Mumbai: The plans announced in the Maharashtra Budget for women, youth and farmers are not “election gimmicks”, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Thursday, criticizing the opposition for ridiculing the government over the initiatives.
During the debate on the budget he presented in the legislative assembly last week, Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, said that this was his 10th budget and that he was well aware that the plans were in sync with the allocations. budgetary.
The economy of Maharashtra is in stable condition, the finance minister said. Although the debt increased by 10.67 percent compared to the previous year, it accounts for 18.35 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GDP), which is within the prescribed limit of 25 percent, he said.
Presenting the last budget of the Eknath Shinde government, before the state goes to polls later this year, Pawar had announced concessions for women, youth and farmers and other segments of the society involving an outlay of over ₹80,000. crores.
The opposition called it a “torrent of guarantees” but said there was no clarity over how money would be raised for the announced plans.
CPN (SP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule on Thursday attacked the much-hyped 'Ladki Bahin' scheme saying that though good for women, it was nothing more than a "jumla" (trick).
Under the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' announced in the budget, eligible women will receive Rs 1,500 per month.
Pawar said women welcomed the plan.
"I face criticism from the opposition for the plan that aims to empower women," the PNC leader said, adding that the government is open to improving it.
“We extended the age limit from 60 to 65 years and also made the registration time more flexible. Even if women register in August, they will be entitled to receive the monthly allowance (from Ladki Bahin) from July,” he assured.
Pawar said additional budgetary provisions will be made in the supplementary demands. Around 2.5 crore women will benefit from the Ladki Bahin scheme, which would cost the state Rs 46,000 crore annually, he said.
He criticized the Congress for promising a monthly allowance of Rs 8,500 to women, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“Prithviraj Chavan (former CM), while speaking in the assembly about the budget, said that Congress would give Rs 8,500 per month. If that were implemented, a budget allocation of Rs 2.5 lakh crore would be needed,” Pawar said, terming the rival party's promise as an electoral jumla.
In 2003-04, Pawar claimed, the Congress-led government had promised free electricity to farmers before elections and even implemented it for a few months. "After the results, the decision was withdrawn," he said.
Pawar said that three cooking gas cylinders per year will be provided free of charge to 52 lakh families, for which Rs 1,600 crore will be spent.
He reiterated that the target of making Maharashtra a trillion-dollar economy will be achieved by 2028.
During the debate on the budget he presented in the legislative assembly last week, Pawar, who holds the finance portfolio, said that this was his 10th budget and that he was well aware that the plans were in sync with the allocations. budgetary.
The economy of Maharashtra is in stable condition, the finance minister said. Although the debt increased by 10.67 percent compared to the previous year, it accounts for 18.35 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GDP), which is within the prescribed limit of 25 percent, he said.
Presenting the last budget of the Eknath Shinde government, before the state goes to polls later this year, Pawar had announced concessions for women, youth and farmers and other segments of the society involving an outlay of over ₹80,000. crores.
The opposition called it a “torrent of guarantees” but said there was no clarity over how money would be raised for the announced plans.
CPN (SP) Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule on Thursday attacked the much-hyped 'Ladki Bahin' scheme saying that though good for women, it was nothing more than a "jumla" (trick).
Under the 'Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana' announced in the budget, eligible women will receive Rs 1,500 per month.
Pawar said women welcomed the plan.
"I face criticism from the opposition for the plan that aims to empower women," the PNC leader said, adding that the government is open to improving it.
“We extended the age limit from 60 to 65 years and also made the registration time more flexible. Even if women register in August, they will be entitled to receive the monthly allowance (from Ladki Bahin) from July,” he assured.
Pawar said additional budgetary provisions will be made in the supplementary demands. Around 2.5 crore women will benefit from the Ladki Bahin scheme, which would cost the state Rs 46,000 crore annually, he said.
He criticized the Congress for promising a monthly allowance of Rs 8,500 to women, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
“Prithviraj Chavan (former CM), while speaking in the assembly about the budget, said that Congress would give Rs 8,500 per month. If that were implemented, a budget allocation of Rs 2.5 lakh crore would be needed,” Pawar said, terming the rival party's promise as an electoral jumla.
In 2003-04, Pawar claimed, the Congress-led government had promised free electricity to farmers before elections and even implemented it for a few months. "After the results, the decision was withdrawn," he said.
Pawar said that three cooking gas cylinders per year will be provided free of charge to 52 lakh families, for which Rs 1,600 crore will be spent.
He reiterated that the target of making Maharashtra a trillion-dollar economy will be achieved by 2028.
