Created 188,168 additional centres under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme. Beginning this year, the Centre will assist the states to the extent of 50 per cent of the actual expenditure incurred for supplementary nutrition or 50 per cent of the cost norms, whichever is less. Cost to the Centre estimated at Rs 1,500 crore.
The Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to be given an additional grant of Rs 6,250 crore. Apart from Mumbai metro rail and Bangalore metro rail, the projects under active consideration include those in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The government will actively promote the establishment of new towns, preferably focused on a specific industry (example: Information Technology) or specific theme (example: education or health). Some projects are already on the anvil in West Bengal and Karnataka.
Old age pensions granted under the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) to destitute persons above the age of 65 years to be increased from Rs 75 per month to Rs 200 a month. State governments urged to make an equal contribution. Plus, a proposal to work with the department of posts and banks to establish, within two years, a system under which the pension will be credited directly to the account of the beneficiary in a post office or a bank.
Enlargement of the statement on gender budgeting by including schemes where the entire allocation is for the benefit of women as well as schemes where at least 30 per cent of the allocation is aimed at enhancing women's quality of life. The statement now covers 24 demands for grants in 18 ministries and five Union Territories, and schemes with an outlay of Rs 28,737 crore. Also, gender budgeting cells at 32 ministries and departments.
Allocations for schemes aimed at the benefit of SCs and STs enhanced by 14.5 per cent to Rs 2,902 crore, and allocations for schemes with at least 20 per cent allocation for SCs and STs have been enhanced by 13.9 per cent to Rs 9,690 crore. The equity contribution to the National SC Finance and Development Corporation upped to Rs 37 crore, and to the National Safai Karamchari Finance and Development Corporation to Rs 80 crore in 2006-07.
Doubling of the corpus fund of the Maulana Azad Educational Foundation to Rs 200 crore. The Centre would also contribute Rs 16.47 crore to strengthen the equity base of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation. And increase the allocation to the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language from Rs 10 crore to Rs 13 crore. It will finance 20,000 such scholarships to minority students.
Leather and footwear have been identified as thrust areas for development, given its potential as a job-enabling sector. Earlier, footwear retailed under Rs 250 a pair was exempt from excise duty. But now footwear priced between Rs 250 and Rs 750 also gets a push, as its excise duty is slashed from 16 to 8 per cent.
A programme for the repair, renovation and restoration of water bodies is currently under implementation through pilot projects in 23 districts in 13 States. About 20,000 water bodies with a command area of 1.47 million hectares have been identified in the first phase. The estimated cost is Rs 4,481 crore.
A special purpose Tea Fund to be set up, to which the government will make a levelised contribution every year. For 2006-07, the contribution is expected to be Rs 100 crore.
A sum of Rs 150 crore earmarked under the National Horticulture Mission. A Central Institute of Horticulture will be established in Nagaland. The National Fisheries Development Board will be constituted shortly.
Proposal to cover an additional 100 clusters at a cost of Rs 50 crore in 2006-07. Yarn depots to be established in different parts of the country to ensure uninterrupted supply of yarn to weavers. A