This time, the budget speech of chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who also doubles up as finance minister, must have been going through editing and rewriting several times, especially after the bypoll results early this month
The late night hustle and bustle in the finance department says it all. The department is not only burning the midnight oil but also pouring fresh fuel to light up hopes of the ruling party in the election year.
This time, the budget speech of chief minister Vasundhara Raje, who also doubles up as finance minister, must have been going through editing and rewriting several times, especially after the bypoll results early this month.
The debacle in these by-elections could reduce this ‘mega budget’ exercise into a ‘mini poll manifesto’ to attract voters with populist announcements.
Then, fiscal discipline is likely to go for a toss and the target of keeping the all important fiscal deficit below 3% looks a distant dream.
Since there would be no tax proposals in the budget post GST, the budget would be ‘development-oriented’ addressing the larger sections of the society which can win votes for the BJP in the elections ahead.
Raje will have a tough task to appease farmers, teachers, health workers and disgruntled unemployed youth who have been agitating for a fair deal. Then, the CM is likely to announce the ‘much-awaited’ farm loan waiver. She may announce something big for the canal irrigation areas where farmers are fighting for their share of water. Her budget speech would also have some flashy announcement on agriculture electricity connections. The CM’s biggest challenge would be to counter the anti-incumbency factor with big bang announcements which could bring the hordes back for the BJP.
Raje will also announce jobs to woo young voters. The employment opportunities would be in education, rural and health sector. She will definitely announce posts of government teachers to negate the flak her government has drawn over introduction of the PPP mode in running schools.
The budget, which is technically a vote on accounts in a poll year, will also have some ‘high voltage’ announcements on Barmer refinery, road construction, irrigation, higher education, power, sanitation and drinking water. The CM may announce some specialised skill development training programmes to meet the requirements of the oil refinery. Raje is also likely to announce a cut in VAT to reduce petrol and diesel prices in the state which is burning a hole in the pockets of consumers.
However, industry and business sectors are not expecting much from this budget except announcements on continuation of the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme (RIPS) 2014 for industries getting the benefits during the pre-GST era.
Raje may announce some incentives for setting up industries in tribal areas.
The budget will also focus on the welfare of the socially-weaker sections. Raje looks to allocate dedicated funds for their education and economic revival. Announcements on the Jal Swavlamvan Yojana, extension of the Annapurna Rasoi Scheme to other parts of the state and expansion of the Bhanashah Health Insurance Scheme would also be highlights of the budget. All in all, the focus of the budget would be to bring the ‘feel-good factor’, which has somewhat eroded after four years of BJP rule.
WATCH OUT FOR
- Farm loan waiver
- Jobs for the youth
- Announcement on refinery
- Higher allocation for welfare of the socially-weaker classes
- Continuation of RIPS 2014
- Skill development programmes
- Extension of Annapurna Rasoi to other parts of the state
- Development of tribal areas
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