Maharashtra budget 2024: Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday presented the state budget during the ongoing Monsoon Session. The state government slashed the Value-Added Tax (VAT) on fuel in the Mumbai metropolitan region. With this announcement, petrol will be cheaper by 65 paise per litre and diesel by Rs 2.60 per litre. The move will cost the state exchequer Rs 200 crore, Pawar said.
"Tax on diesel is being decreased from 24 per cent to 21 per cent for Mumbai region, effectively 2 rupees per litre less prices of diesel. While petrol being decreased from 26 per cent to 25 per cent which will effectively decrease rates of petrol by 65 Paise per litre," Pawar said. Talking to reporters later, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the VAT cut has been proposed in the budget. "Once the budget is passed by the state legislative assembly and the council, the decision will come into effect from July 1."
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Finance Minister Ajit Pawar also announced 'Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin' (CM My Beloved Sister). Under this, all women will be given Rs 1500 per month. The scheme will be implemented from July 2024. Further Pawar announced that the state government will provide Rs 5000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean in Maharashtra.
Key highlights of Maharashtra budget
- Petrol to be cheaper by 65 paise per litre and diesel by Rs 2.60 litre per litre in Mumbai region.
- Tax on diesel to be decreased from 24 per cent to 21 per cent for Mumbai region.
- Tax on petrol to be decreased from 26 per cent to 25 per cent for Mumbai region.
- VAT cut has been proposed in the budget.
- All women to be given Rs 1500 per month under Mukhyanantri Majhi Ladki Bahin.
- Rs 5000 per hectare bonus to all farmers for their crops of cotton and soybean.
- Increased in the monetary help in deaths due to animal attacks. Now the next of kin will get Rs 25 lakhs instead of 20 Lakhs earlier.
- Three free cylinders every year to all households under CM Anna Chhatra Yojana.
- All religious minorities in Maharashtra will be supported by the Maharashtra government under schemes for poor people.
- The limit of medical insurance for families is being increased up to 5 lakhs from 1.5 lakhs earlier
- The number of Empaneled Hospitals will be increased from 1000 to 1900 hospitals.
- The government will provide help for planting bamboo and Rs 175 will be provided for each plantation of Bamboo.
- To make available free energy to farmers 8 lakh solar pumps will be given to farmers.
- Rs 223.83 crore in subsidy to 2.93 lakh registered milk producers.
- A new scheme called `Gaon tithe godam' (godown in every village) to be implemented to provide storage facilities for agriculture produce.
- The construction of 100 new godowns and repair of existing godowns will be undertaken in the first phase.
- Financial assistance to be provided to 10,000 women across 17 cities for purchasing e-rickshaws and Rs 80 crore will be made available for this "pink e-rickshaw".
- New government medical colleges to be established with intake capacity of 100 students along with 430-bed hospitals in 18 districts.
- A Unani medical college to be set up in Raigad while an Ayurveda college will be established in Buldhana district.
Monsoon session to continue till July 12
It should be mentioned here that the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on Thursday (June 28) and will go on till July 12. This is the last legislative session before the state assembly polls which will be in the next four months. The Legislative Assembly elections are speculated to be held in Maharashtra in 2024 to elect the 288 members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
(With inputs from ANI)
