Odisha CM pledges inclusive budget with wide public consultation

Bhubaneswar, July 12: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi engaged in pre-budget discussions today with civil society, experts, and representatives across various sectors to ensure that the upcoming budget truly mirrors the aspirations of all, dubbed as the 'people's budget'.

Emphasizing the government's commitment to valuing public opinion, he affirmed, "As a government dedicated to the people, our longstanding tradition of prioritizing the voices of the common people will persist."

The discussions took place at the Convention Hall of Lok Sewa Bhawan, where the Chief Minister interacted closely with participants. Accompanying him were Deputy Chief Ministers Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, Principal Secretary Finance Saswat Mishra, and senior officials from the Finance Department.

Addressing the media post-meeting, Chief Minister Majhi highlighted the government's proactive approach in soliciting public feedback. "Our government has consistently valued public opinion since its inception. For the upcoming General Budget 2024-25, we collected feedback online and received over 12,000 comments, a significant increase compared to previous years," he stated.

Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming response, the Chief Minister assured that the government will strive to incorporate these insights into the budgetary decisions to meet the people's expectations effectively.