Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the first budget of the Eknath Shinde government for the financial year 2023-24 in the state assembly. Fadnavis presented the Panch Amrit budget for farmers, women, health facilities, infrastructure and environment. Provision has been made for crop insurance guarantee for the farmers in the amount of only one rupee. Along with this, an amount of six thousand rupees has been proposed every year by the state government for the farmers.
The Maharashtra government has presented a budget of Rs 4,49,522 crore for the financial year 2023-24, which was called the Panch Amrit budget. Last year a budget of Rs 4,03,447 crore was presented. This time a deficit budget of Rs 16,112 crore was presented while last year a deficit budget of Rs 24,353 crore was presented. Many schemes for the farmers have been included in the budget of the Government of Maharashtra. In which there are schemes ranging from loans for agriculture to crop insurance guarantee.
Fadnavis said that the provision for farmers in the budget has been increased to Rs 6,900 crore and the scope of the health insurance scheme ‘Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana’ has been increased. It is proposed to be increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. The Shinde-led government was formed in June 2022. State School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar read the budget proposal in the Legislative Council.
Some highlights of the budget
Farmers will be able to get crop insurance for one rupee
Fadnavis has announced in the budget speech that farmers will now be able to register for Insurance Crop Scheme for Re 1. Now there is no burden on the farmers. The installment will be paid by the state government. The state government will bear the burden of Rs 3,312 crore. An incentive subsidy of Rs 15,000 per hectare has also been announced for paddy farmers. Apart from this, e-Panchnama of crops will also be done through drones.
Farmers will get benefit of 12 thousand rupees annually
The Maharashtra government has made a provision to give an amount of 6,000 annually to the farmers through Namo Shetkari Yojana. At the same time, farmers get Rs 6,000 every year from the center. That is, after the implementation of this scheme, farmers will get a total of Rs 12,000 every year. This will give financial strength to the farmers on a large scale. So that they will be able to become much more aware about agriculture than before.
Insurance cover of five lakh rupees
In Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Janrogya Yojana, the insurance cover has been increased from Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. 200 new hospitals will be included in this. The benefit of kidney transplant surgery has been increased from Rs 2.50 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. There are 700 late Balasaheb Thackeray hospitals across the state.
special focus on women
Under the ‘Lake Ladki’ scheme for the empowerment of girls, the girl child of families holding yellow and orange ration cards will get benefits. Rs 5,000 will be given per girl child after birth. Rs 4,000 will be given in the first class, Rs 6,000 in the sixth class.
Rs 8,000 will be given in the 11th. 75,000 will be given to the girl child when she turns 18. Apart from this, women will be charged only half the fare in government buses (roadways). Women will now be able to do business up to Rs 25,000 per month without tax. Earlier this limit was Rs 10,000 per month.
Housing for all, target of 10 lakh houses
A provision has been made in the budget to build one million new houses for the general public. Modi Awas Gharkul Yojana for 10 lakh houses in 3 years for OBC, 4 lakh houses (2.5 lakh houses SC-ST, 1.5 lakh other classes) will be built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Under Ramai Awas, 1.5 lakh houses will be built on which Rs 1,800 crore will be spent. One lakh houses will be built under Shabri, Pardhi, Adim Awas. 50,000 houses will be built under Yashwantrao Chavan Free Colony Scheme.
Loan waiver and promotion of natural farming
A provision has also been made for loan waiver of farmers in the budget released by the Maharashtra government. The remaining eligible farmers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shetkari Sanman Yojana 2017 will be given the benefit of the scheme. Apart from this, the benefit of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Debt Relief Scheme was given through the government.
Under this, Rs 4,683 crore has been directly deposited in the accounts of 12.84 lakh eligible farmers. To promote natural farming, 25 lakh hectare area will be brought under organic farming in 3 years. Also 1,000 bio-input resource centers will be set up. A fund of 1,000 crores has been fixed in 3 years to expand the Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Organic Farming Mission.
Farmers will get cash instead of food grains
The Maharashtra government has made a provision of cash directly into the accounts of farmers in lieu of food grains. Under which direct financial assistance will be given to orange ration card holders in 14 disaster affected districts of Marathwada. In lieu of food grains, the cash amount will be directly deposited in the bank account linked to Aadhaar. Farmers will be paid Rs 1,800 annually from this scheme.
