Describing the State Budget 2016-17 as "growth oriented and people friendly", Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu on Wednesday said he tried to ensure welfare of all while no fresh tax was imposed.

However, he dubbed the financial impact of UDAY scheme for power distribution companies and hike in salaries due to 7th Pay Commission as major challenges before the state.

While replying to the debate on budget estimates in the ongoing budget session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, he said that the budget incorporated increase of social security pensions in future as well as report of Pay Anomaly Commission, that would benefit about 62,000 employees.

Referring to the impact of UDAY scheme on Budget estimates, he said the debt burden of about Rs 35,000 crore of power distribution companies has been taken by the Government to lessen the burden of interest and debt on discoms.

The State Government has decided to take over the outstanding debt of discoms in this budget which would benefit to the tune of about Rs 1,200 crore per year of interest.  As and when losses of power companies come down, the benefit should be given to consumers in power tariff, said he.

With this budget, we are moving forward in improving target of fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, GDP target, revenue receipts and state's own resources, he said.

Referring to the opposition charge of exceeding loan limits, the Minister said that the State Government had borrowed loan within the limit of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act and it was as per the norms of the Central Government.

He said that debt to GSDP ratio in year 2015-16 was expected at 19.05 per cent. But this ratio stood at 23.44 per cent in the year 1999-2000, 23.81 per cent in 2000-01, 25.75 per cent in 2001-02, 25.08 per cent in year 2002-03 and 26.09 per cent in the 2003-04. He said as a result of the efforts made by the government, fiscal deficit to GSDP is projected as 2.47 per cent in the year 2016-17 which remained upto 4.13 per cent between the year 1999 and 2004-05.

Haryana to study Punjab’s insurance scheme

Haryana Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar informed the House that the Department was considering to introduce a health insurance scheme on the pattern of Punjab for farmers who die  due to unnatural causes while working in the fields. He said that the scheme of Punjab was being assessed for this purpose so that help could be provided to the farmers for medical treatment. He said that financial assistance of Rs 19.79 crore was provided in the cases of unnatural deaths or disabilities of farmers while working in the fields in 2014-15.

84 hospitals to get NABH accreditation

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said that 84 hospitals of the state would be accredited by National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health care Providers (NABH) for providing national level facilities and this project would cost  about Rs 1,000 crore.

If required, the state would seek help of World Bank, said he. While replying to a question on raids conducted to check female foeticide, Vij replied that raids are conducted by a cell constituted under Chief Minister and we get no information about where the raids are being conducted.

About innocent doctors being framed by informers to get cash award of Rs one lakh,  Vij said that if any innocent doctor gets caught, he also has the opportunity to appeal against it.

Speaking about budget allocation to the health sector, the Minister said that the increase in budget was not as per his expectations.

Haryana to give special emphasis on road construction

Haryana Public Works (Buildings and Roads) Minister, Rao Narbir Singh on Wednesday said that special emphasis would be laid on construction and repair of all roads in the state in financial year 2016-17. Giving reply to a question, he said that the roads joining three villages would be made 18-feet wide and those connecting one village would be made 12-feet wide and necessary provision for this has been made in the Budget.

State prepared scheme to supply power to Dhanies

A scheme has been prepared to supply electricity to Dhanies in Haryana. Out of 39,921 Dhanies, electricity is being supplied to 35,649 Dhanies through PAT transformers, informed Haryana Transport Minister, Krishan lal Panwar while giving reply to a question.