SHILLONG, Feb 6: The Budget session of the state Assembly will begin on February 28.
The Budget will be presented on March 5 by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who holds the Finance portfolio.
The Assembly’s Business Advisory Committee (BAC) on Thursday finalised a 10-day schedule for the session.
The BAC has listed three working days for private members’ business and seven days for government business.
Deputy Chief Minister and in charge of Parliamentary Affairs Prestone Tynsong, Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma, Trinamool Congress state president Charles Pyngrope, government advisor Lahkmen Rymbui and other officials from the Parliamentary Affairs department and Assembly Secretariat attended the discussion on the calendar for the Budget session.
Asked why only three days have been given for private business, Assembly Speaker Thomas A Sangma said, “I think three days for private members’ business is good enough where we have ten working days. This is a Budget session. We will discuss the Budget as well as the Governor’s Address on two days. It is justified.”
On concerns about members not getting enough time to participate, the Speaker said, “I think there should be enough time for everybody. We have also decided that in case there is a shortage of time, we will be happy to extend the time even on Fridays.” Mukul Sangma said, “We have agreed for three days of private members business. The rest of the days are allotted for government business.”
“As we dwelt upon, we looked at how best to utilise the available time so that the members are able to flag the issues confronting the people and the state, and articulate them properly,” he said.
“When we discuss various proposals of the government for getting the vote of the House to spend money from the public exchequer vis-à-vis demands for grants, this particular exercise must be considered very important because we put the same to scrutiny,” the TMC leader said.
He added that keeping this particular responsibility of the members in mind, it was discussed that adequate time should be given so that they can discuss and articulate.
He reiterated that the time for scrutiny by the House must be adequate, especially on the day when the demands for grants are taken up for its consideration.
