Odisha to unveil people’s budget after statewide consultations, says CM Majhi

Odisha is set to move away from traditional closed door budgeting and adopt a more participatory approach this year, with the state government announcing that the 2026-27 annual budget will be drafted largely on public opinion . Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday said the budget, scheduled to be presented in the Assembly on February 20 , will be a true “People’s Budget” reflecting the aspirations and needs of citizens across the state.

Chairing a pre-budget consultation meeting attended by over 50 experts, including former finance ministers, finance secretaries, economists, civil society representatives and industry stakeholders, Majhi said the government has shifted the budget preparation process from bureaucratic confines to direct public engagement . The aim, he said, is to ensure that financial planning is grounded in real life concerns rather than limited to official estimates.

To gather feedback, the government has opened multiple channels for citizens to share their ideas and demands. A dedicated online portal, budget.odisha.gov.in , allows individuals and organisations to upload suggestions, while inputs are also being accepted through email, SMS, and WhatsApp, making the process accessible even to those outside formal consultation platforms. Officials said over 2,000 suggestions have already been received from across the state.

Apart from digital submissions, the finance department has been holding pre-budget consultations with experts and sector representatives. During the latest meeting, participants placed proposals covering agriculture, rural development, infrastructure, welfare schemes, employment and industrial growth. These recommendations are now under departmental review.

Officials explained that budget allocations will be decided by balancing public demands with economic realities such as revenue availability, development goals and sector wise needs. Citizen suggestions will help identify priorities, while financial feasibility will determine how funds are distributed.

The Chief Minister noted that several recent initiatives, including the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibaha Yojana , the Shri Jagannath Darshan programme , and the proposed Cuttack Bhubaneswar Paradeep Puri economic corridor , emerged from earlier public consultations, showing how people’s ideas are being translated into policy.

“In a people’s government, people’s opinions must come first. Plans should match their needs,” Majhi said, stressing that the budget should serve not just as an account statement but as a roadmap for true democracy .

With the presentation date nearing, the state hopes this consultative model will make the budget more transparent, responsive and closely connected to everyday realities, giving citizens a stronger voice in how public money is spent.