Budget says VAT to be introduced in MP from Apr 1

Presenting his third consecutive budget, Raghavji said roads, irrigation, power, education and health were top priorities for the government. He said the state’s day-to-day fiscal management was improving and added that the government had not resorted to ways and means advance this year after a gap of 32 years. At Rs 970.22 crore the revenue surplus was the first in 13 years. The fiscal deficit for 2006-7 is estimated at Rs 4,873.67 crore against the last fiscal’s figure of Rs 4,768.90 crore.

To promote girls’ education, the government extended to the remaining 29 development blocks the benefit of free school uniform for girls studying in classes I to VIII. Also, 79,000 girls admitted to Class IX in 2006-7 will be given free bicycles if there is no high school in their village. To improve attendance and retention in schools, the finance minister has provided additional resources for the mid-day meal scheme. Under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan Rs 1,800 crore will be spent, which is Rs 507 crore more than the last year’s spending.

The budget provides for two-fold increase in the tourism sector, hike in DA for government employees and pensioners and more honorarium for shiksha karmis teaching in panchayat schools.