Ahead of the annual general Budget of the Union Government, Jharkhand has sought greater degree of support from the Centre for extending banking services deep into the State along with availing banking services to more number of people.
Speaking in a pre-Budget interaction of Chief Ministers with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday in Delhi, Chief Minister Raghubar Das underlined areas that needed more attention in the upcoming Budget.
“Digital payment system is for more transparency in financial matters and revenue collection and the State is walking in tandem with the Centre. We have also rolled out digital payment system from December 2 and 63 panchayats have been declared cashless. But it is also important to spread banking services in villages having 5,000 and more population. Out of total 137 such villages, 21 have got bank branches. I request you to cover the rest 116 villages,” said the Chief Minister.
He also talked about connectivity and IT infrastructure in the State while advocating for lower transaction fee for the promotion of digital payments. The CM apprised the gathering about measures such as slashing VAT on smart phones and e-POS machines and equipping 20,000 PDS shops with cashless mode of transactions in Jharkhand post-demonetisation. “I would like to request you to run a massive drive across the country for strengthening digital infrastructure,” he added.
Besides, he also stressed on improving rail and air connectivity to the State and the region and sought more fund for new rail projects and flights to smaller towns.
The CM expressed willingness to share 50 per cent cost of such proposals. The CM, on the occasion, touched upon issues like upping lending limit by one per cent from current 3.5 per cent fixed under FRBM Act and revision of royalty on minerals.
“Mine royalty has special place for Jharkhand but rates for iron ore and coal have not been revised for years. At present on coal the rate is 14 per cent ad-valorem and revision is pending since 2015. It is needed to be raised to 20 per cent at least on coal as well as on iron ore. On the minerals such as uranium, copper ore, gold, bauxite and graphite where ad-valorem rate does not apply, it should be revised as minimum 20 per cent ad-valorem,” said Das who was accompanied by Development Commissioner Amit Khare.
In the field of higher education, the CM demanded setting up Baba Baidyanath Sanskrit University and National Tribal University in the State under RUSA. He also demanded more funding under National Health Mission and rolling out health insurance scheme.
“I on this occasion also do special request for the State to include special package of Rs 4000 crore for setting up new capital in the lines of Chhattisgarh, smart village project out of the Garib Kalyan Kosh and inclusion of Bokaro, Chaibasa and Koderma under the central scheme about upgrading district hospitals into medical colleges,” said he and reiterated the need of rehabilitation packages for HEC and Jharia and package for closed or abandoned mines.