Jowai, Mar 18: The budget session of Jaiñtia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) began today with the tabling of the Rs 15.62 crore deficit budget for 2026-2027.
As per the budget presented by Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat, the expenditure is estimated at Rs 309, 26, 80,500 while the revenue is estimated at Rs. 293, 64, 42,000. The budget showed a deficit of Rs 15, 62, 38,500.
“The present budget deficit has arisen mainly due to certain expenditure which are necessary and unavoidable like increasing in annual increments of pay and allowances of the employees, pensioners and family pension holders and also, expenditure involved for the purpose of strengthening the work of various departments of the council with the objective to ensure efficiency, competency and transparency,” Shiwat told the house.
He said that the district council also released the third and final instalment payment of the remaining 20 per cent outstanding arrear revised pay and pension of the members, ex-members, employees, pensioners and family pension holders. The arrear revised pay was cleared from the council’s own fund during the financial year 2025-2026, Shiwat said.
From the Tied and Untied Grant, the CEM informed that the council could implement 48 schemes and projects for roads, drinking well, water tank, fencing, public toilet, shed, check dam, playground, footpath, school building, community hall etc. He added that the JHADC has submitted the annual account to the Accountant General (Audit) till the year 2024-2025.
The CEM also said that during the financial year 2025-2026, the council received Rs 3.50 crore from Digital India Land Record Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and completed drafting of the “District Fund Rules”, which is likely to be placed during the Summer Session in July after getting the approval of the Governor.
Furthermore, he said the JHADC has completed digitalization of all forests/forest-like areas under its jurisdiction, undertook implementation of the Forest New Working Scheme 2026-2027 and that the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council Service Rules, 1981 is under the process of re-examination.
With the introduction of the pension books beneficiaries have been asked to get them updated every half yearly and to appear before the pension disbursing authority during the months of June and December. He informed that the office building of the Taxation Department, Khliehriat Branch was inaugurated and the district council notified the indigenous clans eligible for Scheduled Tribe status under phase-I.
“This Budget reflects our commitment to responsible financial management, sustainable development for the welfare of our people in both East and West Jaintia Hills Districts and we aim to use our resources wisely for the benefit of all” , the CEM said.
