Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar today presented the supplementary budget of the state for the current financial year during the ongoing monsoon session of state legislature in Mumbai. Mr.Pawar asserted that the budget aims for the betterment of farmers, women, youths and minorities. Minister Deepak Kesarkar presented this budget in the Legislative Council.
‘Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ was announced by the Finance Minister in today’s budget. Under this, eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years will be given financial assistance of 1500 rupees per month. A total fund of 46 thousand crores rupees has been allocated for this purpose. More than two and a half crore women in the state are likely to benefit from this. Ajit Pawar today also announced Chief Minister Annapurna Yojana, which provides three gas cylinders free of cost to every household. More than 52 lakh families will benefit from this.
The government also announced a decision to reimburse 100 percent of education fees and examination fees to girls who have taken admission in all professional degree courses in engineering, architecture, pharmacology, medicine and agriculture from the current academic year. It will benefit girls from economically weaker sections as well as other backward classes with annual family income up to Rs 8 lakh. It is estimated that more than 2 lakh girls will benefit from this decision.
In this budget, the ‘Mukhya Mantri Yuva Karyaprashikesh Yojana’ was announced to provide on job training to the youth. Under this scheme, one lakh youths will be given job training for a year and the state government will provide stipend up to Rs.10,000 per month.
To provide free electricity to farmers, the government announced the Chief Minister Farmers Power Discount Scheme in today’s budget. In this, more than 44 lakh farmers will be provided free electricity to farm pumps of up to 7.5 HP capacity. Apart from this, the government also announced a plan to provide solar power pumps to Magel. 8.5 lakh farmers will be given its benefit. The E-Panchnama system is going to be implemented in the entire state to make Panchnama of damage quick and transparent.
The Finance Minister today announced to make the value added tax on petrol and diesel uniform across the state. Accordingly, VAT on diesel in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai municipal areas has been proposed to be 21 percent from the existing 24 percent. This will make diesel cheaper by Rs 2.7 paise per litre. While VAT on petrol is proposed to be reduced from 26 percent to 25 percent. This will make petrol cheaper by 65 paise per litre.
Finance Minister Ajit Pawar announced the establishment of ‘Mukhyamantri Varkari Sampradaya Mahamandal’ for the Varkaris in today’s budget. This will provide facilities to kirtankar, warkari, bhajanimandal. He said that palanquin routes will also be managed. He announced today that he will send a proposal to UNESCO to get Pandharpur Wari for global nomination. Apart from this, a proposal will also be sent for Katal Shilpa in Konkan, Dahi Handi festival and Ganeshotsav.
Ajit Pawar has made a total provision of 6 lakh 12 thousand 293 crore rupees in this budget. The revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 5 lakh 19 thousand 514 crores. So there is a revenue deficit of Rs 20 thousand 51 crores and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1 lakh 10 thousand 355 crores.
