Gujarat CM hails state budget 2020, says the budget will benefit all sectors and strata of society
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today described the State Budget for financial year 2020-21 as ‘all round development’ in the ‘all the sectors’ to provide ‘all the facilities’ to last man in the last mile, to make the State ‘uttam’ to ‘sarvottam’ (from ‘excellent’ to ‘best of all’) as second to none.
Welcoming the budget as presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Nitinbhai Patel in the State Assembly, Mr. Rupani said the budget is fundamentally to increase income for the welfare of all sections of the society – for social, educational, health, farming, fishing, small retailers, women and divyang (differently challenged), including the last man in the last mile. He said the budget is prepared keeping in mind all get their needs: ‘kidi-ne kun ne hathi-ne mun’.
He said the budget is to promote natural farming by cow, farther from fertiliser, while the government will give Rs.30,000 per unit to build mini godowns in the farm itself under Chief Minister’s Crop Collection Scheme as a cover against damage to harvested crops, plus Rs.900 per month for looking after cows. There is a provision to provide electricity to farmers in daytime under Dinkar Yojna, to cover all the farmers in the state in three years, 50 per cent assistance of Rs.150 for the first month during birth of calf. A provision of Rs.100-crore has been made by the State Government to upgrade panjra pols (cattle sheds for non-milking cows), and help APMC build godowns of 500 Metric Tonne capacity to ensure farm produces are not destroyed in the open.
Mr. Rupani said that Rs.1,084-crore has been provided to carry one million acre-feet of water to make Kutch self-sufficient in water. A provision of Rs.50-crore to provide bath room under ‘Nal-se-Jal’ campaign in every house, government providing an assistance of Rs.5,000 for Rs.3,000 spent by the beneficiary. The government thus proposes to undertake works totalling Rs.1,000-crore, also join 8,000 hamlets with main villages.
Mr. Rupani said the state government has allocated Rs.287-crore to distribute 12kg tuar daal annually at concessional rate for the first time on ration cards through public distribution system, besides rice, wheat, and sugar during festivals, to ensure the 66-lakh poor and middle class beneficiaries get protein rich food. A provision has been made to Sakhi Mandal under Mahil a Utkarsh Yojna to provide interest free loan to increase business.
The budget has made a provision of Rs.80-crore to create one Urban Health Centre for population of every 10,000, posting MBBS or Ayush doctor. A provision of total Rs.337- crore has been made to provide monthly grant of Rs.1,500 every student in Ashram Shala and grant-in-aid hostel in tribal areas.
The Chief Minister also apprised about the Gokul Gram Scheme under which if any Non- Resident Gujarati (NRG) residing in any foreign country want to donate money for building school, classrooms, smart classes, anganwadi, cemetery, medical facilities, library, community hall, panchayat house, drinking water tank, village lake, sewerage facilities, community toilets, and others in his native place than in such cases the state government would spend equal amount for the purpose to make the village as “Gokul Village’.
With a view to not to lack anything in the infrastructure development, Mr. Rupani also praised for creating competitive environment for developing public amenities in smart towns and cities. He also pointed out that an allocation of Rs. 56-crore has been made in budget for assisting the rag pickers to make ‘Swachh Gujarat – Plastic Free Gujarat’; and similar allocation of Rs. 50-Crore for helping the labourers in city bus fares for commuting between their residences and work-sites.
Mr. Rupani also said that the benefit of providing lunch at a rate of Rs. 10/- to the laborers working in construction industry under the ‘Shramik Aannpurna Yojna’ is also extended to the holders of U-Win Card. Besides this, he also welcome the ‘Shramik Kalyan Yojna’ under which presently the pregnant women construction workers are being given financial help of Rs. 7,500/- as a pregnancy assistance, would be now given more benefits with assistance of Rs. 5,000 per months for four months – two months before pregnancy and two months after pregnancy. The Chief Minister also termed the allocation of fund for resurfacing the roads which were not done in last 7 years and reconstruction or strengthening the bridges which have become weak.
He also opined that the allocation for airport development at Rajpipla, Amreli, Keshod, and Mehsana would make all-round growth of these places. He also welcomed the scheme ‘Gujarat ne Jano’ (Know Gujarat) which is aimed at to attract the young NRG generations to visit Gujarat. The Chief Minister also pointed out that importance is given for the development of tourism and hospitality sectors in Gujarat.