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Shimla, 17 February (HS). Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu presented the budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the Assembly on Saturday. No new taxes have been imposed in the budget. In the second budget of his tenure as Finance Minister, Chief Minister Sukhu has tried to please various sections. The Chief Minister presented a budget of Rs 58 thousand 444 crore for the upcoming financial year. This is five thousand crore more than last year's budget.
In the two and a half hour long budgetary speech in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the revenue receipts in the year 2024-25 are estimated at Rs 42 thousand 153 crore, while the total revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 46 thousand 667 crore. Thus the total revenue loss is estimated at Rs 4 thousand 514 crore. The fiscal deficit in the budget is estimated at Rs 10 thousand 784 crore, which is 4.75 percent of the state's gross domestic product.
The Chief Minister said in the House that out of Rs 100 in the upcoming financial year's budget, Rs 25 will be spent on salary, Rs 17 on pension, Rs 11 on interest payment, Rs 9 on loan repayment, Rs 10 on grants for autonomous institutions, while the remaining Rs 28 The money will be spent on other activities including capital works.
Daily wage of MNREGA workers increased by Rs 60, 4 percent DA to employees, Rs 12 thousand minimum wage to outsourced employees.
Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has increased the daily wage of MNREGA workers of the state from Rs 240 to Rs 300 in the budget. He said that for the first time there has been a historic increase of Rs 60 in the daily wage of MNREGA workers. Other daily wage earners will get Rs 400 per day with an increase of Rs 25.
While presenting the budget in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the government is serious about the payment of arrears of employees and the arrear payment of all employees and pensioners will be given in a phased manner from March 1, 2024. He said that payment of arrears related to Leave in Cashment Aid Gratuity of employees retired between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021 will also be started in a phased manner from March 1, 2024. The Chief Minister announced to release the installment of dearness allowance at the rate of four percent to the employees from April 1, 2024. He said that after April 1, 2024, employees will be able to avail the facility of LTC at least twice during their service period. The honorarium of SMC teachers has been increased by Rs 1,900 per month, IT teachers by Rs 1,900 and SPOs by Rs 500 per month. The Chief Minister has announced a minimum salary of Rs 12,000 for outsourced employees.
Seven new schemes announced in the budget
In the second budget of his tenure, the Chief Minister has announced seven new schemes. These include Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Scheme, Sheep-Goat Parents Promotion Scheme, Chief Minister Sukh Arogya Yojana, Chief Minister Sukh Shiksha Yojana, Maharishi Valmiki Kamgar Awas Yojana, Apna Vidyalaya Mera Vidyalaya Mera Samman and Chief Minister Harit Vikas Scholarship Scheme. Apart from this, three new policies have also been announced. These include Industrial Promotion and Investment Policy, Start Up Policy and Himachal Pradesh Mines and Minerals Policy.
Honorarium increased for Anganwadi workers, gift for Shilai teachers and para workers also
The honorarium of Anganwadi workers has increased in the budget. Anganwadi workers will now get Rs 10,000 per month, Mini Anganwadi workers will get Rs 7,000, Anganwadi assistants will get Rs 5,500, Mid Day Meal workers will get Rs 4,500, water carriers of the education department will get Rs 5,000, water guards will get Rs 5,000. Rs 300, Multi Purpose Workers of Jal Shakti Department will get Rs 5 thousand, Para Fitter and Pump Operator will get Rs 6 thousand 300, Panchayat Chowkidar will get Rs 8 thousand, Revenue Chowkidar will get Rs 5 thousand 800, Revenue Lambardar will get Rs 4 thousand 200. Shilai teachers will get Rs 500 as honorarium, Panchayat Veterinary Assistant will get Rs 7 thousand 500 monthly.