In a populist budget presented ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls, the BJP-led MahaYuti government on Friday announced reduction in tax on petrol and diesel and unveiled a host of sops for various sections of people, including financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per month for women, electricity bill waiver for farmers and a stipend up to Rs.10,000 for youth in industrial and non-industrial sectors.

In his budget for 2024-25 that showed a revenue deficit of 20,051 crore and a fiscal budget of Rs 1,10,355 crore, Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar – who holds the State Finance portfolio – spared the people of any new tax during the current financial year.

While presenting his budget in the Maharashtra Assembly, Ajitdada – as Ajit Pawar is known in the state political circles – announced a reduction in tax on diesel in greater Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai from 24 per cent to 21 per cent, tax on petrol from 26 per cent plus Rs 5.12 per litre to 25 per cent plus Rs 5.12 per litre

“Owing to the reduction in tax, the price of petrol per litre in the municipal areas of Thane, Brihanmumbai and Navi Mumbai will come down by approximately 65 paise per litre, while the diesel price will get reduced by approximately Rs. 2.07 per litre,” Ajitdada said.

In another fiscal relief, the deputy chief minister announced exemption from professional tax for soldiers working for five central armed forces --the Assam Rifles, Central Industrial Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard and Sashastra Seema Bal. “This will benefit approximately twelve thousand soldiers,” he said.

In two other fiscal reliefs, Ajitdada announced a reduction in Stamp Duty penalty levied on the difference in stamp duty amount from the date of execution of the document is reduced from 2 per cent to 1 per cent per month and said that the state government would initiate the online application process for stamp duty refund. “The time limit for application will be one year from the date of purchase of stamp instead of six months,” he said.

With an eye on the State Assembly polls to be held in October this year, the deputy chief minister rolled out the “Mukhya Mantri Mazhi Ladki Bahin Yojana” (MMMLBY) with an annual outlay of Rs 46,000 crore. – under which the state government would dole out Rs.1500 per month to eligible women between 21 to 60 years of age.

“This (MMMLBY) is a scheme for our daughters and sisters. The government will provide Rs.1500 per month to eligible women between 21 to 60 years of age, for the overall progress of women, including economic independence, self-reliance, health and nutrition,” Ajitdada, who is also the NCP chief, said.  

The Finance Minister also announced the Mukhya Mantri Baliraja Vij Savlat Yojana’ to provide relief to my farmers who are in distress and need assistance. “The state government has decided to bear the burden of the electricity bills of the farmers and to provide free electricity to agriculture pumps up to 7.5 horse power capacity. This will help 44.06 lakh farmers. A provision of Rs.14,761 crore will be made available in the form of subsidy,” he said.

Unveiling the Mukhya Mantri Yuva Karyaprashikshan Yojana (MMYKY), Ajitdada said: “This scheme will provide on-the-job training in industrial and non-industrial establishments to 10 lakh youths every year, with the aim of providing employment opportunities to the needy youth and make available trained manpower to industries”.

Under the MMYKY, each trainee will be given a stipend up to Rs.10,000 per month by the government. The expenditure for this scheme is expected to be around Rs.10,000 crores every year,” the deputy chief minister said.

Ajitdada said that every year 50,000 youths will be imparted training to disseminate the information about the government schemes to the people.

The Finance Minister said that an amount of Rs. 5,190 crore has been paid as an incentive to 14.33 lakh farmers who have regularly repaid crop loans under this scheme.

He said that various schemes for farmers like Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi, One Rupee Crop Insurance, Gopinath Munde Shetkari Suraksha Sanugraha Anudan, Nanaji Deshmukh Krishi Sanjivani Prakalp, Balasaheb Thackeray Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project, will be strengthened further, while pending amounts under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana would be disbursed immediately.