Shillong, Feb 21 (Reporter) The Meghalaya government on Wednesday presented the 2024-25 budget, estimating the fiscal deficit of Rs. 2,029 crore, which is around 3.83 per cent of the GSDP. He also announced that the state has already got approvals for Rs. 1,987 crore, close to double the budgeted amount. Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, termed the budget as 'Mission 10' - an action plan for building a 10 billion US dollar economy through leveraging 10 opportunities and providing 10 guarantees. “I would like all the members of this august House and every citizen to remember this budget as 'Mission 10' - an action plan for building a 10 billion US dollar economy through leveraging 10 opportunities and providing 10 guarantees. The accomplishment of 'Mission 10' in 2028 will coincide with 10 years of the MDA (Meghalaya Democratic Alliance) government," he said. The Chief Minister said that the government expenditure has more than doubled from Rs 12,159 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 25,052 crore in the current financial year through better performance on centrally sponsored schemes, attracting investments through externally aided projects, improving State’s own revenues and careful management of State finances. “In program after program, we have been able to leverage additional funding based on our excellent performance and timely completion of projects. Today, Meghalaya is one of the few States that gets bonus instalments under schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and National Health Mission,” he said. In the course of his budget speech in the assembly, Sangma said, “Agencies like IFAD and World Bank are providing additional allocations to expand our ongoing projects in agriculture and road infrastructure. Under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investments, our allocations have been increasing exponentially.” Sangma said that the increased government expenditure has enabled the government to complete and initiate several capital projects in the sectors of roads and bridges, water supply, power, sports, information technology, tourism and urban development. “Social infrastructure like schools and hospitals are being comprehensively renovated and upgraded,” he said. “Development is reaching every village and locality in the State in the form of new roads, piped water connections, food processing units, community halls, water harvesting structures, and play fields. For the first time in the history of the State, a range of beneficiary-oriented programs that directly benefit our farmers, women and youth are being universalised,” the Chief Minister said He said that the vision of doubling the state GSDP and making Meghalaya a 10-billion USDollar economy was set with GSDP of 2022-23 as the benchmark, when the state's GSDP was INR 42,697 crore or 5.3 billion US Dollar. “Our target to be amongst the top ten States of the country in per capita GDP and SDG goals by 2032 is ambitious, but possible. My government will make every effort to make it possible. As an intermediate goal, Meghalaya will contribute to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by increasing its GDP to 10 billion US Dollar by 2028,” Sangma said, adding that this was the commitment he had made to Prime Minister Narendra Modi a year ago and iterated it in the assembly on Wednesday. "I would like to commit to 10 guarantees which will ensure that every Meghalayan benefits from the growth story and that our development over the next four years is equitable, sustainable and just...////...