While presenting the budget, Fadnavis said that the outlay for farmers has been increased by Rs 6,900 crore. (Photo: PTI)
The state government also announced that women can avail 50% discount on state transport bus service from the new financial year.
Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the first budget of the BJP-Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) alliance on Thursday.
In his speech, Fadnavis said the budget is based on “Panchamrit” and will focus on five elements to help the state achieve sustainable development in the years to come—sustainable farming and prosperous farmers; Development of Women, Tribals and OBCs 3; infrastructure development; Job creation and skill development and environment development.
In June 2022, Shinde-led government was formed, in which Shiv Sena and his faction of BJP have power.
Big relief to farmers: Rs 6,000 annual payment, crop insurance for Re 1
While presenting the budget, Fadnavis said that the outlay for farmers has been increased by Rs 6,900 crore.
Giving a major relief to farmers, Fadnavis announced that the state government would provide farmers with Rs 6,000 per year and crop insurance at a nominal rate of Re 1 at a cost of Rs 6,900 crore.
The Finance Minister also proposed an interest-free loan of Rs 10,000 crore to the pastoral community.
Fadnavis also revived the ‘Jalyuktshivar’ scheme, which was canceled last year by the Uddhav Thackeray government after allegations of mismanagement of funds surfaced. The new scheme will be called ‘Jalyuktshivar 2.0’ and will be initially implemented in 5000 villages across the state.
50% concession for women in state buses; Salary of Anganwadi, Asha workers increased
The state government also announced that women can avail 50% discount on state transport bus service from the new financial year. It also addressed the long pending issue regarding increase in stipend of Anganwadi and ASHA workers. Anganwadi workers will now get Rs 10,000 from Rs 8,325 and Asha workers will get Rs 5,000 instead of Rs 3,500.
Other major announcements:
- The coverage of the government’s health insurance scheme Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
- For the development of tribal students, the state has proposed to upgrade 250 residential tribal schools to new modern schools across the state.
- The government has proposed Rs 350 crore to celebrate the 350th year of the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj.
- The state government announced a new scheme ‘Modi Gharkul Awas Yojana’ under which 10 lakh houses will be constructed for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) within three years.
- To complete the work of 337 km metro rail line in Mumbai, the state government has made a budgetary allocation of Rs 25,788 crore which includes Metro Line 10, Metro Line 11 and Metro Line 12. A provision of Rs 8,313 crore has been made for the Pune Metro project. allotted.
- To boost tourism in Shirdi, the state government intends to build another passenger terminal at Shirdi airport, for which Rs 527 crore has been allocated.
Opposition called the budget a ‘scam’; BJP said ‘all inclusive budget’
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Nana Patole has said that this budget is futile and misleading the public.
Patole said that the budget is a scam, no section of the society has got anything concrete from this budget.
“Announcements made about farmers in the budget are never implemented and remain only on paper. Doubts remain on how much benefit the farmers will get from these schemes. It has nothing to do with the guaranteed price of agricultural produce. There is not a single word in the budget about compensation to the farmers. It doesn’t matter if the premium is given by the farmer or the government. The way insurance companies are cheating the farmers by not giving them compensation.
Former minister and senior Congress leader Sunil Kedar said that this budget is nothing but a ‘tender budget’. “He has announced new roads, new flyovers, new highways. So, by tendering projects they just want to earn money, nothing else. There is absolutely nothing for the common man and the farmers. They are giving additional Rs 6,000 assistance to the farmers which shows that the assistance given by the Center to the farmers is not sufficient.
Further criticizing the budget, Kedar said that the state government has not clarified the terms and conditions of the crop loan scheme to the people. “Though he has announced a crop loan scheme, he has not clarified its terms and conditions and how farmers will benefit from the scheme. I want to ask this government why the Gujarat government stops this kind of crop insurance scheme?
BJP leader Atul Bhatkhalkar termed this budget as ‘all inclusive’ budget. “There is something for everyone in this budget. This budget will definitely give a boost to the capital expenditure of the state. This will also help in generating a large number of jobs in the state and the incentives given to the tourism department in the budget will also help in creating more jobs for the youth within the state.
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