Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today presented his 20th Budget as the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Presenting his last budget for this tenure as CM, Virbhadra Singh tried reaching out to each section of the society fulfilling the 2012 Polls promise of giving Unemployment Allowance to the youth of the state. HimBuds brings you the highlights of Himachal Pradesh Budget 2017.
- Unemployment Allowance will be given to unemployed youth in the state who are 10+2 pass and above. An amount of Rs. 1,000 per month will be disbursed, whereas Rs. 1,500 per month allowance will be given to unemployed candidates from ‘Divyang’ category. Rs. 150 crore has been allocated for this purpose.
- Govt. subsidy on Anti-Hail Gun has been hiked from 50% to 80%.
- Beti hai Anmol scheme allowance increased from Rs. 5,100 to Rs. 10,000.
- Amount for MukhyaMantri Kanyadaan Yojana increased from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 40,000.
- Farmers will be awarded 50% subsidy for the purchase of Plastic Crates. Rs. 2 crore fund allocated.
- Horticulture Department to be allocated fund to the tune of Rs. 424 crore.
- Area requirement for Poly house installation under Dr. Y. S. Parmar Kisaan Sanrakshan Yojana increased from 2000 sq mt to 4000 sq mt. Rs. 50 crore fund allocated.
- Area of 2000 hectare to be covered under Organic Farms. 2000 Bio-villages to be set-up, 20,000 Vermi-compost units to be set-up.
- 100 units to be awarded 60% subsidy for setting up Poultry units.
- Every farmer to be awarded a Health card this year.
- Panchayat Pashudhan Yojana initiated. Rs. 7.80 crore fund allocated.
- Subsidy for setting up Milk processing & chilling plant hiked from 60% to 75%.
- Rs. 374 crore budget approved for Animal Husbandry Department.
- Rs. 50 crore approved for farming of off-season vegetables.
- Patients to be provided Free Bus Service.
- Vaanar Vatikas to be constructed for notorious monkeys near Tara Devi to accommodate 1,000 monkeys.
- Himachal Pradesh Environment Leadership Awards started. Prizes worth Rs. 1 Lakh, Rs. 50 thousand and Rs. 25 thousand to be awarded.
- Rs. 42 crore approved to fund Zila Parishads and Panchayat Samitis.
- Chief Minister Rural livelihood Scheme launched with Rs. 10 crore budget approval.
- Social Audit Scheme announced, every department to submit monthly progress report.
- 4 Lakh Soil Health cards prepared in the state. Hamirpur district remains on top.
- Pisci-culture to be promoted in the state. More than 12,000 fishermen associated with pisciculture. 1,000 trout farming units to be set-up in the state.
- Unemployed youth to be trained for grafting and tissue culture.
- Government committed to provide clean and pure drinking water. 512 filtration units to be set-up and made functional before 31st March 2017.
- State Forest cover increased by 13 sq km.
- DPR for National Highway to prepared soon, tenders have already been invited for the DPR of 31 roads.
- Circular Road, Shimla to be broadened.
- 50% grant will awarded for parking construction in the city.
- Rs. 10 crore allocated for repair of 49 sewage treatment plants.
- Department of Labour & Employment allocated a budget of Rs. 296 crore.
- CM says Himachal Pradesh welcomes GST with open-hands. Traders to be made aware of the benefits.
- Vocational laboratories in 650 schools to be upgraded. B-Vocational courses to be started in 12 colleges, Rs. 39 crore budget allocated.
- 850 schools offering vocational education, 57,000 students availing vocational education in the state.
- For Industrial Development, exemption in Entry tax, Power Duty, Change in Land Use charge & Stamp Duty to be given to investors.
- Himachal Pradesh University allocated Rs. 100 crore budget, Rs. 10 crore more than last time. HPU had demanded Rs. 120 crore.
- Medical University to be set-up in Mandi district.
- Himachal Journalist Welfare Scheme allocated a fund of Rs. 1 crore.
- Big Play Fields to be set-up in each district in the vicinity of educational institutions. Rs. 10 Lakh to be awarded for construction of each such field.
- Government schools to have bio-metric machines for attendance marking.
- Meritorious students to be awarded laptop with Rs. 25 crore budget.
Source: Amar Ujala
