Delhi budget: Delhi Finance Minister Atishi today (March 4) presented the 10th budget of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government at Delhi Vidhan Sabha for the financial year 2024-25. This is her first budget after being inducted into the cabinet in March last year.
Atishi presented the Delhi government's Rs 76,000 crore budget for 2024-25 in the state assembly.
The Budget Session of the Delhi Assembly began on February 15 and has been extended until the first week of March. It was supposed to end on February 21.
Atishi first budget speech
Addressing her maiden budget speech in the state assembly, Atishi said that the Delhi government trying to realise the dream of Ram Rajya.
She spoke about how Delhi has changed in the last 10 years under the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) government. "This is a moment of pride that Kejriwal government is presenting its tenth budget. I am not just presenting the tenth budget but a picture of changing Delhi. Kejriwal came as a ray of hope. We are all inspired by Ram Rajya. We are working hard towards realizing the dream of Ram Rajya," Atishi said in the state assembly.
"We all present here are inspired by Lord Ram. We have been trying day and night for the last 9 years to fulfil this dream of 'Ram Rajya'. We have tried to provide happiness and prosperity to the people of Delhi in the last 9 years. There is a lot to be done to establish 'Ram Rajya' in Delhi but a lot has been done in the last 9 years," she said.
“In 2014, the GSDP of Delhi was Rs 4.95 lakh crores and in the last ten years, the GSDP of Delhi has increased two and a half times to Rs 11.08 lakh crores. In 2014, the per capita income of Delhi was Rs 2.47 lakhs and today the per capita income of Delhi has reached 4.62 lakhs which is two and a half times more than the national average. Today, I am going to present a budget of Rs 76,000 crores," informed Atishi.
"The population of Delhi contributes to only 1.55 per cent of the total population of the country. Yet, its contribution to the national GDP is more than double. In 2023-24, the contribution of Delhi in the national GDP is going to be 3.89 per cent, at constant prices," she said.
Delhi govt Rs 16,396 crore for education
"Allocation for education is 16,396 crore this year, which comes to around 21 per cent of the budget outlay of Rs 76,000 crore," said Atishi.
A budget of Rs 16,396 crores was proposed for the Education sector. Some of the key components are:
- Rs 100 crores allocated to SCERT (State Council of Educational Research and Training).
- Rs 150 crores proposed for the construction of new schools and classrooms
- Rs 45 crores proposed for the maintenance of existing classrooms.
- Rs 42 crores has been proposed for SoSEs this year.
- Rs 12 crores allocated for Delhi Model Virtual School.
- Rs 40 crores allocated for School Management Committees.
- Rs 40 crore provision has been made for the entrepreneurship development program
- Rs 6 crores allocated for ‘Chief Minister Super Talented Coaching Scheme’
- Rs 118 crores proposed for sports education
- Rs 1212 crores proposed for higher education and technical education.
- Rs 15 crores proposed for Business Blasters Senior
Budget for health sector
Finance Minister Atishi proposed Rs 8,685 crore in the budget for the health sector.
- Rs 6,215 crore allocated to maintain good facilities in hospitals
- Rs 212 crore allocated to provide medical treatment through mohalla clinics.
- Rs 658 crore allocated for this financial year to ensure an adequate supply of essential medicines to Delhi government hospitals.
- Rs 400 crore for expansion through construction of new hospitals and remodelling of existing hospitals.
- Rs 80 crore allocated to provide free health services through Delhi Arogya Kosh.
- A proposal of Rs 194 crore for the purchase of new ambulances for Centralized Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) in Delhi.
Announcement of Chief Minister Mahila Samman Yojana
Kejriwal government has announced the Chief Minister Mahila Samman Yojana. Under this scheme, all women above 18 years of age in Delhi will be given Rs 1,000 every month. "The Kejriwal government will give monthly Rs 1,000 to every woman aged 18 years and above under Mukhya Mantri Mahila Samman Yojna," said the Delhi finance minister.
Budget for justice system Rs 3,098 crores
Rs 3,098 crore budget has been allocated for the justice system. Some of the key components are:
- Construction of 4 new court complexes, whose total cost is Rs 1,108 crore
- Rs 100 crores earmarked for new scheme of hybrid hearings in district courts
- Rs 3,353 crore proposed for the power sector for the year 2024-25
Business Blaster scheme for students
The Delhi Government announced a Business Blaster scheme for University students and Rs 15 crore has been allocated for this project. The scheme will be implemented in universities and ITIs and students will be given seed money for starting a small business.
Budget for unauthorised colonies
Budget 2024-25 allocates Rs 902 crore for the development of unauthorised colonies in the national capital, said finance minister Atishi.
Delhi budget based on Ram Rajya
Atishi said that the AP government has taken a 'sanklap' to fulfill the dream of 'Ram Rajya' in Delhi. "Arvind Kejriwal has emerged as a ray of hope for the people of Delhi. The people of Delhi have trusted him because of his honesty and have made him the CM with a thumping majority. All the legislators who are present here are inspired by Lord Ram, and that's why we have taken a 'sanklap' to fulfill the dream of 'Ram Rajya' in Delhi," she said.
Achievements in last 9 years
Listing the achievements of the AAP government in the last nine years, Atishi said that as many as 38 Schools of Specialized Excellence was launched in 2021-22, Armed Forces Preparatory School, Delhi Sports School, and Delhi Model Virtual School also launched.
She said that three new universities were launched - Delhi Skills and Entrepreneurship University, Delhi Teachers University, and Delhi Sports University.
"Out of the first batch of 76 students from Armed Forces Preparatory School, 32 have passed the written examination of the National Defence Academy (NDA) conducted by the UPSC. 2,121 children studying in Delhi Government schools have cleared the JEE and NEET exams in 2023-2024," she added.
The Delhi Minister further said that in the last 3 three years, more than 4 lakh children have taken admission in Delhi Government schools, forsaking private schools.
She said that six new university campuses were also opened since 2016.
