Now, Odisha people can send budget suggestions via email, SMS

Odisha government on Friday launched a webpage and an SMS number to accept suggestions from the general public to increase their participation in budget preparation. 

"The finance department has been holding pre budget consultation with the cross section of the society. There is a need to take a step ahead and make the budgetary process open and participative using ICT through e mail and SMS," Finance Minister Pradip Kumar Amat told reporters.

He said the finance department developed a webpage, budget.odisha.gov.in, to host the budget documents and suggestions are invited in a structured format (displayed in the web page) for preparation of Annual Budget 2016 17. Similarly, suggestions can also be sent through SMS to the mobile number (+91) 9438161111, he said.

The facility will be available for a fortnight beginning from Friday. Members of the public, civil society organisation, advocacy groups are requested to make use of this opportunity to participate in the budget-making process of the state government, the finance minister said.

Amat said Odisha Government is one of the most advanced states in the country in implementing such a system.