹8,121 crore going to state sector programs, ₹2,011 crore going to centrally sponsored initiatives, and ₹23 crore going to federal sector schemes. New funds were also included in the budget, such as 92 crore for the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) and 142 crore for constituency-specific development under the Rural Development Department.
Additional funds were allocated ₹125 crore for the January 2025 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar, ₹130 crore for the establishment of centers of excellence in 22 ITIs, ₹26 crore for the Srimandir Parikrama Project, and ₹5 crore for the Ratna Bhandar of the Puri-based Lord Jagannath Temple.
Subhadra Yojana, the State’s premier women’s welfare initiative, was given a hefty ₹1,196 crore budget. Eligible women are entitled receive ₹10,000 each year in two installments over a period of five years under this project. According to Harichandan, 80 lakh women have already received ₹4,180 crore as the first installment of ₹5,000, and by the end of current fiscal year, 1 crore women will have received the benefit. Harichandan underlined that the government’s commitment to inclusive development is reflected in the supplemental budget, which prioritizes infrastructure improvement, women’s empowerment, and rural upliftment. He went on to say that the bill’s passing demonstrates the state’s determination to fulfill urgent developmental demands and spur growth.
