Stating that the Union Budget would be win-win situation for Goa, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on February 29 said that each village panchayat in the state will get Rs 80 lakh, while each Municipal Council will get Rs 21 crore from the Central Government in the coming financial year.
Stating that the Budget is a focused one and has given importance to various sectors like agriculture, irrigation, health, Skill India and local self bodies, Parsekar, while briefing the media, said that it would boost various sectors in Goa.
Finance Minister has proposed Rs 2.87 lakh crore for local self bodies as per the recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission. Under this, Goa will get almost Rs 445 crore for 191 village panchayats and 14 urban bodies. The panchayats will get Rs 80 lakh each, while the municipalities will get Rs 21 crore each” he said, maintaining that sectors like water supply, milk dairies, solid waste treatment, sanitation, Skill India, Start-up India, health and higher education would be benefitted from the central government’s Budget.
According to him, the state government has already finalised many schemes including land record modernisation programme, dialysis services, skilled mission, and the provisions made in the Budget will benefit the state.
“There are 7,19,405 women, and 1,49,405 Scheduled Tribe and 25,449 Scheduled Caste population in Goa. This section of the society would get benefit of StartUp India scheme for women as well as SC and ST entrepreneurs,” he said.
The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has welcomed the Budget. “The overall Budget proposals are in line with the development priorities of the nation. The focus on boosting rural economy and infrastructure sector will surely yield dividends and we foresee a multiplier effect in the form of demand generation and employment creation over time. The state of the agriculture sector on account of two consecutive years of monsoon failure was precarious and it got the attention that was needed,” said R S Kamat, Director General of GCCI.
According to him, there are a slew of measures in the Budget to kick-start investment activity in the economy and creation of demand in rural economy. Capitalisation of nationalised banks should help in easing liquidity, he said. National Digital Literacy Mission for Rural Households has been launched which will cover 6 crore households in the next three years. It could have a domino effect on access to information and raise awareness levels which, in turn, could have a desirable effect on new business ideas that use digital technologies to reach consumers and markets, said Kamat.
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Western region, and Goa State Council have also welcomed the Budget. Sanjay Kirloskar, chairman, CII, Western region, said that with adequate focus on farming, social sector, infrastructure and fiscal prudence, the Union Budget 2016-17 is broad-based.
“The target to double farmers’ incomes by 2022 is ambitious and higher allocation for irrigation schemes and crop insurance will positively impact the sector going ahead. Increased thrust on government investment in infrastructure will aid economic growth, now that private sector investments are subdued. Substantial enhancement in allocation to gram panchayats and municipalities will empower them and help accelerate development,” he said.
Source: Goa.com
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