The girl child, farmers, and other weaker sections of the society remained the focus of the government in the Budget presented by the state government on Tuesday.A slew of measures were announced for the farmers including a promise that by next Rath Yatra all the pending 1.25 lakh applications for the electricity connection for farmers will be approved. The state also clarified that unlike earlier times when the connections had a caveat particularly for dark zones that they had to also ensure drip irrigation system won't be applicable this time.It also annoucned a special scheme for parents of girl child to help arrest the declining sex ratio in the city.In all Rs 7,111 crore worth of provisions were made for agriculture and for the welfare of farmers. This included Rs 952 crore to provide interest subvention to farmers who received a crop loan. The state will also be providing assistance to 29,000 farmers in purchasing tractors and 32,000 farmers in procuring modern agricultural tools. Rs 1,073 crore were set aside to cover the 18 lakh farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.Several pipeline projects that will help address the drinking and irrigation needs have also been announced including Rs 2,258 crore under the Sauni Yojana. The state had also announced three large lift irrigation schemes based in Ukai reservoir. Announcements have also been made to for laying underground pipelines and canals for Central and North Gujarat, Saurashtra and Kutch.Of the Rs 30,045 crore provision made for education, Rs 1,015 crore will be spent on providing nutritious food to 43 lakh students under the mid-day meal schemes. The state has also decided to strengthen the health system by appointing 8,600 employees at various levels in the system including specialists, doctors and staff nurses. The state has also announced free cycles to 21,000 girls belonging to the Schedule Caste and a centre for training of disabled to be established in the Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) Gandhinagar. It has also provided for a miniscule Rs 50 lakh for development of transgenders. Five new Eklavya Modern Residential schools have been announced for tribal students. The minister has also announced river purification project for Tapi. The project costing Rs 822 crore will see entire riparian area of Tapi River being cleaned.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Big Budget Better Plans

Laying underground pipelines, canals & electricity connections for 1.25l farmers, better health system on the list  

  • Rs 7,111cr Provision for agri, farmer and co-operation department 
  • 18lakh Farmers to be covered under Fasal Bima Yojana 
  • Rs 7,157cr To be spent on maintenance of dams and proving canal network
  • Rs 2,258cr Allocated for works under the third phase of Sauni Yojana
  • 600mn cubic metre of water to be stored in barrage on Narmada River 
  • Rs 6,595cr provision made for Sardar Sarovar project alone 
  • Rs 2,758cr To be spent on extending benefits of MA and MA Vatsalya Scheme

Other Promises

  • The state will be providing assistance to 29,000 farmers in purchasing tractors and 32,000 farmers in procuring modern agricultural tools. 
  • The state had also announced 3 large lift irrigation schemes based in Ukai reservoir.  
  • The state has also announced free cycles to 21,000 girls belonging to the Schedule caste and a centre for training of disabled to be established at EDI, Gandhinagar

Income limit upped for Ma Yojana

The state has increased the income limit to Rs 4 lakh and the insurance cover to Rs 5 lakh under the MA and MA Vatsalya Yojana of the state. The schemes provide health insurance coverage to over 72 lakh families in the scheme

Tap water for all by 2022

The state plans to spend Rs 20,000 crore in the next three years to ensure that no household in Gujarat is left without tap drinking water. It has made a provision of Rs 4,500 crore for the same during the current year

New solar rooftop scheme

The state has announced a new solar roof-top scheme under which 2 lakh families are likely to benefit. The beneficiaries will get a subsidy of 40% upto 3KW and 20% for 3KW to 10KW. In all provision of Rs 1,000 crore has been made

Agri power connection for farmers

Government has announced that by next Ashadhi Beej the state will ensure that all farmers who applied for agriculture power connections will have connection. 1.25 lakh applications from farmers for electricity are pending

Free rail travel for elderly 

The state government plans to sign MOU with the IRCTC to facilitate free of cost yatra for elderly citizens of all religions and sector in state to the important religious places outside the state