The Aam Aadmi Party Government announced that the Budget session will be held from June 23 to June 30 for remaining nine months of the current financial year. The decision was taken on Thursday in the Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Delhi Cabinet also set up a high-level committee headed by Principal Secretary (Finance) to do away with the licence Raj in its various departments. The committee will suggest ways and means to abolish the system by July 31. The aim of the move is to end the licence Raj and unnecessary harassment caused to business operators.
“To do business in Delhi, one has to take a number of licences from different agencies and get it renewed every year. Due to this there was a licence Raj in Delhi, which we want to end. We feel that there are a number of licences, which are not required,” said Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. He said wherever required even the annual renewal exercise should be done away with.
The Cabinet has also approved the Higher Education and Skill Education Guarantee Scheme giving a huge relief to the students and parents of Delhi. Under the scheme, which is universal in nature regardless of the student’s financial scheme, students would be provided Rs10 lakh as loan without any collateral or third party guarantee or margin money. There would be no processing charges for the loan.
After the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia addressed a Press conference, informing the decision taken by the AAP Government. “Government has prepared a draft of Budget and sent it to the lieutenant Governor for the approval of the Central Government. The Cabinet has decided to hold Budget session from June 23 to June 30,” Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters.
The DCM said that students pursuing any skill development course or diploma or degree course after finishing qualifying examination from any school/educational Institution in Delhi are eligible under this scheme. The scheme will also be applicable for ITIs and polytechnic colleges. The loan repayment schedule will carry a moratorium period covering the years required to finish the course and one year thereafter to find a job. Repayment of loan will be in Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) of 15 years.