Maharashtra: The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government on Thursday presented its first budget for 2023-24. Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the budget. The government has proposed big things including support for farmers, tax relief for women. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the budget as ‘historic and inclusive’.
- The Maharashtra government has proposed Rs 6,000 assistance to farmers and a Rs 1 crop insurance scheme. It also proposed professional tax relief for working women, 50 per cent discount on ticket fares in state-run buses and a new scheme for the girl child.
- Fadnavis presented a revenue deficit budget of Rs 16,222 crore with a total outlay of Rs 1,72,000 crore in the Assembly.
- The government proposed the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasaman Nidhi’ scheme, under which each farmer in the state would get Rs 6,000 in addition to the Rs 6,000 given by the Centre.
- Under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi, an amount of Rs 12,000 will be deposited in the farmers’ account every year, including Rs 6,000 from the Centre.
- An additional outlay of Rs 6,900 will be made in 2023-24. Fadnavis said that this would benefit 1.15 crore farmer families. The government also announced a Re 1 crop insurance scheme for farmers.
- “Farmers can register on the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana portal by paying a fee of Re 1. The insurance premium will be paid by the government and not by the farmers. An annual outlay of Rs 3,312 crore will be made by the state government for this scheme.” Fadnavis said.
- “A new scheme for the empowerment of girls – ‘Lake Ladki’ will be launched. For families holding yellow and orange ration cards, a subsidy of Rs 5,000 will be given after the birth of a girl child, followed by Rs 4,000 (when she is in class 1, Rs 6,000 in class 6 and Rs 8,000 in class 11. After completing 18 years of age, the beneficiary girl child will be given a cash amount of Rs 75,000.
- Fadnavis announced professional tax exemption for women with monthly salary up to Rs 25,000.
- The Finance Minister also announced a new scheme ‘Shakti Sadan’ to provide shelter to women facing sexual abuse or domestic violence. It will be started with the cooperation of the Central Government by combining Swadhar, Ujjwala schemes.
- ‘Divyang’ (specially abled) people will also get exemption from professional tax. The definition of ‘disabled’ will be amended by amending the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.”
,With inputs from PTI,
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