The Haryana government today presented its budget 2017-18 which sought to raise spendings on rural sector, create durable infrastructure and boost economy and job creation, while proposing no fresh tax.
While crossing Rs one lakh crore mark for the first time, the state Budget also expressed the Manohar Lal Khattar government's commitment to build Sutlej Yamuna Link canal and allocate even Rs 1,000 crore for it, if needed.
Presenting its third budget in the golden jubilee year of the state foundation here today, the BJP-led government proposed a budget of Rs 1,02,329.35 crore with an increase of Rs 13.18 per cent over budget size of 2016-17.
While seeking to raise spendings also on welfare of Dalits and youth development, the budget presented by Finance Minister Abhimnyu in the state assembly also proposed to exempt bio diesel, solar devices and the parts used in installation of solar power projects from value added tax.
Expressing commitment to build SYL canal to get its share of waters from Ravi-Beas, the finance minister proposed to allocate an outlay of Rs 100 crore for it and assured the House that the government is willing to give even Rs 1,000 crore for it, if needed.
On the lines of the Centre, the state government too decided to dispense with the Plan and Non-Plan classification of expenditure and presented the budget in terms of revenue and capital classification, aimed at giving holistic view of sectoral allocations and optimal allocation of the resources to departments, the minister said in his budget speech.
Among new initiatives, the finance minister announced new schemes, namely Deenbandhu Haryana Gram Uday Yojana, Mangal Nagar Vikas Yojana, creation of asset augmentation fund and a scheme to make all government payments over and above Rs 5,000 in digital mode.
Launching Deenbandhu Haryana Gram Uday Yojana scheme after late Choudhary Chhotu Ramji, the Budget, with an outlay of Rs 5,000 crore, proposed to develop about 1,500 villages with population over 3,000 and up to 10,000 by providing necessary physical, social and economic infrastructure facilities on par with the urban areas, in a phased manner within three years.
"The scheme will be funded through NABARD assistance. For 2017-18, I propose to allocate Rs 1,200 crore for this scheme," said Abhimanyu.
'Mangal Nagar Vikas Yojana,' named after late BJP leader Mangal Sen, proposed to create modern infrastructure and for maintenance of existing infrastructure in urban areas.
"I propose to allocate an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore for this scheme in 2017-18, to begin with," said the minister.
To promote cashless transactions, following the demonetisation move of the Centre, the minister announced that all government payments of more than Rs 5,000 should be made digitally thru debit or prepaid cards and other modes.
"Five per cent rebate will be given on bill payments to utilities and other government payments through BHIM App, subject to a maximum of Rs 50," said the minister.
"To provide seamless and expeditious health services to
the serving and retired employees, the government intends to explore the possibility of introducing "Cashless Health Insurance Scheme" for State employees and pensioners," Finance Minister Abhimanyu said in his speech.
The FM also announced to create a dedicated asset augumentation fund, aimed at strengthening public assets.
"The quality of immovable physical assets created by the state government in terms of buildings, infrastructure, vacant lands etc. Has deteriorated over the years for want of proper upkeep and maintenance. Such physical assets need to be not only properly maintained but also strengthened at regular intervals so that their full potential is harnessed," he said.
"Besides, a dedicated Asset Management Cell is being created in the Revenue Department to carry out asset mapping of the State resources and to prepare a register of all public assets," he said.
The minister said his budget has a strong focus on capital expenditure and infrastructure development in both the rural and the urban areas, with a bias towards rural growth.
"Creation of more jobs in the agriculture and allied sectors beesides the private sector enterprises to reduce the rural distress to meet the expectations of the youth is another priority area," he said.
On Goods and Services Tax (GST), Abhimanyu said the state government is fully prepared to implement the Goods and Services Taxation system.
"The Excise and Taxation Department has already hired a System Integrator for the purpose of development of the requisite software and deployment of hardware... Currently, the process of migration of the existing dealers under VAT to GST is going on in the State," he said.
He said in 2017-18, revenue from VAT is likely to be about Rs 8,500 crore in first quarter and about Rs 22,000 crore from the second to fourth quarters of fiscal 2017-18 from GST, indicating the growth rate of 15.5 per cent over revised estimates of 2016-17.
Besides, resources of Rs 6,100 crore from State Excise Duty, Rs 3,900 crore from Stamp and Registration Fee and Rs 2,400 crore from tax on vehicles are expected to be mobilised.
The finance minister also proposed to launch a new scheme from fiscal 2017-18 for providing free coaching to the dependents of ex-servicemen, soldiers and 33 paramilitary forces for various competitive examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission, Haryana Public Service Commission, the banking services and also various entrance examinations for engineering and medical courses.
He said it is a matter of pride that every tenth soldier in the country belongs to Haryana and the state government is committed to the welfare of the defence personnel, ex-service men and their families.
