Analysis: How Sikkim Budget hurt state’s marginalised population

On May 17, 2023, Prem Singh Tamang, Chief Minister of Sikkim, submitted the budget report for the Sikkim financial year 2023-2024, PRS Legislative Research analyzed this and released the “Sikkim Budget Analysis 2023-24” report.

According to the report, Sikkim’s fiscal revenue in 2023-24 is Rs 9,363 crore but the government’s fiscal deficit is 4.5% of GSDP (Rs 2,147crore), which is much higher than the maximum limit allowed by the Indian central government (maximum GSDP 3. 5%). The revenue surplus in 2023-24 is only 0.1% of GSDP (Rs 42 crore), much lower than the estimate in 2022-23 (2.1% of GSDP).

However, such a high fiscal deficit and a low surplus show that the government is spending all the money without actually spending the budget on the people of Sikkim. The budget shows that the only real policy highlights are installing fibre optic cables to provide internet to Soreng and Pakyong districts and a provision for piped water to 12 villages under the Jal Jeevan scheme.