Rs 10 lakh crore increase in state’s income, farmer and common man focal point of state’s development, says Sudhir Mungantiwar

Mungantiwar presented the 2019-20 additional budget of the state in the legislative assembly today while MoS Finance Dipak Kesarkar presented in the legislative council.

Finance Minister Mungantiwar said that considerable control has been achieved on payment of interest on loan. In 2009-10 17.07 percent of the GDP was spent in paying the interst on loans. This is now brought down to 11.19 percent, he said. The state succeeded in controlling the revenue deficit since last couple of years. Last year the state recorded revenue surplus of Rs 2082 crore he said adding that this year also the state will have revenue surplus.

Farming “Power” of state’s economy

The real strength and power of state’s economy is agriculture. Most employments are dependent on agriculture. The government has taken many important decisions to double the farmers’ income and to make farming a profitable enterprise, Mungantiwar said adding that this government is working for the interests of the common man. He said that the government is firmly standing with the people in timrs of drought. Long term measures to improve water supply in Marathwada region are being implemented under the Marathwada Water Grid Scheme, he said. Elsewhere in the state short term and long term schemes of water supply are also being undertaken, he added

Facilities for businessmen-entrepreneurs

Continuous efforts are being made to make business easy by including it in the GST system necessary for ease of doing business. Ordinance of Maharashtra tax, interest, punishment and late fee has been passed to provide facilities to businessmen and entrepreneurs for payment.

Important points and provisions in the budget

Drought grant deposited in bank accounts of 66 lakh farmers

The government is firmly standing behind the people and farmers in drought hit areas and accelerated many schemes to provide relief to them, Mungantiwar said. He added that the state government has deposited Rs 4, 461 crore in the bank accounts of 66 lakh 88 thousand 422 farmers of 17, 985 villages.

Schemes like relief in land revenue, reconstitution of cooperative loans, stopping farm loan recovery, exemption in examination fees for school and college students, 33.5% relief in current electricity bill for agriculture pumps etc. are introduced for the help of drought hit people, he said. According to highest priority to potable water supply, the population of animals is also taken into consideration along the population of the village and the decision to supply water through tankers was taken. 9,925 wells, ‘Vindhan Wells’ were acquisitioned in the state. 2438 temporary pipe water schemes and repair of special schemes were undertaken. 6,597 tankers are employed to provide water to 5, 243 villages and 11, 293 wadis, he said.

Over 11 lakh animals in fodder camps

He said that fodder production of 29.4 lakh MT was taken on 30000 ha land in the state. 1, 635 fodder camps were set up for the animals that housed 11,04,979 animals, Munagtiwar said adding that for the first time camps were started for sheep and goats and grant for animals was also increased.

Rs 6, 410 crore provided for natural calamities in this budget and additional funds will be made available if required, he added.

Farmers’ income will be doubled

Rs 12, 597 crore provided for Water Resources Department

The government has implemented various schemes of irrigation, soil and water conservation, agriculture and dairy development, the Finance Minister said adding that the state has proposed a fund of Rs 12 thousand 597 crore 13 lakh 89 thousand in the budget.

Giving information about irrigation schemes he said that in the last four and half years the irrigation capacity of 3 lakh 87 thousand ha was created while 1, 905 million cumbic meters water storage was created. 140 irrigation projects were completed in last four and half years, he said.

Rs 2,720 crore has been provided in the current financial year for Pradhan Mantri Agriculture Irrigation Scheme. The 26 incomplete irrigation projects are included in PM Agriculture Irrigation Scheme. The total cost of these projects is Rs 22, 398 crore.

Rs 1, 531 crore have been kept for Baliraja Jal Sanjivanee Yojana in this financial year. This scheme was started by the Centre for time bound completion of irrigation projects in districts affected by farmer suicides and drought prone areas. Pipeline laying is proposed to be undertaken on 6.15 lakh ha under 109 irrigation projects.

Rs 3, 182 crore for soil and water conservation

All works were completed in 18, 649 villages out of 22, 590 selected under Jalyukata Shivar Abhiyan. 6 lakh 2000 works of soil and water conservation have been completed in these villages and 26.90 TMC water storage capacity has been created. So far RS 8, 946 crore have been spent on this scheme.

3.23 crore cubic meter silt was extracted from 5, 270 water bodies under ‘Gaalmukta Dharan- Gaalyukta Shivar” scheme. 31,150 farmers took advantage of this. Rs 3, 182 crore has been provided for soil and water conservation in 2018-19.

Rs 300 crore for EGS

Works of 1 lakh 67 thousand farm ponds were completed in last four years under Farm pond on demand scheme. It is proposed to complete 25000 farm ponds in 2019-20 and for this Rs 125 crore has been provided.

Under the MNREGA schemes a fund of Rs 300 crore will be made available for coordinated skill expenditure.

The government has proposed to make provision of Rs 350 crore for minor irrigation considering the role of agriculture sector in the job creation. Out of 2065 revenue circles in the state 2061 revenue circles have automatic weather centers.

Over 1 crore farmers involved in crop insurance

In 2017-18, 52.26 lakh farmers were given Rs 2,688 crore compensation by insurance companies and this amount is deposited in their bank accounts. In 2018-19 1 crore 39 lakh 38 thousand participated in crop insurance scheme in kharif and rabi seasons. 83.27 lakh ha area is brought under insurance cover. Rs 3, 397 crore have been disbursed to over 23 lakh farmers as compensation.

Rs 210 crore has been earmarked under Gopinath Munde Farmer accident insurance scheme. This scheme includes families of the farmers and this will provide insurance cover to 5.5 crore people.

Rs 200 crore for four farm universities

Rs 200 crore are provided for four agriculture universities in the state with Rs 50 crore for each varsity. 46 projects are approved under Chief Minister Agriculture and Food Processing Scheme.

Rs 100 crore for group farming

To make farming profitable, the state government has encouraged group farming policy and so far 205 groups have been set up. Rs 100 crore have been provided for them in current financial year.

The SMART i.e. Maharashtra State Agriculture Business and Rural Transformation project is being implemented and through this production companies of farmers will be directly connected with buyers. For this Rs 2,220 crore is proposed to be spent.

Cashew nuts processing business is being encouraged in the state and in coming period Rs 100 crore will be made available for it.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana

Under the Chhatrapti Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana so far Rs 24, 102 crore have been sanctioned for 50.27 lakh farmers. The state government will also take a decision soon to include those who remained outside the scheme due to technical or other problems. The scheme will continue till the last of the farmers is benefited, the Finance Minister said.

Rs 500 crore for Atal Financial Help Scheme

The government will be providing financial help to various innovative projects of the various cooperative institutions. For this Rs 500 crore have been provided. Rs 390 crore has been made available under the ‘Bhavantar’ Scheme grant.

Rs 16025 crore for basic facilities

Rs 16000 have been provided for basic facilities like Chief Minister Rural Road Scheme, Smruddhi Mahamarg, Mumbai-Pune Expressway improvements, Third bridge on Thane creek, Bandra-Varsova sea route, Shivdi Nhava Sheva Mumbai Port project etc.

Rs 35000 crore for Urban Development

Rs 35791 crore are earmarked for urban development, Finance Minister said.

Electric connection to over 5 lakh agriculture pumps

In the last four and half years electricity connection was given to 526, 884 agriculture pumps with an expenditure of Rs 5110 crore. This year the target is to provide power connection to 75000 farm pumps. For this Rs 1875 crore expenses are expected. In last four years Rs 15 thousand 72 crore, Rs 3, 920 crore to power loom owners and Rs 3, 662 crore grants were given to industrial consumers under the concessional power rates.

CM empllyment generation program

The announcement for Chief Minister Employment Generation Program has been made in the budget and this year it is decided to start 10000 small industries under this program.

MSME parks at Taluka level

In every taluka of the state it is proposed to set up MSME parks and as a pilot project this will be implemented in 50 talukas. 30 % plots will be reserved for women entrepreneurs and Rs 300 crore have been provided for this scheme.

Additional revenue of Rs 3, 562 crore from mining auction

The state will receive additional revenue of Rs 3, 562 crore through auction of mining areas. This will lead to major investments in Nagpur, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Chandrapur districts and job opportunities will also be created.

Encouragement to textile industry

Under the textile policy of the state power is supplied at a concessional rate. For this Rs 540 cr is expected to be spent. Rs 367 crore have been disbursed in the last four years for grant of loan interest. Rs 180 cr were given as 10% financial assistance.

Rural development accelerated

GSI mapping of 39, 733 villages will be done under ‘Gavthan Jamabandi’ project at the cost of Rs 374 crorre. Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Social Auditoria will be constructed in 61 villages. Rs 35 crore has been given for 57 villages. It is proposed in the budget to build Jai Malhar Vyyamshala and Punyashlok Ahilyabai Smriti Libraries.

Development of rural pilgrim centres

Basic facilities will be created at religious and pilgrim centers of Sri Kshetra Kapildhara-Beed, Sant Sevalal Maharaj Pohradevi, Kunkeshwara-SIndhudurg, Angnewadi- Sindhudurg, Sakharam mahraj- Jalgaon, Nivrutti Nath Math- Nasik etc. for the visiting pilgrims and devotees. For this Rs 50 crore has been provided.

Rs 150 crore has been provided for various programs under the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Rs 100 crore for small industries

Rs 100 crore has been provided for cottage and small industries under the Khadi and Village Industries Board.

Rs 7, 197 crore for various housing schemes

Rs 7 thousand 197 68 lakh has been proposed for PMAY, housing for divyang etc. to be carried over by the housing department. There are 12 lakh 39 thousand 908 beneficiaries under the PMAY in the state. Out of them 578, 109 beneficiaries have been sanctioned the houses out of which 421, 329 houses were constructed.

Under the housing for divyang, the government will construct houses for those 80% divyang and Rs 100 crore is provided for this.

Rs 160 crroe grant to MSRTC for purchasing buses

Proposal of modernization of 129 bus stations in the state is there and 39 works have been completed. Works of 70 bus stations are progressing. For this Rs 136 crore have been spent. Rs 100 crore have been earmarked to provide bus stations with all facilities at pilgrim centers and Rs 160 crore grant will be given to MSRTC for purchasing 700 buses.

Transformation of divisional and district sports complexes

The government has given priority to provide international level facilities at the divisional and district sports complexes by transforming them. For this Rs 300 crore expenditure is expected. This year Rs 150 crore will be provided.

Other important provisions of the budget

· Rs 1522 cr for three medical colleges

· Rs 3980 cr for medical education and medicines department

· Rs 10, 581 cr for public health department

· Rs 12, 303 cr for social justice department. Massive increase in grants and provisions for social sector.

· Grant for Sanjay Gandhi Orphan and Shravanbal schemes increased from Rs 600 to 1000 per month. Rs 1100 to widows with one child and 1200 to widows with two children. The government has to bear additional burden of Rs 1500 crroe.

· Rs 100 cr for Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe birth anniversary

· Increase in nutrition meals of students in aided institutions from RS 900 to 1500

· Grant to HIV infected students to be increased from Rs 990 to 1650

· Self-employment scheme to be prepared for widows, divorcees and abandoned women. For this Rs 200 cr proposed.

· Rs 200 cr for Maharashtra State Other Backward Finance and Development Corporation

· Rs 200 cr for hostels for OBC students

· Rs 1000 cr for implementing 22 schemes for development of shepherd community

· Rs 2,814 cr for VJNT, Other Backward

· Rs 140 cr for APJ Abdul Kalam Amrut Aahar yojana. Under this scheme 1 lakh 52 thousand women and 8.37 lakh children to get full square meal per month.

· Rs 10, 705 cr for various schemes of Tribal Development Department

· Rs 100 cr for providing employment to minority women and youth

· Priority to empowerment of police force

· Rs 252 cr expected on women security schemes

· “Tourism Police” concept to be implemented in Sindhudurg, Aurangabad,, Nagpur districts, Shirdi, and Mumbai

· Rs 150 cr for special employment in Naxal-affected areas. Rs 500 cr will be provided in three years.

Memorials

Rs 50 cr has been earmarked for various memorials.

· It is proposed to set up a statue of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak at Maharashtra Sadan

· Encouragement to Child Theatre. The number to be increased to 10 from 5.

· Rs 10 cr added to Darpankar Balshastri Jambhekar Senior Journalist Sanman Yojana. Now the total fund is Rs 25 crore.

· Rs 100 cr for chulha free Maharashtra scheme. Deprived families to get gas connection through Dr Shyama Prasad Jan-Van Yojana and other schemes of LPG Gas distribution

· Rs 2, 745 cr for law and justice department

· Resolve to plant 33 crore trees in the state this year. Implementation of Atal Anandvan Yojana proposed in the state.