Taking forward the ‘game changer’ Direct Benefit Transfer scheme coined by the Centre, the Jharkhand Government has wished to rollout the route for bicycles meant for schoolgirls. The programme is intended to plug the pilferage and also to be implemented for sahiyas.
Presenting a Rs 2,184.58 crore deficit budget for the 2014-15, Finance Minister Rajendra Prasad Singh said that cases of cycles lying unused and corruption in their purchase had been there. “We will transfer money against cycle to beneficiaries’ accounts directly so that middlemen are wiped out. Apart from schoolgirls, the scheme would also be for sahiyas,” said Singh.
The budget has total provision of Rs 50,387.70 crore out of which Rs 26,754.97 crore is for plans (development) and Rs 23,632.73 as non-plan (salary etc). The Government is also expecting to get revenue of Rs 43,433.75 crore during 2014-15 which would come from its own taxes (Rs 11,812.68 crore) and non-tax revenue (Rs 4,966.99 crore). The budget also set estimate to get Rs 7,974.01 crore under Centrally-sponsored schemes and Rs 510.96 crore as cent per cent Central assistance.
“The State is disciplined in fiscal management and continuously spending on social and economic sectors. The Government intends to spend 44.02 per cent of total revenue expenditure during 2014-15,” said the Finance Minister amid protest by the Opposition members. The Government has also planned to increase in plan size for 2014-15 which would be Rs 26,245.25 crore. After adding proposed Central assistance, Rs 510.96 crore, total plan size would reach to Rs 26,754.96 crore. The Centre has reduced its schemes from 142 to 66 and also vows to provide entire amount, except MPlAD, through treasury.
The Minster stressed over road construction and allocated 4,225 crore for it which is 16 per cent of the total budget. For HRD provision has been made of Rs 3,628 crore while Rs 3,385 for Rural Development, Rs 1,905 crore for Water Resources, Rs 1,798 crore for Health, Rs 1,429 crore for Women and Child Development, Rs 1,426 crore for Urban Development, Rs 1,100 crore for Panchyati Raj and NREP, Rs 1,080 crore for labour and Employment, Rs 1,053 for Welfare, Rs 1,010 for Food and Civil Supplies, Rs 850 crore for Energy and Rs 775 crore for Drinking Water and Sanitation.
The Government also proposed to provide interest relief of 2 per cent for farmers on KCC loan. Farmers are getting loan at 7 per cent from the banks on which the Centre provides 3.5 per cent rebate. For energy sector, the budget sketched a bright picture and proposed to enhance power generation capacity at Patratu from under process 1,320 MW and also plans to set up three coal washeries at Patratu, Garhwa and Tenughat for better life to the power plants and environmental protection.
“Health is also on priority. We have set up ‘State Medical and Health Infrastructure Development Board’, increased seats for MBBS to 350 and are regularising services of doctors and para-medics. The Government also proposes to raise medical assistance to the families earning up to Rs 72,000 yearly from current Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. Twenty-nine hospitals have also been identified where the people can be treated,” said Singh. All the medical colleges and district hospitals would be equipped with burn units and blood banks.
The budget also proposes to set up Women’s College in every district and model colleges in all educationally backward districts. The Assembly also passed third supplementary by voice vote after discussion. The Opposition parties, however, said the budget lacked “direction”. leader of opposition in Vidhan Sabha and former Chief Minister Arjun Munda termed the budget as impractical and devoid of any concern for achieving targets and generating revenue. Munda said the budget is jugglery figures and baggage of lies.