Presenting the annual budget of Rs 1.42 lakh crore for the financial year 2020-21 Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said that besides education, social security, health and self reliance, Government’s topmost priority is to address farmers’ concerns, double their income and rural development.

Highlighting the allocation of funds related to farmers, Khattar said that the Government has allocated Rs  6491.48 crore for agriculture and farmer welfare activities for the year 2020-21 which is more than 23.92 per cent than the last year of Rs 5230.54 crore. Rs  3364.90 crore has been made for agriculture while 1157.41 for animal husbandry, 492.82 crore for horticulture and 122.42 crore for fishery.

He said that in the Budget, provision has been made to promote soil testing in Government colleges and polytechnic colleges. “Our Government is committed to ensure doubling of farmers’ income.

For this, efforts are being taken to purchase maximum farm produces at MSP rate. The e-purchase portal of Meri Fasal Mera Byora which was set up for farmers to report their land and crop details has been operational.  E-NAM (National Agriculture Marketing) Scheme in 54 mandis has been launched to bring transparency in procurement of farm produces,” he said.

Khattar further said that a new scheme ‘Atal Bhujal Yojana’ has been started to make improvement in Ground Water Management and Conservation activities. 36 blocks have been identified where shortage of water is being reported. Bhawantar Bharpai Yojana has been launched to increase the income of farmers.

Under this scheme, 10 vegetables including tomato, onion, potato, mustard Oil and Sunflower among others have been included. Under this scheme, Rs 309.53 crore has been kept for as many as 360477 farmers. 111 soil testing laboratory will be set up in Government building and mandis. One lakh acre land which is facing problem of water logging problem will be improved. The target will be achieved through mission PPP model.

Government is taking steps to provide machines for straw management at reasonable rate to farmers, he said, adding that Crop dyer will be installed in all the big mandis. A provision of 10 per cent reservation for women farmer will be made in all sabji mandis in the State.

As a part of women empowerment, one special women cell will be set up in Farmer Welfare Authority. CCTV cameras will be installed in 52 godowns to prevent theft in the State. Those farmers have adopted diversification of crops in their field will be selected as master trainings and they will be awarded after being succeeded to encourage other farmers.

Khattar said that Farmers Welfare Authority will create a mobile app. Through this, one farmer could use agricultural equipments of other farmers. Farmers involved in several agriculture related activities have to pay Rs 7.50 per unit as bill to the power department.

After forming a special category of Special Agriculture based activities by ordering Haryana Electricity Regularity Commission, these farmers have been given relief and now they will pay Rs 4.75 per unit in place of Rs 7.50 per unit.

Khattar said, “We have set the target of increasing horticulture production by three times by 2030. Under Pandit Deendayal Upadhyana Pashudhan Suraksha Bima Yojana, 2.20 lakh farmers have been insured. Haryana is the first state where Haryana Pashu (Registration, certification and breeding) Act 2019 has been implemented. Fishery can play a significant role in doubling farmers’ income. A target of 2.60 lakh metric tonne of fish production has been has been fixed and fishery cultivation will be done in 55, 000 acre land. Prawn Chilling and Processing Centre will be set up.   

Khattar said that rural development is Government’s another topmost priority. A provision of Rs 350 crore has been made under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and job card holders are being given Rs 284 per day. A provision of Rs 6294.79 crore has been made for rural development which is 21.89 per cent more than that of last year. For rural development, a provision of Rs  879.06 crore has been made while Rs 5415.73 for panchayat department.

STUDENT'S PASSPORT, DRIVING LICENSE TO BE MADE FREE

Khattar said that to facilitate the students to complete their higher education in foreign countries or get jobs overseas, their passport will be made free of cost in the last year of degree course. Students will be provided facility of getting learning driving license in the first year of college education.

A provision of 20 per cent reserved for SC students has been made in college and university hostels. 24 new Model ITI will be set up in the State. Rojgar portal will be set up along with call centre so that candidates are being informed about their employment status. He said Government has allocated Rs 19639.18 crore for education for the year 2020-21 which is more than 28.60 per cent than the last year of 15271.10 crore. In higher education, a provision of Rs  2936.20 crore has been made which is more than 41.39 per cent than the last year. In Technical education, a provision of Rs 705.04 crore has been made which is 21.35 per cent more than of last year. In sports, a provision of Rs  394.09 crore has been made which is 12.83 per cent more than last year.

MRI, CT SCAN, CHEMO, DIALYSIS TO BE PROVIDED IN ALL DISTRICT HOSPITALS

Khattar said MRI, CT scan, Cat Lab, chemotherapy and dialysis services will be provided in all district hospitals. Ultrasound facility will be provided at community health centre. Ventilator facilities for adults and children will be provided for all Government hospitals. A facility of 47 additional mobile medical units will be made. Free health check up for all the people will be provided which will be linked with family identity card. Online health card will be provided all the citizen of Haryana.

70 PER CENT SUGGESTIONS INCLUDED IN BUDGET

Khattar said It is for the first time that the Budget was preceded by two-month-long detailed discussions with various stakeholders, including MPs, MLAs from across the political aisle, and representatives of various sectors of the economy. He said 70 per cent of the suggestions received from various stockholders including MLAs of ruling and opposition parties, industrialists, intellectuals and others have been included in the budget.

DEBT INCREASES TO Rs 1.98 LAKH CRORE

Khattar, who presented his maiden Budget, said Haryana’s economy is on the uptick. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing; per capita income is almost twice that of all-India level; fiscal deficit has been confined to the limits of 3 per cent of GDP; exports are booming; and the trend of increasing revenue deficit has been reversed.  During 2019-20, India’s economic growth rate will be 5% on current value whereas Haryana’s economic growth rate will be 7.75%.  Referring to Per Capita Income, Khattar said that between 2014-15 and 2018-19, Haryana’s Per Capita Income recorded a growth of 35.49%. During 2019-20 it is estimated to rise to Rs 180,026, as compared to Rs 169,409 at static value during 2018-19, which shows a growth of 6.2%. According to advance estimates, during the year 2019-20 on current prices, it is estimated at Rs 264,207 which is almost twice that of All India’s Rs  135,050.

Meanwhile, the debt is set to increase to Rs 1.98 lakh crore in 2020-21 as against Rs 1.76 lakh crore in the previous fiscal.