E-Paper
Haryana budget: Emphasis on social sector, benefit of Ayushman Bharat extended
Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who alos holds the finance portfolio, proposed ₹1,83,950-crore state budget for 2023-24, an increase of 11.6% over revised estimates of ₹1,64,808 crore
Putting emphasis on the social sector in the 2023-24 financial year, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday said that the benefit of Ayushman Bharat scheme would be extended to all families whose annual income, according to the data verified by the Parivar Pehchan Patra, is above ₹1.8 lakh and up to ₹3 lakh.
Presenting the budget estimates, Khattar said that these families will be asked to make a nominal contribution of ₹1,500 per family per annum covering 50% of the subscription amount for receiving medical treatment cover of ₹5 lakh in any empanelled hospital. Nearly 8 lakh such families will be eligible to receive this benefit in addition to 29.93 lakh families already identified.
Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, proposed a ₹1,83,950-crore state budget for 2023-24, an increase of 11.6% over the revised estimates of ₹1,64,808 crore.
The budget proposes an expenditure of ₹57,879 crore on capital asset creation, representing 31%, and ₹1,26,071 crore on revenue expenditure, representing 68%.
7% increase in allocation for social sector
The chief minister allocated ₹10,524 crore for the social sector in the upcoming financial year, an increase of 7% over the revised estimates of the current fiscal.
He announced an increase of ₹250 a month in the social security pension benefit, including the old age samman allowance, widow pension and Divyang pension from ₹2,500 a month to ₹2,750 a month with effect from April 1, 2023.
The chief minister introduced the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Antyodyay Parivar Suraksha Yojana for providing assistance in case of death, or disability of a member of a family, having annual income of up to ₹1.8 lakh.
To take care of elderly citizens in the state, the CM announced a scheme would be introduced under which they will be provided care in sewa ashram.
Venture capital fund for assisting youngsters in entrepreneurship
Khattar also announced setting up a venture capital fund for assisting young entrepreneurs where the cost object is ₹5 crore.
The venture capital fund will have a corpus of ₹200 crore and the selection of beneficiaries under the fund will be done by a group of experts from industry and entrepreneurship along with government officials.
The venture capital fund will be established in association with banks and financial institutions to provide support through loans and equity to start up entrepreneurs who are women or come from families with an annual income of ₹1.8 lakh.
Assistance for girls taking admission in govt ITIs
Reading the budget address from a tablet, Khattar said that for improving admission of girl students in Industrial Training Institutes, he is providing financial assistance of ₹2,500 to every girl who takes admission in government it is, provided the annual family income is up to ₹3 lakh.
Incentive for buying crop stubble from farmers
Khattar said that the government will notify a rate of ₹1,000 per tonne as an incentive for buying crop stubble from farmers and ₹1,500 per tonne for meeting all expenses related to stubble management for paddy straw procured in the prescribed service areas by designated agencies.
Thermal power plants in the state will also use paddy straw biomass in the form of pellets, along with coal for generation of electricity.
Railway projects on track
Khattar also announced to take up elevated railway line projects in Bahadurgarh and Kaithal. He said he also hopes to receive approval of the railways ministry for the Karnal-Yamunanagar rail line.
The CM said that construction of the priority section of the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor Project from Manesar to Patli in Gurugram is likely to be completed by 2024. The acquisition of land under the Railways Act has been undertaken and land awards have been declared in six districts.
The state government, Khattar said, proposed to buy 10 single-engine trainer aircraft and a multi-engine aircraft for the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation for expanding job opportunities and to provide training to aspiring pilots.
City bus service in nine towns proposed
Khattar announced introducing a city bus service in nine cities. He announced setting up six new bus stands in Gurugram, Ballabhgarh, Hisar, Sonepat, Karnal and Pipli in Kurukshetra in public-private partnership and a city bus interchange terminal near Gurgaon City Centre.
He reduced the age for senior citizens concessional fare in Haryana Roadways buses from 65 to 60 years.
₹50 crore for addl Haryana assembly complex
The chief minister allocated ₹50 crore for the construction of the additional Haryana assembly complex in Chandigarh.
He announced an outlay of ₹101 crore for the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal.
The CM said that the five-year period for grant of goods and service tax compensation has come to an end. However, the state has seen buoyancy in tax collections early due to better administration that is expected to cover the revenue shortfall, he said.
This is the fourth budget of the second term of the BJP-JJP government.
