MUMBAI: In the run-up to a series of rural and metropolitan regional body polls in the coming year, the Eknath Shinde governments spending plan for 2023-24 has actually showered sops on every possible area of voters: farmers, females, fishermen, students, Marathas, backward classes, tribals and metropolitan citizens in Maharashtra.
It even proposed an outlay for the conservation of Hindu expedition areas.
The budget plan has no new taxes.For farmers, the government will include Rs 6,000 as income assistance to an equivalent amount provided by the Centre under the PM Samman Nidhi Yojana.
This is suggested to benefit over 1 crore families.For the lady kid, the budget plan proposes a brand-new plan called Lek Ladki where female children of yellow and orange provision card holders will receive Rs 75,000 on turning 18.
For medical insurance coverage, the spending plan proposes raising the treatment limit under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Janarogya Yojana from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per year for each household.
And under a new state real estate scheme called Modi Awas Gharkul Yojana, 10 lakh homes are to be constructed for backwards class beneficiaries for which the allotment is Rs 12,000 crore.The pre-poll bounty contributes to the financial obligation problem which is projected at Rs 7 lakh crore.
This is 2.6 times higher than the debt concern of 2.7 lakh crore in 2013-14.
Borrowings are estimated to rise by Rs 95,500 crore during the year.Eknath-Dev combination makes it possible for infra+well-being playWith the ShindeFadnavis federal government loosening handbag strings prior to local body surveys and state elections later next year, it is no surprise the financial obligation concern is forecasted to rise to Rs 7 lakh crore.
Borrowings are likewise set to rise in spite of the Shinde federal government receiving additional allocations worth Rs 1.1 lakh crore through extra demands beyond the last budget between July 2022 and March 2023.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who presented the spending plan because he holds the finance portfolio, safeguarded the spiralling financial obligation.
Our financial obligation and profits deficit are well within the financial limit set by the RBI.
If a state is interested in advancement, it ought to not consider financial obligation.
It is more vital that funds are assigned in the best place, he stated.
Officials say they expect a better revenue stream in the coming year since inflation had improved tax buoyancy.
Certainly, the states tax collection last year surpassed the target.
The states earnings target for 2022-23 was 4 lakh crore but it gathered Rs 4.3 lakh crore.
Nevertheless, the share of profits invested in salaries, salaries and interest payments is an incredible 58.4%, the budget plan files show.
Interest payments are set to increase from Rs 45,880 crore to Rs 50,647 crore from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
Fadnavis said he was presenting the first spending plan in Amrut Kaal based upon five objectives or panchamrut.
This included thriving farmers (Rs 29,163 crore), inclusive advancement (Rs 43,063 crore), facilities (Rs.
53,058 crore), work (Rs 11,658 crore) and environment friendly development (Rs 13,437 crores.
Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar dismissed the budget plan as an election trick.
It is aimed at the regional body and assembly polls, The federal government also wishes to offset its losses in the recent bypolls, he said.
Among noteworthy proposals, the budget plan makes an allotment of Rs 950 crores for various programs to honour the Maratha king Shivaji in the 350th year of his coronation.
This includes an outlay of Rs 350 crore for a festival to commemorate his coronation in June.
The state federal government will also pay the farmers share of premium for the Pradhan Mantri Crop Insurance plan, for which the budget provides Rs 3312 crore.
The budget proposes waiving profession tax for women with a month-to-month salary of up to Rs 25,000.
Currently, those making more than Rs 10,000 have to pay profession tax.
It also proposes minimizing VAT on air travel turbine fuel from 25% to 18% in the BMC and PMC areas in addition to Raigad district in order to motivate air transport.
This reduction will cost the state Rs 200 crore.
The budget likewise proposes an amnesty plan in case of laws executed by the sales tax department before the application of the GST Act.
The plan will be in force from May 1 to October 31, 2023 and will be applicable for defaults pending on May 1, 2023.
The spending plan also proposes several projects based in Vidarbha and Marathwada.