Bhopal: Aiming to please various sections of society, the Congress government in Madhya Pradesh presented its maiden budget of 2.33 lakh crore on Wednesday. It has proposed to allocate Rs 132 crore for the welfare of bovines and hiked grant to the state Waqf Board and Haj committee. Presenting first full-time budget of the Congress, back in power after a gap of 15 years, Finance minister Tarun Bhanot did not announce any tax or cess.
“We would raise revenue from revised tax structure in mining, excise and transport sector,” said the minister. The opposition though did object to state government’s move of announcing imposition of cess on petrol and diesel despite the fact the assembly session was notified by then and first the same should have been announced in the House. The Kamal Nath government alleging less allocation of funds to MP in union budget had put additional Rs two each cess on petrol and diesel recently.
The budget, presented by Finance Minister Tarun Bhanot, also proposed a three-fold hike in the honorarium for the priests working in the registered temples. The minister said a budgetary allocation of Rs 8,000 crore has been made to waive remaining loans of the farmers in the state.
Amid ruckus from the opposition, the minister announced that farm loans of 20 lakh farmers have been waived off and in second phase, Rs 8,000 cr have been provisioned for the same. About Rs 1,000 cr have been provisioned for capitalisation of co-operative banks in the budget.
“A provision has been made to generate employment for youths under which the skill training programme would be given an impetus. Besides, the grants for the Madhya Pradesh Waqf Board and the Haj committee have been hiked. More than Rs 821 crore has been earmarked for the OBC and Minorities Department,” Bhanot said.
“Scriptures revere cows and for this a grant of Rs 132 crore has been proposed for the welfare of bovines,” he said, adding that the private sector would also be roped in for this purpose. Bhanot also said that the budget proposes a three-fold hike in the honorarium for the priests working in registered temples.
The state government has announced a scheme for branding of desi products including local brands such as Mawa Jalebi of Jabalpur, Morena;s Gajak, Mawa Bati of Malwa, Chanderi sari, Ratlam Namkin, Bagh print of Dhar, Bronze items of Chhatarpur and others.
In a bid to fight rampant malnutrition, the budget has a provision of Rs 2472 crore. A pilot project would be started in nine worst-affected districts.
The finance minister has announced that the state government would undertake development of Ram Van Gaman Path, a mythological route undertaken by lord Ram during exile period. A river front and Dumna safari is proposed in Jabalpur.