Gandhinagar, February 20: After BJP registering a sixth straight assembly poll win in Gujarat with 99 seats in the 182-member house, CM Vijay Rupani led government presented the first budget of the 14th Assembly. Notably, Gujarat Finance Minister Nitin Patel on Tuesday presented the state budget which mainly focused on the farmers, villages and health sector.
Starting with the state deficits, Finance Minister Nitin Patel said that the fiscal deficit of Gujarat was at a record low of 1.42 percent of GSDP. He also noted that revenue surplus of the state increased from Rs 1704 crores in 2015-16 to Rs 5947 crores in 2016-17.
The BJP government has announced the provisions of Rs 6,755 crore for agriculture, farmers welfare and cooperation department while it allotted Rs 3 lakh per farm for setting up 12 milch animal farms. Likewise, the Vijay Rupani led government has also announced Rs 500 crore provision for providing crop loans at zero percent.
Highlights of Gujarat Assembly Budget 2018-19:
- Our government policies and development are two sides of the same coin, said FM Nitin Patel.
- Revenue surplus in the state increased to Rs 5,946 crore in FY 2016-17 from Rs 1,704 crore in FY 2015-16, says Nitin Patel.
- The fiscal deficit comes down to 1.42% of GSDP in 2016-17 from 2.24% of GSDP in 2015-16.
- CM Rupani led government announced the provision of Rs 6,755 crore for agriculture, farmers welfare and cooperation department.
- The state government also allocated Rs 3 lakh per farm for setting up 12 milch animal farms.
- The state government also announced new scheme of Mukhyamantri Apprenticeship Scheme. Youth to get Rs 3,000 per month with training.
- The state government also made provision of Rs 548 crore for land and water conservation works and for improvement of saline and alkaline soil.
- The state government announced four new e-radiation plants to protect crops after a successful pilot project in Sanand.
- The state government announced Rs 500 crore provision for providing crop loans at zero percent.
- Some 30,000 new recruitments will be made in various departments of the government in next year.
- The State government allocated Rs 44 crore for developing and improving the infrastructure of Gaushala and Panjrapoles.
- The State government allocated Rs 2 crore for State Toxicology and Research Centre.
- Boost to medical education: Rs 2 crore allocated to set up virtual classrooms in medical colleges.
- The state government also made the provision of Rs 785 crore to provide ample opportunities of employment and vocations to the youths of Gujarat. This will create employment opportunities for about 3.5 lakh youths.
- The state government allocated Rs 7,950.50 crore for the health sector in Gujarat. Senior citizens to get the benefit of Maa Vatsalya Yojana in Gujarat Budget.
- A total provision of Rs 210 crore has been made for the development of infrastructure facilities in Ahmedabad. Of this, Rs 100 crore standalone has been allocated for bio-mining projects at Pirana dumping site.
- Ahmedabad gets Rs 210 crore for urban development:
- Rs 100 crore -- Biomining projects at Pirana Dumping Site
- Rs 65 crore -- Split flyover at Pallav Char Rasta
- Rs 25 crore -- Gandhigram Rly Station Underpass
- Rs 20 crore -- Renovation of Sanskar Kendra & world heritage city museum
- The State Government gave Rs 280 crore to Dholera Region for development.
Importantly, on Monday Rajendra Trivedi who was a BJP MLA from Vadodara was unanimously elected as Speaker. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani proposed his name and it was backed by the opposition Congress as well. Earlier, in the last week, CM Rupani had said that the budget will have a special focus on farmers and villages. “Many schemes will be introduced. There is no dearth of money,” Rupani added.