Maharashtra State Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, on Monday, March 8, 2021, responded to the presentation of the state budget for 2021-22. This event was attended by both the houses of the state legislature and while addressing the members, CM said that despite the 8 per cent decline in gross state income due to coronavirus pandemic, the state will take a big leap forward by giving more impetus to agriculture, infrastructure works as well as industry and investment.
Officials have made a provision in the state budget to strengthen the health system and have stated that this will definitely strengthen the state. While all sectors are declining, the agriculture sector, which has recorded a record growth of 11.7 per cent, and this will grow further in 2021-22.
Maharashtra will never stop
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, key sectors, such as industry and services, which contribute significantly to Maharashtra’s gross domestic products, were closed for almost eight months of the entire financial year. Though it has affected the state's economy, Maharashtra has never stopped and never will, said Uddhav Thackeray, who also hoped that after the lifting of the lockdown restrictions, the economic cycle across many parts of Maharashtra would certainly improve and in the future, when the COVID-19 cases reduce, Maharashtra will rise once again economically and be at its best.
Healthcare and the development of infrastructure
The state government is putting in efforts in the budget to enable the healthcare system across Maharashtra. A number of decisions such as healthcare, development of infrastructure in the health sector, development of new medical colleges in every district hospital and post-COVID counselling centres in medical colleges, is being planned by the concerned departments.
Interest free loans to crop loan re-payers
Several decisions have been taken in this year’s budget to provide relief to the agricultural sector and farmers who have showed a strong support and contributed to the state economy. The zero interest rate scheme has been very important for farmers who repay INR 3 lakh on time.
The scheme strengthening the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMC) will definitely benefit the farmers, and addressing these subjects, CM also said that the efforts are being made by the government to provide uninterrupted power supply to agriculture through solar agricultural pumps, boost the agro-processing industries, etc.; and these will not only guarantee an improvement in prices of agricultural products but also sell them at harvesting prices would further strengthen the sector in future.
Development of infrastructure
Substatial investment has been made in the Mumbai Metro project and procurement of coaches. Meanwhile, work on the Worli-sewri elevated route or MTHL project has been accelerated and officials stated that the government will soon be starting the first phase of the Hindu Hridaysmarat Balasaheb Thackeray Samrudhi Highway from May 2021. Link roads are also being constructed on this highway from Marathwada. Other projects in Rewas, Pune, Nagpur and the related Metro works are progressing fast, and the projects will strengthen the state economy, said the Chief Minister.
The budget has substantial provisions for roundabout roads outside Pune, roads, airports, waterways, rapid railway development, and funding for housing projects in rural and urban areas. The Chief Minister also said that huge funds have been provided in the budget for many development projects in Mumbai. New schemes like clean government offices, Shivrajya Sundar Gram have also been proposed in the budget.
Women empowerment
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the government announced ‘Rajmata Jijau Grihaswamini Yojana’ to reduce stamp duty by 20 per cent if a house is purchased in the name of a woman. This will help the woman to become a true housewife, said the CM, who also expressed the belief that providing free bus facility to the students of rural Maharashtra through ‘Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule Yojana’ would help in stopping the school dropout rate of girls.
Important decisions like the newly launched ‘Sant Janabai Social Security Scheme’ for women working in the unorganized sector, increase in the number of Tejaswini buses, independent detachment of State Reserve Women Police have also been taken from the budget.
Development from tourism
CM Uddhav Thackeray said that the government has taken an ambitious decision to give industry status the hospitality sector and has plans to develop employment opportunities through tourism. The government has undertaken ambitious projects such as agro-tourism policy, caravans, beach shaks, development of Lonar Lake, conservation of forts and the development, etc.
The Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoo is also being planned with an aim to attract a large number of tourists.
Consolation to tribal and workers in the Sugarcane sector
The welfare scheme for sugarcane workers will bring a great relief among the community. Keeping the same in mind, the government has planned that the tribal ashram schools to be converted into model schools.
Integrated settlements for the Katkari, Gond tribal community would also be useful in bringing them into the mainstream. Increased funding for hill development, Dhangar settlements will improve the scenario and a huge provision has been made in the budget for the development of pilgrimage sites and ancient temples, addressed the CM
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