Gujarat government on Tuesday presented the annual budget for year 2015-16 with an overall size of Rs 1,39,139 crore but without introducing any new major programme. This is the first full budget presented by the state government led by Chief Minister Anandi Patel.
Gujarat government on Tuesday presented the annual budget for year 2015-16 with an overall size of Rs 1,39,139 crore but without introducing any new major programme. This is the first full budget presented by the state government led by Chief Minister Anandi Patel.
The budget, presented by state Finance Minister Saurabh Patel in the Legislative Assembly, has an overall surplus of Rs 125 crore and revenue surplus of Rs 7,308 crore, while the state has imposed new taxes to the tune of Rs 80 crore.
The budget has allocation for earlier schemes launched by the state and those recently introduced by Centre, like the 'Swacch Bharat Abhiyan', 'Digital Gujarat for Digital India' and 'Make in India'. The government reduced duty on imitation jewellery and aviation turbine fuel, and exempted items like oral contraceptive pills, Isabgul and Isabgul husk from tax. The government has imposed 5 per cent tax on technical textiles which were fully exempted from the tax net earlier.
Bringing them under the ambit of tax is likely to boost the tax revenue of the state to the extent of Rs 80 crore.
"The fiscal deficit works out to only 2.24 per cent of GSDP and is well below the FRBM limit of 3 per cent of GSDP," said Principal Secretary in the finance department S Aparna.
"As per budget proposal of 2015-16, public debt to GSDP ratio is estimated to decline to 18.79 per cent from 19.13 per cent in 2014-15," she said declining to give the exact figure of the overall debt of the state.
The Plan expenditure proposed for the year 2015-16 is Rs 79,295 crore against Rs 71,500 crore of the last fiscal. The government said Rs 48.54 crore out of the planned expenditure of Rs 79,295 crore will go towards the development of the social sector.
"The development saga that commenced in Gujarat under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and continued under chief minister Anandiben Patel, to realise 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' has become the landmark for the nation and world," the finance minister said presenting the budget.
"Under the social service sector, allocation of Rs 38,484.15 crore has been made for the year 2015-16, which is 48.53 per cent of the total outlay," Patel said.
"Our stress is on education and health," he later told reporters.
The high spending on social sector comes after the raging criticism of Gujarat Government for being "pro-industry". Under the 'Clean India Mission', which the state government has called as 'Mahatma Gandhi Swachta Mission', the state has allocated Rs 1,200 crore for urban areas and Rs 722.25 crore for rural areas. It has also made provisions of 134.80 crore for laying of underground drainage lines in towns.
The budget provides Rs 323.55 crore for 'Digital Gujarat for Digital India' which envisages providing Wi-Fi facilities in the districts and taluks under the programme. A plan size of Rs 3623 crore for the industries and mines department has been proposed in the budget to achieve the goal of 'Make in India'. PTI PD PJT NSK MR 02242102
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