Orissa finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei on Monday presented a vote-on-account budget of Rs 17,078.24 crore for the first four months of the financial year 2010-11. The vote-on-account budget is part of the Rs 1205.93 crore revenue deficit budget for the whole year.

I preferred a vote-on-account budget instead of a full fledged budget as the allocation of funds towards share in central taxes and duties and grants-in-aid as per the 13th Finance Commission could not be taken into consideration in budget making," said the finance minister. Moreover, the planning commission is yet to finalise the state plan outlay, he added.

Ghadei said that in the vote-on-account budget, provisions have been made to continue all the on-going projects and programs. Priorities have been given on completing projects, maintenance of state assets and welfare of the underprivileged people of the state.

The finance minister said provisions have been made to start new programs such as Aam Admi Bima Yojana, Rastriya Gramina Swarojgar Yojana, medical insurance and pension for journalists and state agriculture commission.