Odisha Budget 2016-17 Suggestions

Revenue Mobilization:

1. All street vendors with permanent or semi permanent structures to be covered under Self Assessment Minimum Value Added Tax to increase the tax base. This measure would add popular grocery and textile stores and street vendors who currently do not pay tax at all.
2. Green Tax on consumption of Water and Pollution of Air by Industry & Trade; keeping in view the higher incidence of Climate Change Natural Calamities.
3. Educational Cess on all levies to fund the intractable problems of Contractual Teachers Salary.
4. Non-Tax Measure for Revenue Mobilization---Govt. could explore the possibility of raising funds from the rich & powerful citizens by auctioning the City Roads/ State High Ways for Naming/Branding.
5. Consider additional VAT for Luxury Goods and Negative Goods, VAT on Residential Rental Income.
6. Higher Professional Taxes on Individuals.

7.   Exploring the possibility of bringing Rich Private Higher Education into the   

      Tax Net.

Cutting Cost:

1. Govt. could reduce its administrative cost by outsourcing the requirement of Automobiles to new Technology enabled logistic companies like Ola/Uber.
2. Substantially reduce Project cost by deploying Project Management Technology through timely completion of projects.
3. Govt. could substantially invest in Training of its personnel in modern technology and management practices at All Levels to enhance efficiency and reduce overall cost of delivery of Public Services.

  Non-Tax Revenue:

1. Govt. could consider monetizing its unused assets after taking its proper inventory.
2. Govt. could organize all its Public Sector Under Takings into a suitable Holding Company under a Competent Business Leader like Nandan Nilekeni/Suresh Senapati to unleash RoI on expensive Public Investment and Growth in GSDP.

 Proposal:

1. To address deep distress in the Agriculture Sector; Govt. could consider multi prong strategy apart from low cost credit and augmentation of Irrigation. Govt. could earmark Rs.100 Crore for cluster development in Oil Seeds & Cereals. Govt. needs to attract Modern Corporate Farming Companies to the State for speedy development of Farm sector in the State.
2. Govt. could attract Automobile & Auto Component Companies into our port cities like Paradeep, Dhamara and Gopalpur with suitable and long term incentives just like Tamil Nadu which is now considered the Detroit of India. Keeping in view of growing Traffic Congestions and Climate change compliance; Odisha could give priority to two wheeler manufacturer targeting South Asian Market.