Mumbai: Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday presented a Rs 6,12,293 crore Budget in the Maharashtra Assembly, offering incentives to farmers, women, the poor and the youth, and trying to appease all sections ahead of the Assembly elections later this year.
In an attempt to appease the middle class, which often complains about price rises, the Finance Minister offered a tax cut on petrol and diesel.
Pawar announced that 46 lakh farmers in the state will get a waiver of electricity bill dues resulting in an expenditure of Rs 14,761 crore for the government.
He also announced the CM Mazi Ladki Bahin scheme under which poor woman (between the age of 21-60 years) will get Rs 1,500 monthly allowance through DBT, leading to Rs 46,000 crore extra expenditure for the government every year.
Additionally, under the CM Annapurna Scheme, each eligible family will get 3 free gas cylinders every year, Pawar said while presenting the Budget during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly.
Pawar, who also heads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), said an outlay of Rs I.92 lakh crore has been proposed under the scheme in the annual plan 2024-25.
It includes an outlay of Rs 15,839 crores for the Scheduled Casts sub-plan and Rs 15,360 crores for the Tribal sub-plan.
The Finance Minister said that petrol prices in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane will be reduced by 65 paise while tax on diesel is being decreased from 24% to 21 % for the Mumbai region, effectively reducing diesel prices by 2 rupees per litre.
In the Mumbai region, tax on Petrol was decreased from 26% to 25% which will effectively decrease rates of petrol by 65 paise per litre.
He also said that the electricity bills of Agri pumps of 46.06 lakh farmers will be waived off leading to an expenditure of Rs 14,761 crores for the government.
The Budget highlighted several key aspects aimed at driving the state’s growth and development. Overall, the Budget aimed to create a balanced and inclusive growth trajectory for Maharashtra, addressing both urban and rural needs while promoting sustainable development.
In his Budget speech, Pawar said that nearly one lakh women will be given employment opportunities in the coming year. He also said that 7,000 km of road works will be completed in the financial year.
He also announced a grant of Rs 20,000 to each Dindi, a procession of devotees of Lord Vitthal, participating in Pandharpur Ashadhi Ekadashi Vari.
Pawar also said that the government will approve the Wadhavan port which is proposed at Palghar.
Announcing the CM Yuva Karya Prashikshan Scheme, the Finance Minister said under it 10 lakh interns will be provided Rs 10,000 monthly stipend for which the government is allocating of Rs 10,000 crore.
The Maharashtra government announced that a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre will be provided to cow milk farmers from July 1.
Pawar said the Government is committed to helping farmers. Various schemes are being implemented regarding subsidies for seeds, irrigation facilities, use of technology, storage of farm produce etc.
From 2024-25 financial year, schemes such as Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi, crop insurance for one rupee have been started to help farmers, he said.
Schemes in 16 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada have been completed. The second phase of these projects worth Rs 6,000 crores will be implemented in 21 districts, he added.
The state government has increased compensation for deaths caused in animal attacks, the Deputy Chief Minister said. The next of kin will receive Rs 25 lakhs instead of the earlier Rs 20 lakhs, he said.
Pawar also said, “We are planning to provide a bonus of Rs 5,000 per hectare to all farmers for their cotton and soybean crops.”
Over two lakh female students belonging to other backward classes and economically weaker sections will get financial assistance from the state government.
The scheme will be implemented from the academic year 2024-25. The state government will bear the burden of Rs 2,000 crores every year, the deputy CM said.
Giving details of the state-run Maulana Azad Minority Economic Development Corporation, he said that government guarantees on loans – increased from Rs 30 crores to Rs 500 crores – and a scholarship scheme for foreign education from 2024-25 has also been introduced.
