Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday presented the annual Budget for 2024-25 totalling Rs 58,444 crore with focus on the agriculture sector and also announced an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk. Sukhu, who holds the finance portfolio, presented his second state Budget today.
Here’s what the Himachal Budget 2024-25 has in store:
-Minimum Support Price (MSP) for milk increased: Cow milk from Rs 38 to Rs 45 per litre, buffalo milk from Rs 38 to Rs 55 per litre. With this initiative, Himachal Pradesh becomes the first state to give MSP on milk.
-Daily wages of MGNREGA workers increased by Rs 60, from Rs 240 to Rs 300 per day.
-State to waive off liabilities of all milk cooperative societies; Rs 150 crore allocated for strengthening milk procurement and processing infrastructure.
-Introduction of Rajiv Gandhi Prakriyat Kheti Yojna: Training for 36,000 farmers in natural farming techniques.
-Initiative for universal cartons in apple packaging, encouragement of horticulture tourism; aim to make Himachal Pradesh a green state by 2026.
-Special package of Rs 4,500 crore for disaster-affected people, adding that Rs 22,406 crore are due to the state from the Centre.
-Setting up of modernized de-addiction and rehabilitation centre, appointment of 6,000 nursery teachers, monthly school review meetings.
-Replacement of 327 old diesel buses with electric buses; establishment of vehicle scrap centers.