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Women empowerment, social sector get boost

State government has presented a overall budget size of Rs 1,33, 465 cr

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BS Reporter Ahmedabad
Last Updated : Jul 01 2014 | 9:12 PM IST
With Gujarat getting its first women chief minister in Anandiben Patel, the modified budget for the fiscal 20014-15 will focus on women empowerment in a big way. The modified budget with a surplus of Rs 453.80 crore further laid emphasis on social sector development through education, nutrition and health. Irrigation, agriculture and rural development, too, got due attention.

State finance minister Saurabh Patel, who presented the modified budget in the state assembly today, himself explained, "with Gujarat has the leadership of the first women chief minister Anandiben Patel, her approach for women empowerment and development of social sector through education, nutrition and health is rightly reflected in the modified budget estimates for 2014-15.

The special attention given to women empowerment could be gauged from the fact that the Gujarat government today decided to reserve 33 per cent posts for the women in the recruitment of police forces. Apart from doling out some incentives for women involved in animal husbandry activities, the state also announced its plan to double the number of milk producers co-operative societies operated by women.

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Terming creation of employment opportunities for youth as the biggest challenge for the nation, Patel further added, "If we can provide quality employment to each person, we would accomplish an important task in the direction of solving all the basic issues. Therefore, state government has resolved to give utmost priority to employment in the coming years. The Government aims to equip the youth through education and training in agriculture and animal husbandry, small and medium scale industries and encouraging their entrepreneurship to create employment on a large scale."

Other sectors to get attention include irrigation and flood control, agriculture and allied activities, rural development as well as social services. Of the total annual plan size of Rs 71330.44 crore, social services have seen highest allocation of Rs 34,781.50 crore followed by irrigation and flood control with allocation of Rs . 13035.32 crore, while agriculture and allied activities, rural development , transportation and social services received allocations of Rs 4358.20 crore, Rs 2311.30 crore, Rs 5638 crore respectively.

Earlier the government had presented vote on account budget with interim plan allocation for the departments for April 2014 to July 2014 due to Lok Sabha General Elections.

The overall budget size is Rs 1,33,465 crore for the financial year 2014-15 and it shows a surplus of Rs 570.85 crore and revenue surplus of Rs 6,837 crore. However, after taking into consideration proposed taxes and reliefs the overall surplus comes down to Rs 453.84 crore. The Gujarat government has estimated revenues receipts to the tune of Rs 1,03,053 crore, which shows 20.18 per cent increase over revenue receipt estimates in 2013-14 (Budget Estimate).

The total state taxes for financial 2014-15 have been estimated at Rs 63,068 crore, while non-tax revenue is estimated at Rs 9514 crore. State's own revenue receipts are estimated to rise by 9 per cent over 2013-14 (Budget Estimate).

With Gujarat government getting nod to raise the height of Narmada dam, Rs 9000 crore have been planned for Narmada Yojna. "Now, we are planning to complete the remaining works of canals and distribution network in a phased manner in 2015-16."

For construction of canals, provision of Rs 1406.86 crore has been made for Saurashtra region, Rs 1422.70 crore for North Gujarat and Rs 1138 crore for Kutch region this year.

To step up efforts to execute Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream project-Statue of Unity (statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel)-the state government has planned to spend Rs 500 crore during the current year.

Apart from this, a provision of Rs 250 crore has been made for Ahmedabad Metro Project (Phase-1).
BUDGET AT A GLANCE

* Rs 9,000 crore for Narmada Yojana.

* Provision of Rs 3,570 crore has been made for water resources and Kalpsar project, of which Rs 1,296 crore has been made for the Saurashtra Narmada Avtaran Irrigation Yojana (SAUNI Yojana).

* Rs 391 crore for various irrigation schemes in tribal and hilly regions

* Rs 465 crore for micro irrigation scheme.

* Government plans to build new godowns for a provision of Rs 200 crore.

* The state envisages an innovative and world class 'Knowledge Hub' to be created at Chokari village in Padra taluka of Vadodara district.

* Introduces gender budgeting for the first time

* Proposes Mukhya Mantri Mahila Pashupalan Protsahan Yojna for women in animal husbandry sector.

* Financial aid to women breeders of milk cooperatives

* 33% reservation for women in police recruitments

* Allocation of Rs 290 crore for Mahatma Gandhi Swachchhata Mission for total cleanliness, door to door collection of waste, transportation of solid and liquid waste.

* Extension of benefits under Dud Sanjivani Yojna to further 17 tribal blocks.

* A provision of Rs 7,230 crore under plan and non-plan for health care and medical services.

* Rs 1,022 crore to help medical colleges under Gujarat Medical Education Research Society.

* Provision of Rs 2,436 crore for the health, development, protection and empowerment of women and children.

* Government ups the ante for the plan for skill development labour welfare with allocation of Rs 1151 crore.

* Under infrastructure, Rs 7951 crore provision under plan and non-plan and Rs 5,067 crore plan provision were made for Roads & Buildings Department and Energy, respectively.

* Having merged Gujarat Gas Company and GSPC Gas, 213,000 more new connections have been planned over an above the existing 950,000 domestic gas connections in 17 districts. Moreover, 25 new CNG stations shall be established.

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First Published: Jul 01 2014 | 8:59 PM IST

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