Chief Minister of Nagaland and Minister in Charge of Finance, Neiphiu Rio stated that the Budget for 2021-22 was people friendly while addressing the media after presenting the Budget for the year 2021-22 at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on 18th Feb, 2021. 

Rio stated that the budget was prepared with special focus on Agri and Allied sectors and to make the State self-sustaining economy. COVID-19 has brought out our dependence on supplies of even basic food items like food grain, fruits, vegetable etc from outside the State and the Government is working out measures to ensure self-sustenance in the long run.    He also added that the austerity measures taken by the Government has managed to cut down on Government expenses amounting to about Rs. 400 crore.

The Chief Minister also stated that the State was losing so much of revenue on the power sector and is a matter urgent public importance as the Department has been running at a deficit and was of the opinion that to derive tangible improvements in the Government sector and enhance the revenues, this budget is setting in motion the process of outsourcing and privatisation in the Power, Transport and Water Supply sectors. This will focus on increasing participatory partnerships with the private sector, especially source owners in water supply, increase economic benefits to the stakeholders as well as the general public and at the same time, it will also help to reduce recurring expenditure of the Government and bring down expenditure to give room for investment in more pressing areas, he added.

                                                            (Akummeren & Morotsung)