Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and State Finance Minister, Ajit Pawar on Friday presented the budget for the financial year 2020-21 before the Maharashtra legislative assembly. This is the first budget presented by Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
In the budget, Pawar announced a one-time settlement scheme for farmers. As per this scheme, the Maharashtra government will deposit ₹2 lakh in bank accounts of farmers. This scheme will be applicable to farmers whose debt is more than ₹2 lakh till September 30, 2019.
Furthermore, Pawar stated that the farmers who regularly pay their dues for the crop loan they took in 2018-19 will be given ₹50,000 as an incentive. The proposals made by the MVA government in its the maiden budget also focused on tackling the economic slowdown and creating employment in Maharashtra.
While speaking in the assembly, Ajit Pawar informed that ₹1,000 crores have been allocated to the Tourism Department in Maharashtra and ₹100 crores alone have been allocated to boost tourism in Mumbai.
Moreover, a diploma in tourism will be started by the Maharashtra government and the tourism and culture department will receive ₹1,400 crores.
The budget also allocated ₹150 crores to the ‘Shiv Bhojan’ scheme – a subsidised food scheme for the poor which provide a meal for only ₹10. The Maharashtra government aims to feed one lakh people thought the scheme, Pawar said.
Ajit Pawar also pointed out that there was a reduction in funds from the central government to the Maharashtra government. The reduction in funds is more than ₹8,000 crores, Pawar said.
The budget also stressed the importance of women’s safety and allocated ₹2,100 crores for the Women and Child Welfare development department. Ajit Pawar said that the Maharashtra government will make an effort that sanitary napkins in all middle schools are available at reasonable rates.
The Maharashtra government in its maiden budget for the financial year 2020-21 allocated ₹22,000 crores for loan waiver to farmers under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule loan waiver scheme. Of the ₹22,000 crores, ₹9,000 crores have been disbursed.
Along with this, the budget allocates ₹2,000 crores to Water and Soil conservation department. Ajit Pawar also announced the Chief Minister’s Water Conservation Scheme.
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