Gujarat focuses on social sector in FY17 Budget

The state government proposed a budget of Rs 85,556 crore

Gujarat government has put more stress on the social services like education and health in its proposed budget of Rs 85,555.78 crore for the year 2016-17. The proposed annual development plan (ADP) is higher by Rs 66,262.67 crore from previous year.

Out of proposed ADP, the government has allotted Rs 40,285.52 crore (around 47 per cent of the ADP) for the development of social services such as primary health services, education, drinking water, housing, nutrition, cleanliness, welfare of schedule caste, schedule tribes, socially and educationally backward, woman and child development. Compared to last year, the state government has allotted around 1,801.37 crore higher on social services development.

Finance Minster Saurabh Patel said, "The state government is committed for creating conducive climate so that people can get desired share of growth. Social sector gets the highest priority with an outlay of Rs 40, 286 crore keeping in mind the overall objective of improving of human development index of the state."

Major focus areas in the ADP 2016-17 is on sectors that can increase agricultural production, core road network, affordable housing, generate higher employment, expand access to education and health services, particularly to the deprived sections, greater investment in nutrition programs and strengthening infrastructure in irrigation, water supply, sanitation, urban and rural areas.

For the agriculture and allied services, finance minister of the state has proposed to allot Rs 5,940 crore which is 6.94 per cent of total budget. Moreover, the state has apportioned Rs 14,294.20 crore for the irrigation, sardar sarovar project and flood control.

Declaring the year as Youth Development Year, the state government has intended to create 66,000 government jobs in the state in the next one year. Patel in his proposed budget allotted Rs 1,000 core under 'Yuva Swavlamban' scheme of Chief Minister.

Patel said, "Government is committed to make Gujarat an energy hub, and thereby has provided an outlay of Rs 6,800 crore to the energy and petrochemical department focusing more on non-conventional sources of energy and people centric schemes like Kisan Hit Urja Shakti Yojana (KHUSY) and equity support to GUVNL, solar agri pumps etc."

An amount of Rs 10,500 crore has been allotted to improve quality of urban life, various ongoing and new works for water supply and other basic infrastructure development. The provision of Rs 3,791 crore has made for industries, tourism, civil aviation etc.