Least time allotted for budget talks

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Legislative Assembly has allotted only one-and-a-half day for discussion on budget but more than two days for that on the governor’s address.
The calendar for the Assembly’s budget session, which is starting from Friday, says there will be full-day discussion on the governor’s address on March 6 and 8. It will be continued again on March 10 followed by the chief minister’s reply to the debate.
The general discussion on the budget will be on March 17 till 2pm.
The discussion will continue on March 20 till 1 pm to be followed by the reply of the finance minister on the same day.
Six days have been reserved for private members’ business during the Assembly session.
Sharing his views on the matter, Dadenggre legislator and NPP leader James Sangma said both issues are important but more days should have been allotted for discussion on the budget.
“Governor’s address is more of a policy document whereas budget is allocation to departments, which requires important discussion,” he said.
On the other hand, UDP MLA Jemino Mawthoh said it is the wisdom of the Business Advisory Committee on how it allots time.
Mawthoh, however, said opposition parties feel that the duration of the session is short in view of the fact that many issues are to be discussed, besides the budget.