Tops among states in Budget transparency, but none scores very high.
In measuring transparency in information about individual state budgets, Narendra Modi’s Gujarat ranks highest among 10 surveyed by a body that works on participatory governance and analyses budgets for a ‘pro-people’ stance. Madhya Pradesh came a close second.
However, even Gujarat did not get 100 per cent on any of the eight parameters selected by the Centre for Budget and Governance Accountability (CBGA) for its survey. Nor is it the top-ranking state in all the measures. To sum it up, every state must improve upon the system of letting citizens know about the making and details of budgets.
On all parameters combined, Gujarat got the highest, 61.7 per cent marks, against an average of 51.6 per cent for all states. On parameters such as availability of budget documents, completeness of information and its timeliness, the state got first mark. However, it fared badly in audit and performance assessment and in practices relating to fiscal decentralisation.
On facilitating understanding and interpretation of the information and in scope for legislative scrutiny, its marks were only average. In a parameter on practices relating to budgeting for disadvantaged sections, Gujarat scored 63 per cent, behind 71 per cent got by Chhatisgarh and 70 per cent received by Madhya Pradesh. Overall, MP followed Gujarat closely, with 60.2 per cent score. Uttar Pradesh got the least, 43.5 per cent. The other states surveyed were Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa and Rajasthan.
All states need to improve transparency. And, should come out with a separate statement on the estimated revenue forgone for reasons such as tax exemptions given to special economic zones, bring out action taken reports on observations of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on the state budget, etc, CBGA observed.
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When asked why the body had come out with a survey on state budgets when all eyes were focused on the Centre’s coming budget, CBGA Director Subrat Das said most states present budgets between February 15 and March 15.
CBGA had no comparable survey on the Central government, said Das. But added that their analyses of various budgets by the Union Government showed the Centre fares over states in terms of availability of budget documents, timeliness of information, audit and performance assessment, and scope for legislative scrutiny. But it scores worse than the states in terms fiscal decentralisation. Das said the proposed DTC might improve transparency of the Union Budget, but much depended on how the Act rolled out.