Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday announced several sops in the state Budget for 2024-25. Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio in the state, said that the goal of the state is to become a US$ 1 trillion economy.
Here are the key takeaways from Ajit Pawar’s Maharashtra Budget 2024 speech:
-“Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana”, financial assistance scheme entailing a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years. The scheme will be implemented from July, four months ahead of the state polls which are due in October. An annual budgetary allocation of Rs 46,000 crore will be made for the scheme.
-Reduction in taxes on diesel and petrol in the municipal areas of Brihanmumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane. Proposal to reduce VAT on diesel and petrol from 24 per cent to 21 per cent, which will make diesel cheaper by around Rs 2 per litre and petrol by 65 paise a litre in the Mumbai region. The tax cut will cost the state exchequer Rs 200 crore.
-‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana’: Under this welfare scheme, an eligible family of five will get three cooking gas cylinders free every year.
-Subsidy of Rs five per litre for cow milk for dairy farmers in state. This will begin from July 1 and benefits will be provided to 2.93 lakh cow milk producers.
-Forty-four lakh farmers in Maharashtra using pumps up to 7.5 Horse Power capacity to get a waiver of electricity bill dues. A provision of Rs 14,761 crore will be made in form of subsidy for the scheme.
-Pending electricity dues of 46.6 lakh agricultural pump users to also be waived.
-Free waiver for girls from the Economically Weaker Section (EWS)and Other Backward Classes (OBC) families pursuing higher education. This will help two lakh girls and a Budget of Rs 2,000 crore has been set aside for this.
-Unity Mall Project: The goal is to enable 25 lakh women to become ‘Lakhpatis’ (millionaires) within this fiscal year.
-The Maharashtra government has provided compensation to 24.47 lakh farmers, covering an area of up to three hectares per farmer.
The state government has also declared 40 talukas in the state as drought-affected regions.
-‘Har Ghar Nal’ initiative: This aims to provide tap water to 21 lakh households which are currently in the process of being connected.
-10,000 women be given pink e-rickshaws across the state. Rs 80 crore has been allocated for the scheme across 17 cities.
-A scuba diving centre to be established in Sindhudurg region to promote tourism.
-The state government has decided to increase health coverage under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs five lakh.
-Metro lines spanning 449 kms sanctioned for Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur. At present 127 kms are operational, with 37 kms expected to function within this financial year.
-Shivdi-Worli link road project to be completed by December 2025.
-CM Yuva karya Prashikshan Yojana: This skill development scheme offers a monthly stipend of Rs 10,000. An amount of Rs 10,000 crore has been set aside annually for this scheme, which is expected to benefit 10 lakh youth.
-‘Centre of excellence’ to be established in Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Amravati, Yavatman, Kolapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinahar, Karad in Satara district and Avasari Khurd in Pune.
-The state government has approved new government medical colleges with intake capacity of 100 students and 430 bedded hospitals.
-New Government Unani college to be set up in Mauje Savar in Raigad district and a new government Ayurveda college to be set up in Buldhana.
-The government has set a target to construct over 35 lakh houses over the next five years through various housing schemes, including PM-Awas. To achieve this, Rs 7,424 crore has been allocated in the 2024-25 Budget.
-The number of Empaneled Hospitals increased from 1000 to 1900.
-The government will provide help for planting bamboo and Rs 175 will be provided for each plantation of Bamboo.
-The government plans to distribute solar power pumps to 850,000 farmers under the “Magel Tyala” scheme, providing them with free electricity. This initiative is part of a broader project aimed at segregating agricultural electricity grids and transitioning them to solar power, ensuring uninterrupted daytime power supply to farmers.
-A proposed outlay of Rs 1.92 lakh crore under the scheme expenditure for the annual plan 2024-25. This allocation includes Rs 15,893 crore for the scheduled caste plan and Rs 15,360 crore for the tribal development sub-plan.
-In total, a budget outlay of Rs 6,12,293 crore was proposed for the fiscal year 2024-25. The revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 4,99,463 crore, with revenue expenditure planned at Rs 5,19,514 crore. The estimated revenue deficit for the year is Rs 20,051 crore.