Sikkim chief minister Prem Singh Golay presented the Annual Budget 2019-20 on the first day of the Budget Session 2019 at Sikkim Legislative Assembly on Monday.
In his budget speech, the chief minister, who also holds the Finance portfolio, stated that the focus of the government in the current budget will be to review and take stock of the current situation of state finances in view of large committed liabilities of the State and address the immediate and urgent requirement only.
He added that the government will take a view on the further continuance of some the major schemes that have been sanctioned earlier.
Speaking on development inequality, the chief minister mentioned that the latest Economic Survey of India published by Ministry of Finance shows that Sikkim has Rs 2.98 lakhs as per capita income in 2017-18 and this is second highest in the country.
The chief minister also announced the formation of Sikkim Development and Reforms Commission which will be headed by himself and will have a noted development economist as the vice chairman and will have experts, ministers, civil society, private sector, NGOs and community and representatives from opposition party.
The chief minister also made various announcements in the education sector from primary level to higher levels in the maiden budget of the government.
The Chief Minister also presented the White Paper on the Expenditure Commitments, Borrowings and Revenue Potential (Volume I and II) in the House.
The discussion will be taken up on the second day of the House on Tuesday.
Earlier, the proceedings of the first day of the Budget Session 2019-20 commenced with the address of the Governor Ganga Prasad.
In his address, he extended good wishes to the people of Sikkim and expressed hope that the new Government will usher-in happiness and prosperity to the people of the State.