Budget 2021 Tamil Nadu
Speech of Dr. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Hon’ble Minister for Finance and Human Resources Management, Government of Tamil Nadu, presenting the Revised Budget for the year 2021-2022 to the Legislative Assembly on 13th August 2021.
Hon’ble Speaker Sir,
I rise to present to this August House the Revised Budget Estimates for the year 2021-2022 recalling the immortal words of Saint Thiruvalluvar:
இயற்றலும் ஈட்டலும் காத்தலும் காத்த
வகுத்தலும் வல்லது அரசு
(குறள் 385)
A king is he who treasure gains, stores up, defends,
And duty for his kingdom’s weal expends
(Kural 385)
2) It is my privilege and honour to present my maiden budget as Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu. I thank our Hon’ble Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin for giving this opportunity.
3) In his response to the address of the Hon’ble Governor, the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, noted that our culture has a practice of paying homage to our ancestors. I follow in his footsteps and start by paying my respects to our ancestors.
4) As adherents to the Dravidian ideology, we are descendants of Thanthai Periyar, Perarignar Anna and Muthamizharignar Kalaignar. They have instilled in us the spirit of service to the people, of upholding self-respect and dignity, of standing up for the rights of States and autonomy of the State Government and above all, of providing clean and transparent governance.
5) This is the centenary year of the Madras Legislative Council. As Perarignar Anna said in 1967, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is the political descendant of the Justice Party which formed the first Government in Madras Presidency in 1921. The Justice party was the progenitor of the Dravidian movement which has imbued Tamil Nadu’s society and polity with the values of social justice, gender equality, opportunities for all through reservations, and progress through education. We are proud of our legacy.
6) The people of Tamil Nadu voted the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam under the leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Thiru M.K. Stalin to office, with high aspirations, and expectations of good performance based on transformative governance. We are vested in fulfilling these expectations of the people.
7) Muthamizharignar Kalaignar was a member of this House continuously since 1957, and I feel his pervasive presence and direct gaze as his portrait keeps vigil over all of us present in this Chamber. Muthamizharignar Kalaignar was a champion of State autonomy and created many social protection schemes for the welfare of the people. His administrative ability and competence are widely celebrated. Our leader, the Hon’ble Chief Minister Thiru M.K.Stalin carries with him the blessings of Muthamizharignar Kalaignar.
8) The Hon’ble Chief Minister’s guidance and wise counsel has a deep imprint on this Budget. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has made several promises to the people in the Election Manifesto, which find place in the Hon’ble Chief Minister’s Vision Document for a New Dawn. Many elements of the Vision Document have been converted into schemes and projects in the budget to be implemented by various Government departments.
9) The Revised Budget for 2021-22 will only impact the remaining six months of this financial year. The sheer magnitude of the second wave of COVID over the past few months, and its health and economic consequences have further constrained the Government’s flexibility in what was already a precarious fiscal position. So, our primary ambition for this revised budget is to lay the strongest foundation for the full budget for the financial year 2022-23 which this Government will present in about six months.
10) The White Paper, released on 9th August 2021 and also laid on the table of House, has laid bare the dismal record of fiscal mismanagement of the past decade, including the elevated deficits and consequent debt overhang from the previous Government. Arresting and reversing this decline is one of the important commitments we made to the people. The task is daunting and cannot be completed at one go or in one year. It will need sustained efforts over at least two to three years.