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. 

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"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.