Gujarat government which has allocated Rs 5000 crore worth of subsidies in this year’s state budget has apportioned Rs 596 crore to revive the ailing MSME units in the state
For the ailing MSME sector, a provision of Rs 596 crore has been made, the budget presented to Gujarat finance Minister, Saurabh Patel said.
The budget also allocated Rs 220 crore for providing permanent and temporary accommodation to workers in the un-organised sector.
The Rs 5000 crore subsidies in the budget is seen as an attempt to reach out to the weaker sections of the society, with an eye on the state Assembly elections next year.
Almost 47 per cent of the annual plan outlay is dedicated to the social sector, covering health, education, food and housing.
The biggest subsidy — Rs 4,010 crore — has been given to farmers in the state given on power consumption.
“The state government is committed to lighten the burden of farmers by providing electricity at subsidised rate to farmers of the state,” said Patel while presenting the Budget estimates for 2106-17.
This includes a “provision of Rs 29 crore to provide free-of-cost domestic power connections to 42,000 poor families”. A provision of Rs 460 crore has been made to provide free power supply to water works of all gram panchayats and volunatary orgnisations in the state.
The most popular of doles is expected to be cheap food grains that will now be made available to 60 per cent population. “To ensure food security to all, our government is making major changes in the public distribution system from April 1, 2016. Thirty-five kg food grains to Antyodaya families, as well as five kilogram per person to other eligible families will be made on monthly basis at affordable price. Wheat at Rs 2/kg and rice at Rs 3/kg will be made available which will benefit almost three crore citizens,” Patel said.
“A plan of Rs 50 crore to develop a plug-and-play apparel park in four districts — Ahmedabad, Bhavnagar, Vadodara and Surat — by the GIDC has been made so that ready-made garment industry can develop and women can get employment in large numbers. A special ‘women industrial park’ has been set up at Sanand with special concession. Similar parks will also be set up at Halol and Junaid (Bharuch),” The Minister said.
Source: The Indian Express
Image Courtesy: Business-standard
