Himachal Budget 2024:Â Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at this time (February 17) offered the annual state Budget of Rs 58,444 crore for 2024-25 with a concentrate on the agriculture and rural sectors, and introduced a rise within the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk. The authorities didn’t suggest any new tax for the subsequent fiscal.
Presenting his second state Budget, Sukhu, who additionally holds the finance portfolio, introduced a hike in MSP of cow milk from Rs 38 to Rs 45 per litre and buffalo milk from Rs 47 to Rs 55 per litre. Himachal is the primary state to present MSP on milk, he mentioned. The rural-oriented Budget centered on strengthening farming and animal husbandry sectors, moreover asserting steps to make the state self-reliant.
He mentioned liabilities of all milk cooperative societies might be waived off and Rs 150 crore might be spent on strengthening infrastructure for milk procurement and its processing. The income receipts and expenditure are estimated at Rs 42,153 crore and Rs 46,667 crore, respectively, implying that the estimated income loss might be Rs 4,514 crore.
The fiscal deficit was estimated at Rs 10,784 crore that was 4.75 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Of each Rs 100 expenditure, Rs 25 could be spent on salaries, Rs 17 on pension, Rs 11 on curiosity, Rs 9 on mortgage reimbursement, and Rs 10 on grants to autonomous establishments and solely Rs 28 could be spent on different actions an capital works.
Agricultural finances
Reiterating his resolve to make a inexperienced state by 2026, Sukhu introduced Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Yojana, below which 36,000 farmers- 10 farmers from each panchayat- might be educated in pure farming methods. Universal cartons might be launched for apple packaging, and horticulture tourism might be inspired, he added.
Announcing a 4 per cent further Dearness Allowance (DA) for authorities workers from April 1, 2024, he mentioned arrears of revised pay scales might be paid to workers and pensioners in a phased method. The DA improve will put a further monetary burden of Rs 580 crore on the state exchequer.
CM Sukhu blames earlier ruling BJP govt
Blaming the earlier BJP authorities of monetary mismanagement, Sukhu mentioned the debt burden of the state has mounted to Rs 87,788 crore. Sukhu mentioned a sum of Rs 22,406 crore was as a result of Himachal from the Centre.
This, he mentioned, included a proposal of Rs 9,906 crore post-disaster want evaluation despatched to the Centre, Rs 4,500 crore due from Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) as energy arrears, and Rs 8,000 crore workers’ contribution below the National Pension Scheme (NPS). He mentioned the state authorities introduced a particular package deal of Rs 4,500 crore for disaster-affected folks after final yr’s monsoon, and added that the Centre had not given the state any particular package deal.
Sukhu mentioned the state authorities will introduce new insurance policies to advertise startups, encourage sportspersons, moreover making HP a distinguished vacation spot for filmmakers and to place a tab on unlawful mining actions. Other bulletins included organising of the primary modernised de-addiction and rehabilitation centre at Kandaghat in Solan district, appointment of 6,000 nursery academics, and month-to-month evaluation assembly of colleges.
He additionally mentioned 327 previous diesel buses might be changed with electrical buses and automobile scrap centres might be established within the state.
The CM additionally introduced rising the day by day wages of MGNREGA staff by Rs 60 from Rs 240 to Rs 300 per day and improve the honorarium of functionaries of panchayati raj establishments and city native our bodies. The authorities proposed to extend MLA discretionary grant from Rs 13 lakh to Rs 14 lakh and ‘Vidhayak Kshetra Vikas Nidhi Yojana’ from Rs 2.10 crore to 2.20 crore.
Himachal Pradesh Transformation Cell and Sustainable Development Goals Coordination Centre might be arrange within the planning division to present solutions to speed up the event primarily based on finest practices and monitoring and analysis of the event programmes, Sukhu mentioned.
(With businesses inputs)
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