No new taxes in Rs 1642-cr deficit budget of Himachal

No new tax has been proposed in the the Rs 32,593.30-crore budget for 2016-17 presented by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh in the Assembly today.
The budget included plethora of announcements for various sections including farmers, employees, industries, daily wagers, old age people and enhanced budgetary allocation for key sectors.
Chief minister Virbhadra singh, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the budget for record 19th time and fourth time in a row and also made the longest ever budget speech lasting three hours and 25 minutes.
Total revenue receipts are estimated atRs 26,270.37 crore, while revenue expenditure has been pegged at Rs 26,745.98 crore for 2016-17.

Expenditure on loans (advances) and public debt (repayments) including inter-state settlements will be of the order of Rs 428.19 crore and Rs 2,228.52 crore respectively.
Total expenditure will be Rs 32,593.30 crore and closing deficit would be around Rs 1,642.41 crore.

Chief minister announced hike in daily wages from Rs 180 to Rs 200, honorarium of part time water carriers from Rs 1700 to Rs 1900 per month, subsidy of Rs 75,000 to each house for BPL families of general categories through Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna and hike in the remuneration to Home Guards from Rs 280 to Rs 380.

He also proposed hike in the social security pension from Rs 600 to Rs 650 per month and said under a new scheme of monthly pension for young widows, below 45 years of age, with child/children would be enhanced from Rs 600 to Rs 1200 per month.
Chief minister announced release of six per cent dearness allowance to employees and pensioners with effect from July 1, 2015 and five per cent interim relief from August 1,2016 ,putting additional burden of Rs 300 crore per annum.
He proposed increase in the marriage grant under Mukhya Mantri Kanya Daan Yojana from 25,000 to Rs 40,000, increase in pension of persons with 70 per cent disability and persons aged above 80 years from Rs 100 to Rs 1200 per month.

He also announced increase in honorarium of
representatives of PRIs and Urban Local Bodies, proposed a new scheme - Chief Minister Start Up/New Industries Scheme providing for 4 per cent interest subvention on loan up to Rs 10 lakh.
Besides, reduction in entry tax for industry from 2 per cent to 1 per cent, VAT on LED lights from 13.5 to five per cent, exemption to solar cooker and Solar lanterns from VAT, new cinema halls to be exempted from entertainment tax for five years and welfare scheme for media persons were also announced the budget.
He proposed a new scheme, Pashudhan Puruskar Yojana, with initialoutlay of Rs 7.80 crore. Under the schemeRs 5 lakh award will be given to the two best Panchayats in each development block, where owners do not abandon their cattle.

Singh also proposed to include the death caused by electrocution and injuries caused by dog bites, stray and domestic animals in the Relief Manual.
With a view to giving relief to farmers from wild animals like Neelgai, wild boars and monkeys, chief minister announced 60 per cent for fencing of the fields by farmers.
To give boost to industry, chief minister announced reduction in stamp duty to three percent and said that no inspection of new industrial units for three years without the permission of head of the department.