Budgetary Sops In Election Year
Sunil Sharma (cover story)
Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today present a tax free budget that provided sops to almost all sections of the society ostensibly to woo electorate in election year. His master stroke of announcing unemployment allowance for unemployed has not only silenced the opposition party but also his critics within the Congress party. The issue of unemployment has been gaining momentum in the recent past in state politics. Political observers feel it is also an attempt by the Congress government to accomplish its ‘Mission Repeat’ as the budget has touched all sections with major thrust on farm sector and employment generation and to woo employees in the state.
How Rs. 100 is Earned
Tax Revenue : 28.67
Non-Tax Revenue : 5.78
Share in Central Taxes : 17.39
Central Grants : 48.16
Total : 100.00
How Rs. 100 is Spent
Salaries : 26.91
Pension : 13.83
Interest Paymnent : 9.78
Loan Repayment : 9.93
Development : 39.55
Total 100.00
Virbhadra’s Master Stroke Of Unemployment Allowance
Presenting a tax free budget, Himachal Chief Minister played another master stroke of announcing unemployment allowance of Rs. 1000 to unemployed youths. A budgetary provision of Rs. 150 crore has been earmarked for it. With an eye on upcoming assembly elections later this year, he has tried to woo every section of the society while announcing to frame a new policy for contract and outsource employees within one month.
1.5 Lakh Youth Likely To Benefit
17000 new registrations in employment exchanges from January 1 to March 7 this year
There is a sense of jubilation among youth even as guidelines for the same are yet to be issued. Presently, nearly nine lakh youths are registered in employment exchanges. Out of these nearly six lakh are having matric and above qualification. Knowledgeable sources reveal that about 1.5 lakh registered youths are having qualification of Plus Two and above who fulfill minimum qualification for unemployment allowance. However they will have to fulfill other norms also.
* Effort has been made in the budget to benefit all sections of the society, including farmers, youth, poor and others. Those who have benefitted under Skill development Scheme will not get unemployment allowance as they have been skilled to become self reliant
-Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister
* Effort has been made to satisfy every section of the society
-Kaul Singh Thakur, Health Minister
* Announcement of unemployment allowance has silenced the BJP leaders
-Sudhir Sharma Urban development Minister
* Tax free budget has taken care of every section and help in further development
-Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries Minister
Budget Estimates for 2017-18
Total Budget : 35,783 crore
Salaries : 9628 crore
Pension : 4960 crore
Interest Payment : 3500 crore
Loan Repayment :3105 crore
Other Loans : 448 crore
Maintenance : 2311 crore
* Total Revenue Receipts are estimated to be Rs. 27,714 crore
* Total Revenue expenditure is estimated to be Rs. 28,755 crore
* Revenue Deficit of Rs. 1041 crore
* Expected receipts in capital account of government Rs 6164 crore
* Rs 1200 crore in Public Account including Provident Fund
* Capital Expenditure including loan repayments is estimated to Rs 7028 crore
* The fiscal deficit is likely to be Rs 4946 crore
* Budget is a jugglery of figures and misleading for masses. The state has nearly 10 lakh unemployed but only a provision of Rs 150 crore has been made for unemployment allowance
-Prem Kumar Dhumal, Leader of Opposition
Main Highlights Of Budget
* All departments to undertake exercise to simplify procedures
* Vidhayak Kshetriya Vikas Nidhi increased to Rs. 1.10 crore
* Software technology parks in Shimla and Kangra
* Rs. 220 crore for state food safety scheme
* Polyhouse covered area increased to 4000 sq meter for subsidy
* Sixty percent subsidy on breeding rams
* Wool procurement price increased by 10%
* Six bio-diversity parks at Kanlog, Sarahan, Kasol, Dharamshala, Paonta Sahib and Mandi
* Pollution Control Board to support 10 civic bodies in urban solid waste management
* Mukhya Mantri Rural Livelihood scheme launched
* Rs. 115 crore for housing schemes
* Rs. 50 crore for AMRUT scheme
* Online map approval/permission introduced
* Rs. 450 for subsidised electricity to domestic consumers
* Change of land use for service industries in industrial areas
* Integrated scheme for development of handloom and handicraft
* 300 km motorable roads and 30 bridges to be constructed
* Rs. 1 crore for Patrakar kalyan Yojna
* Medical University in Mandi
* AMRIT pharmacy in medical colleges and district hospitals
* Social security pensions increased to Rs. 700 per month
* Women police stations at Una, Nahan and Bilaspur
* Emoluments of contract employees enhanced from 50% to 75% of Grade pay
* Daily Wages increased to Rs. 210
Achievements during past Four Years
* Himachal adjudged best state in the country in education and inclusive growth
* Declared first ODF bigger state in the country
* 14 New sub-divisions, 16 Tehsils and 31 sub-tehsils opened
* New medical college opened at Nahan and coming up at Hamirpur and Chamba besides taking over ESIC Medical College at Mandi
* 21 Civil Hospitals, 34 CHCs, 96 PHCs opened
* 42 New government colleges opened
* 1328 New government schools opened/ upgraded
* 2 engineering college, 1 Community College in Automobile sector, 1 Pharmacy college, 5 Polytechnics, 34 ITIs and four centrally funded institutes IIIT, IIM , CIPHET and RVTI opened
* 40 veterinary hospitals, 2 veterinary Polyclinics, 47 veterinary dispensaries opened
* Enhanced minimum wages, social security pensions
* Skill Development Scheme implemented
* Rajiv Gandhi Anna Yojna to provide food security
* 32,500 meritorious students provided Net books/Lap-tops
* Chief Minister Start up/ New Industries Scheme launched
* Incentives to various sections
* Additional financial benefits of Rs. 2455 crore to employees and pensioners
* 58470 solar lights installed
* Dharamshala selected as Smart City
* Shimla and Kullu brought under AMRUT Scheme
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