Maharashtra: Eye on LS polls, Ajit Pawar presents interim budget

Taking a cue from the vote-on-account approved in the Parliament and Prime Minister’s categorisation of four key castes for him, Pawar proposed an expenditure of the first four months of the financial year 2024-25 that also focused on youth, women, poor and farmers ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Among the programmes that saw an increase in outlay was the district annual plan, which saw a 20 per cent increase to Rs 18,165 crore. For job creation, the finance minister announced that 25,000 industrial units will be set up that will help create 50,000 new jobs.

“It is proposed to create 25,000 industrial units under Chief Minister’s Employment Generation Program, of which 30 per cent will be women entrepreneurs. This program will generate around 50,000 new jobs,” Pawar announced.

The budget announced a major thrust on Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Mofat Veej Yojana to provide subsidy of upto Rs 78,000 per household, resulting in consumers getting free electricity upto 300 units. “A new scheme named ‘Magel tyala Solar Krishipump’ will be launched for the farmers, under which 8.50 lakh solar agricultural pumps will be installed,” Pawar announced, adding 37,000 anganwadis will be provided with solar sets.

“The state’s policy is to achieve sustainable, environment-friendly and inclusive development. We are effectively implementing the developmental policies to increase the size of the state’s economy to one trillion dollars as per the report of the Maharashtra Economic Advisory Council, in accordance with the resolution of the honourable Prime Minister to make India a developed nation by 2047,” he said in his budget speech.

Terming it an eyewash, the Opposition parties said that the state is walking on the path of bankruptcy. “The state is walking towards bankruptcy and this budget has fooled farmers, unemployed youth and the middle class,” said Vijay Wadettiwar, leader of opposition in the legislative assembly.

Under the Maharashtra Irrigation Reform Program, 155 projects over 25 years old and 75 incomplete irrigation projects will be completed in the next three years. An amount of Rs 2,000 crore will be provided to remove the backlog of irrigation in Vidarbha region.

Pawar also announced Chief Minister Women Empowerment Mission, under which at least one lakh women in each district will get benefit directly from various government schemes. “A scheme is proposed to provide pink rickshaws to 5,000 women in 10 major cities,” he said.

With focus on poor and backward classes, Pawar announced an increase in Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar Anudan Yojana’ and ‘Shravanbal Rajya Nivrutivetan Yojana’ from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan. ‘Annabhau Sathe Research and Training Institute’ (ARTI) will be established for the Matang community.

The share capital of ‘Sant Rohidas Charmoudyog & Charmakar Mahamandal’, Mahatma Phule Magasvarg Vikas Mahamandal’ and ‘Sahitya Ratna Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Vikas Mahamandal’ has been increased. A Leather Park at Deonar, Leather Industry Training Centre at Kolhapur and a Centre of Excellence will be established in each revenue division through ‘Sant Rohidas Charmoudyog & Charmakar Vikas Mahamandal’. A leather industry training centre will be set up at Govandi through the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In a bid to reach out to youth and sports personalities, Pawar has proposed a slew of initiatives and also increased the prize amounts for the latter. The government has approved the World Bank assisted ‘Development of Applied Knowledge and Skills for Human Development’ (DAKSH) project, costing Rs 2,307 crore for implementation of vocational education, innovation and skill enhancement schemes as well as strengthening of quality infrastructure and operational systems.

An International Skill Development Centre and Sant Gadgebaba Swachh Bharat Skill Prabodhini will be established in every revenue division to make the youth employable and enterprising.