In a meeting held at Civil Secretariat here today Governor N.N Vohra was provided a briefing about the preparation of Annual Budget 2016-17. The meeting was attended by Mr. B.R. Sharma, Chief Secretary, Mr. B.B. Vyas, Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department and Mr. Navin K Choudhary, Commissioner/Secretary, Finance. Mr. P.K Tripathi, Principal Secretary to Governor was also present in the discussions.The Governor, who was briefed about the salient features of the Budget, including Tax proposals, by Financial Commissioner Planning and Commissioner Finance, directed that before finalizing the projected allocations adequate provision must be made to meet the State share of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes, particularly including the schemes which were recently announced in the Union Budget e.g Crop Insurance Scheme.
The Governor also stressed the need to devote special focus to identified thrust areas which are critical for the growth and development of the State, particularly Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries, Poultry, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Tourism, and Power Development. He stressed on the Finance Secretary to evolve tax proposals for rationalizing the tax structure, plugging existing loopholes and promoting ease of business while helping raise additional resources. A Raj Bhavan Spokesperson added that the Budget proposals will be considered in a special meeting of the State Administrative Council which is scheduled to be held on 15th March, 2016 at the Civil Secretariat.