Rajasthan: In final budget, CM Vasundhara Raje goes the Modi way, announces sops for farmers

Farmers appear to be the highest taker of freebies and dole which were rolled out by the Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in the last and final budget of her tenure.

Raje has waived off one time Rs50000 loan due on small and marginal farmers across the state and announced to set up ‘Rajasthan State Farmers Debt Relief commission’ which would work devotedly to give relief to peasant community.

As per the announcements made by Raje, all penalties and interest due on overdue of loan till September 30, 2017, have been waived off completely. With this, the farmers come into an outstanding category from existing overdue. For a long time, the agrarian community was demanding loan waiver for entire farm loan which surged with protests by Opposition parties across the state.

Raje, considering upcoming election and snatching the opposition’s ammunition, has decided to waive off one Rs 50,000 loan due on short-term loan crop on small and marginal farmers. This will incur Rs 8,000 crores financial burden on the state coffer. 

Similarly, the budget has provisioned Rs 500 crores interest-free loan by RAJFED to farmers for procurement of mustard and gram under MSP (minimum support price) scheme and creation of additional 5 lakh metric tonnes storage capacity with a provision of Rs 350 crores by Rajasthan State Ware Housing Corporation. Raje in her budget also cared for basic infrastructure which the peasant community needs for irrigating crops. She has provided additional 10 percent subsidy for construction of farm pond and Jal Hauj with a provision of Rs 20 crores and 25% top-up subsidy for construction of digging in canal areas allocating Rs 90 crores. 

#ApnaRajasthanApnaBudget #JaiKisan #JaiJaiRajasthan pic.twitter.com/lxavq0xNwK

— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) February 12, 2018

Aside this, subsidy up to 50% of the construction cost of Rs10 lakh for the establishment of green house and shade net, 35 to 40 subsidy for 3HP and 5HP respectively for solar energy pump system have been mandated in the budget. She also declared to set up Agriculture colleges in the areas under PPP mode where they are existing till date. Raje’s budget could be called ‘Cow’ centrist too. She has announced to provide subsidy upto Rs 50 lakh for setting for Nandi Gaushala in each district and increased fodder subsidy from 90 to 180 days. 

What did Jaipur get?

A mini plant for camel milk processing and sale will be set up in Jaipur. RCDF will establish the plant in on pilot basis for which Rs 5 crore has been provisioned in the budget.