While education and health remain the main priority of the Delhi Government, it has dedicated a good share of its budget for the Social Security and Welfare of weaker sections including senior citizens, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, women in distress and other minorities of the national Capital. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Government has proposed a total expenditure of Rs 3,467 crore on Social Security and Welfare for the next financial year 2017-18.
“We are implementing various scheme for the poor and deprived section of society specially, women in distress, senior citizen, persons with special needs, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs and minorities,” the Finance Minister Manish Sisodia said in his budget speech on Wednesday.
The Government also announced setting up a “Commission for Senior Citizen” in 2017-18 which will look into the issues related to the welfare and protection of senior citizen in Delhi.
According to the Government, financial assistance under various schemes to approximately 6.3 lakh is given to the senior citizens, persons with special needs, women in distress and widows.
“Government has already enhanced the pension by Rs 1,000 per month per beneficiary under these schemes and enhanced income limit for eligibility from Rs 60,000 per annum to Rs 1 lakh per annum. The allocation under these schemes has accordingly been proposed to be enhanced to Rs 1,595 crore in 2017-18 as compared to Rs 1,137 crore in revised estimates 2016-17.
Besides, Rs 900 crore has been earmarked by the Delhi Government under Scheduled Caste sub plan (under 789 budget head) in 2017-18 which is 27 percent higher than the revised estimate of 2016-17.
“The Government is also implementing various schemes for students belonging to SC/ST/OBC/Minorities like financial assistance for purchase of stationery, scholarship, reimbursement of tuition fees in private schools etc,” added the Finance Minister.
Sisodia, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister also announced the Budget for rural development and flood irrigation proposing a total expenditure of Rs 925 crores for the year 2017-18.
Keeping the budget complete people centric, the minister in his speech stressed that the AAP Government is “of, by and for the common man of Delhi”.
In its impressive budget, mainly because of focus on education and health, the government has also proposed a total expenditure of Rs 2,194 crore for Energy Sector for the 2017-18 including subsidy of Rs 1,600 for domestic electricity consumers. Sisodia laid emphasis on the government’s aim to make solar power popular across the city.
The Government with its Rs 106 crore expenditure on environment and forest has plans to touch upon various issues including development of maiden wildlife (Bird) rescue centre at Rajokri.
The Minister also underlined keeping it as the “Outcome Budget” where out come after the implementation would also be taken into account.