Amid the liquor CD-spawned uproar on the first day of the special Assembly session at Gairsain in Chamoli district on Monday, State Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh tabled a Rs4,788 crore supplementary budget. Interestingly, the State Government has sought Rs3,815 crore for plan expenditure, including the fund meant for Indira Amma Canteen, and Rs972 crore on the count of non- plan expenditures.
The ruling party is seeking to send the message across the State that the Chief Minister is synonymous with development taken to the nook and corner of the State, observers say.
However, the State Government is all set to impose tax on e-marketing and cess on use of water. This might not please those who have to shell out extra, something that runs against the populist rhetoric of the State Government, an observer said.
The Opposition was unrelenting in its demand for a debate on the CD scam when the House reassembled at 4 pm after the period of the second adjournment was over. However, the Speaker refused to wilt under pressure and asked the Treasury Bench to go on with the agenda of the day.
It is learnt that the Government would collect Rs2959 crore from revenue receipt and will spend Rs2038 crore under plan and Rs920 crore under non- plan expenses. Besides, Rs1828 crore would be collected from capital receipt, while Rs1776 crore would be spent under plan and Rs52 crore under non- plan counts.
The government sought Rs5 crore for the 38th National Games-2018, Rs25 crore for Haldwani stadium and Rs80 crore for the proposed international cricket stadium. Besides, Rs112 crore was sought for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rs20 crore for Kumaon University, Rs28 crore for RMSA, Rs2 crore for PTA teachers, Rs208 crore for non-government secondary schools, Rs63 crore for visiting teachers' emoluments, Rs13 crore for the establishment of model schools at block levels under secondary education, Rs5 crore for Uttarakhand Border and Backward Area Development Fund, Rs2 crore for flood control and maintenance work, Rs5 crore for the establishment of cow shelter and Rs10 crore for cow distribution scheme for widows, victims of Kedarnath disaster 2013.
Provisions have been made for many funds like CM discretionary fund and those for the ministers and ministers of state, for district & sessions court, family courts, state legal service authority Uttarakhand legal and law academy, for Ardh Kumbh Mela-2016 and many others.
In the first half, the government proposed ex-MlA dependent family pension scheme meant for their dependents getting Rs 10,000 per month as pension. Besides, 10 percent horizontal reservation has been proposed for the Rajya Aandolankaris. Their unmarried daughters would get 10 percent reservation in government jobs.
During the post- lunch session, the parliamentary affairs minister tabled seven Bills that included Uttarakhand Industrial Dispute (amendment) Bill-2015, Uttarakhand Movie Rule (amendment) Bill-2015, Uttarakhand School Education (amendment) Bill-2015, Uttarakhand Cess Bill-2015, Uttarakhand Goods Entry Tax at the Entrance of local Areas (amendment) Bill-2015, Uttarakhand Value-Added Tax (amendment) Bill-2015 and Uttarakhand Entertainment & Water Rafting (second amendment) Bill-2015.