“Ajit Pawar Unveils ₹6.12 Lakh Crore State Budget!”

In the budget, farmers, laborers, students, youth, women, Justice to all groups such as backward classes, tribals, minorities Strengthen the development of various sectors like agriculture, industry, education, trade, health, tourism

Mumbai : Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had presented the interim budget for the current financial year on February 27, 2024. Today, he presented the supplementary budget. This marks his tenth budget presentation since he first served as Finance and Planning Minister in March 2011. Pawar began his budget speech with a verse from Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj.

School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar presented the additional budget for 2024-25 in the Legislative Council today, while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar presented it in the Legislative Assembly.

In the supplementary budget for 2024-25, a provision of 6 lakh 12 thousand 293 crore rupees has been made for total expenditure, with revenue collection estimated at 4 lakh 99 thousand 463 crore rupees and revenue expenditure at 5 lakh 19 thousand 514 crore rupees. The proposed outlay includes 1 lakh 92 thousand crores for the Annual Plan program, 15 thousand 893 crores for the Scheduled Caste Scheme, 15 thousand 360 crores for the Tribal Development Scheme, and 18 thousand 165 crores for the District Annual Plan. The revenue deficit is 20 thousand 51 crore rupees, and the fiscal deficit is 1 lakh 10 thousand 355 crore rupees.

The state government remains committed to supporting farmers through various initiatives, adhering to the motto “Self-reliant farmers, prosperous farmers.” Schemes include direct subsidies for seeds, irrigation facilities, modern technology, promotion of ancillary industries, value addition of agricultural produce, storage, and market availability. To date, 92 lakh 43 thousand farmer families have received 5 thousand 318 crore 47 lakh rupees under the “Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana,” 3 thousand 504 crore 66 lakh rupees have been paid to 59 lakh 57 thousand farmers under the “One Rupee Crop Insurance Scheme,” and 52 crore 82 lakh rupees have been distributed to 2 thousand 694 farmer families under the “Gopinath Munde Farmer Accident Safety Grant Scheme.” Additionally, 5 thousand 190 crore rupees have been paid as an incentive to 14 lakh 33 thousand farmers who regularly repay crop loans under the “Mahatma Jotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana.” Substantial funds have been allocated in the current budget to further support these initiatives, said Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

Provision for Equalization of Value-Added Tax on Petrol and Diesel Across the State

Relaxation Provisions on Business Tax and Stamp Duty Also

Deputy Chief Minister Shri. In the supplementary budget presented by Pawar, a provision has been made to equalize the value-added tax on petrol and diesel across the state. This will provide relief to common citizens as well as the industry and trade sectors. In this budget, relief has been given to citizens through the exemption of five Central Armed Forces personnel from business tax, reduction in stamp duty penalty, and refund of stamp duty, among other measures.

To equalize the value-added tax on petrol and diesel across the state, the current tax on diesel in the municipal areas of Brihanmumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai has been proposed to be reduced from 24 percent to 21 percent. Also, it has been proposed to increase the current tax on petrol from 26 percent plus Rs.5.12 per liter to 25 percent plus Rs.5.12 per liter. This change will provide relief to common citizens as well as the industry and trade sectors. Due to this change, the price of petrol in Thane, Brihanmumbai, and Navi Mumbai municipal areas will be cheaper by approximately 65 paise and the price of diesel will be cheaper by approximately Rs.2.07 per liter.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Shri. Pawar has exempted five Central Armed Forces personnel from business tax in this budget. Armed personnel performing national duty in the Central Armed Police Force, Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, National Security Guards, and Sashastra Seema Bal are exempted from paying business tax. Approximately twelve thousand personnel will benefit from this.

If a registered instrument is found to have paid less stamp duty, the penalty levied on the difference amount of stamp duty will be reduced from 2% to 1% per month from the date of execution of the instrument. Also, the process of applying online for a stamp duty refund will be started. The time limit for applying for this has been extended from six months to one year from the date of purchase of the stamp.

The salient features of the supplementary budget presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar are as follows:

• On February 27, 2024, the interim budget of the state for the financial year 2024-25 was presented. Now, the supplementary budget for the year 2024-25 has been presented.
• In the very first cabinet meeting of the central government, the approval of the expansion of the port project – total cost of Rs 76,200 crores – creation of more than 10 lakh jobs.
• Emphasis on substantial financial assistance to women, farmers, youth, backward classes, and the poor of all communities in the supplementary budget.

For Warkari Brothers:

• Proposal to UNESCO for World Heritage nomination of Wari of Pandharpur.
• Rs. 20,000 per Dindi for dindis in the main palanquin going to Wari of Pandharpur.
• Fund of Rs. 36 crore 71 lakh for ‘Nirmal Wari.’
• Health check-ups and free medication for all commuters on both the main Palkhi routes from Dehu-Alandi to Pandharpur through the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Room.

Various Schemes for Women:

• Commencement of the ‘Lake Ladki’ scheme from 2023-24: A total of Rs. 1,01,000 will be given to a girl child gradually from her birth till she turns eighteen.
• The “Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana” has a fund of Rs. 5000 per month for eligible women.
• It is mandatory to record the name of a person born after May 1, 2024, in government documents in the order of first name, mother’s name, father’s name, and surname.
• “Pink E-Rickshaw”: Financial assistance for 10,000 women in 17 cities to buy rickshaws – Rs. 80 crore fund.
• Subsidy given to beneficiary girls under the “Shubhamangal Collective Registered Marriage” scheme increased from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000.
• Rs. 78 crore for equipment and materials for breast and cervical cancer screening in all health sub-centers in the state.
• 3,324 ambulances to transport patients, especially pregnant mothers and children, to health institutions for free.
• 1,25,66,986 houses in rural areas connected through the Jal Jeevan Mission Program – work is in progress for the remaining 21,04,932 houses.
• “Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana”: 3 gas cylinders will be provided free of cost to every household per year – benefit to 52,16,412 beneficiary families.
• “Lakhpati Didi”: Establishment of 7 lakh new groups under the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Promotion Mission – Increase in revolving fund amount of saving groups from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 30,000.
• So far, 15 lakh women “Lakhpati Didi” through ‘Umaid Mart’ and ‘E-Commerce Online Platform’ to produce goods produced by women’s self-help groups, aiming to reach 25 lakh women this year.
• “Punyashlok Ahilya Devi Holkar Mahila Startup Yojana” for women small entrepreneurs – Organized All India Level Convention in the State.
• Repayment of interest on loans up to Rs. 15 lakh to women small entrepreneurs in the tourism sector under the “Ai Yojana” – 10,000 employment generation.
• Free higher education for girls from the academic year 2024-25 for all professional degree courses in engineering, architecture, pharmacology, medicine, and agriculture admitted to other backward classes and economically weaker section girls with an annual family income up to Rs. 100% reimbursement of tuition fee and examination fee.
• This decision will benefit approximately 2,05,499 girls – a burden of about Rs. 2,000 crore.

Various Schemes for Farmers:

• Assistance of Rs. 15,245.76 crore from July 2022 for loss of crops due to natural calamities.
• Assistance of Rs. 2,253 crores to 2,447,000 farmers affected by unseasonal rains during November-December 2023.
• Assistance at higher rates than State Disaster Response Fund norms by limiting the area of damage to three hectares instead of two.
• For Kharif season 2023, drought in 40 talukas and drought-like situation in 1,021 revenue circles and various concessions applied.
• E-Panchnama system to be implemented in the entire state to make loss Panchnama quick and transparent.
• A total of Rs. 5,318.47 crore subsidy to 92,43,000 farmer families under the “Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana.”
• Rs. 3,504.66 crore paid to 59,57,000 farmers under the “One Rupee Crop Insurance Scheme.”
• Distribution of Rs. 52.82 crore subsidy to 2,694 farmer families under the “Gopinath Munde Farmers Accident Safety Grant Scheme.”
• Under “Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana,” Rs. 5,190 crore have been paid as an incentive to 14,33,000 farmers who regularly repay their crop loans; the remaining amount will be disbursed expeditiously.
• The second phase of the Nanaji Deshmukh Agricultural Sanjeevani Project worth Rs. 6,000 crore will be implemented in 21 districts.
• Approval of 767 sub-projects worth Rs. 1,561.64 crore under the Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project – benefiting about 9,00,000 farmers.
• Direct cash payment of Rs. 113.36 crore to 11,85,000 farmer beneficiaries in 14 disaster-affected districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada by May 2024.
• Rs. 1,239 crore subsidy for the purchase of 2,14,000 farm implements in the last three years from the National Agricultural Development Scheme and State Awarded Agricultural Mechanization Scheme.
• Construction of 100 new godowns as well as renovation of existing godowns in the first phase of the new scheme “Gaon There Godown.”
• Special Action Scheme for Increase in Productivity and Value Chain Development of Cotton, Soybean, and other Oilseeds – Rs. 341 crore fund in 2024-25.
• Revolving fund of Rs. 100 crore for the procurement of pulses and oilseeds in Kharif and Rabi seasons through Nafed as per base price.
• Financial assistance of Rs. 5,000 per hectare to cotton and soybean farmers in Kharif marketing season 2023-24 within a limit of two hectares.
• Subsidy of Rs. 851.66 crore to onion producers in 2023-24 at Rs. 350 per quintal.
• Revolving fund of Rs. 200 crore each for assured purchase of onion and cotton.
• Incentive amount of Rs. 1,350 crores equivalent to Rs. 20,000 per hectare will be provided to 6,00,000 paddy farmers in Kharif marketing season 2023-24.
• Rs. 223.83 crore subsidy distributed to 2,93,000 registered milk producers at Rs. 5 per liter; the remaining subsidy will also be distributed immediately.
• The scheme of providing a subsidy of Rs. 5 per liter to support milk-producing farmers will be continued from July