On International Women’s Day, the Maharashtra government presented its budget for 2021-22. The budget offered a per cent concession in stamp duty if a property is transferred only in a woman’s or women’s name, and proposed to increase state excise duty on liquor — 220 per cent of manufacturing cost or Rs 187 per litre, whichever is higher. This is expected to fetch an additional Rs 800 crore.
The budget was presented by Maharashtra deputy chief minister and finance minister Ajit Pawar. He also said that farmers in the state will be allowed to repay their farm loans with 0 per cent interest and the amount will be borne by the government.
He also said that there was a reduction of Rs 14,366 crore in the state’s share of tax received from the Central government this year. The budget had a revenue deficit Rs 10,226 crore. The revised revenue target was fixed at Rs 2,89,428 crore (versus Rs 3,47,457 crore).
Some of the other highlights of Pawar’s budget speech were:
For infrastructure development, a provision of Rs 58,748 crore was made.
Rs 8,420 crore allocated for the urban development department.
Allocation for agriculture, animal husbandry and fisheries department is Rs 3,274 crore.
Rs 2,000 crore allocated for strengthening Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC)s.
For the solar pump scheme, an amount of Rs 1,500 crore to MSEDCL was allocated.
Allocation of Rs 624 crore was made to strengthen 12 other dams
In terms of health, an allocation of Rs 2,961 crore was made for public health.
Medical education gets an allocation of Rs 1,517 crore.
Rs 800 crore was allotted for upgrading district and primary health centres.
The transport department gets Rs 2,570 crore.
Mumbai-Goa coastal road gets Rs 9,773 crore.
To modernise bus stops and depots, Rs 1,400 crore was allotted.
For girl students to reach schools, 1,500 hybrid buses were allotted.
In rural Maharashtra, girl students can travel free of cost on state-run buses.
There will be electric vehicle charging stations on major highways.
The government will set up dedicated cycle lanes on Western and Eastern Express highways.
For Balasaheb Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park, Rs 400 crore was allotted.
Rs 3,210 crore was allotted for the development of Other Backward Classes.
An amount of Rs 9,700 crore was set aside for the tribal department.
Rs 2,270 crore budget provision was made for women and child development department.(Edited by : Abhishek Jha)
