Budget docs in e-format to reduce costs by 40 pc: Mungantiwar

Maharashtra finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today said if the budget documents are provided in electronic devices, it will reduce the costs incurred on the printing of the budget documents and the purchase of travel bags by about 30 to 40 per cent.
During the annual budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature, its members are given travel bags that contains budget documents, a practice that began during the tenure of former chief minister late A R Antulay.
Talking to reporters here today, Mungantiwar said during the debate on the passage of the Appropriation Bill (Money Bill) in the state legislature on April 7, 2016, the issue was raised as to whether the budget publications could be made available to the members in electronic devices like i-Pads, tablets, pen drives or uploaded online.

"Hence, an all-party committee of 15 members of the legislative assembly was set up and was tasked to submit its report to the government by December 2016. However, due to the subsequent rounds of civic elections in the state, the panel could not submit its report. Therefore, the deadline has been extended to December 2017," Mungantiwar said.
He added that if the budget documents are given in electronic devices, it will reduce the cost incurred on printing, transportation and other logistical costs.
As against a travel bag, which costs around Rs 8,000 members, an iPad cost ranges between Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000.

"Moreover, the budget documents will be at the finger tips of the members and in their pockets," Mungantiwar said.
"The members can access the budget document anytime they want for their reference or study and take print outs of only those relevant pages that they need to refer. The i-Pad or a tablet will reduce the expenditure made on purchasing travel bags by about 30 to 40 per cent," he added.
There are 288 members in the state legislative assembly and 78 members in the legislative council.