Agartala: Chief Executive Member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council Purna Chandra Jamatia on Wednesday tabled a budget worth Rs 1445.4 crore for the next financial year—2024-25. According to a press statement issued by the ADC administration, this year’s budget outlay saw a rise of 26.5 percent compared to the last financial year, which was Rs 1,135 crore.
Discussions on the budget are slated to be held on Thursday. In his budget speech, Chief Executive Member TTAADC Purna Chandra Jamatia highlighted the concerns over the shrinking flow of funds to the autonomous body which had been adversely impacting the administrative functioning of the administration.
“As we embark on the new fiscal year, we are eyeing to create employment opportunities for youth. We also strive to decentralize the administration by setting up new zonal and sub-zonal offices in the next fiscal year. To make sure development reaches every household, we need funds. The sad state of TTAADC’s funding is not hidden. We are yet to receive funds from the state government for our committed expenditure such as payment of salaries,” Jamatia told EastMojo over the phone.
According to him, in return for their Rs 1,135 crore budget proposals, the state government only approved Rs 672 crore. Out of that, only Rs 514 crore was released.
“Rs 67 crore for payment of salaries to the deputed staff is still due. In addition, Rs 108 crore sanctioned funds for development projects are withheld by the state government for reasons unknown. These funds are already sanctioned,” he explained.
Elaborating further on the paucity of funds, Jamatia said, “On several occasions, we have invited the finance minister to come over here in the TTAADC headquarters and conduct review meetings. We have also sought time so that we can apprise him of the financial challenges we are going through in the TTAADC. It is very unfortunate that they were very unwilling to hear our problems. Instead, they pass sweeping remarks such as whatever we get for the ADC is much more than what we deserve.”
On being asked about the authenticity of the claims made by the BJP that TTAADC had opposed the audit, Jamatia rubbished the allegations stating that it was never the truth.
“It is the state government that is empowered to hold audits. Our administration comes under the full control of the state government. They can conduct audits even if we oppose the move, and what could be the reason for opposing the audit? It would only expose the poor financial health of the TTAADC before the public. If the government wants, we shall embrace it smiling,” Jamatia told EastMojo.
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