February 4, 2019
9 lakh jobs created in Bangla in 2018: Dr Amit Mitra in State Budget
State Finance Minister Dr Amit Mitra presented the State Budget today in the Assembly. A budget of Rs 2,37,964 crore is proposed for 2019-20.
Highlights of the Budget Speech:
Our country is going through a dangerous phase. From the common people to the autonomous institutions like CBI and RBI, and even journalists, are under attack.
Because of the actions of the Centre, the federal structure is under attack.
Even a dignified institution like the Supreme Court has not been spared by the Centre.
The Chairman of the NSSO resigned because the Centre wanted to keep jobs data under wraps. But the cat is out of the bag.
2018 witnessed the highest unemployment rate in India in 45 years.
Mamata Banerjee has been vocal against the anti-people policies of the Centre.
People have realised that the promises made by the ruling party at the Centre are an eyewash.
Thousands of farmers have been forced to commit suicide in many States of the country.
The average annual income of farmers in Bangla has tripled from Rs 91,000 in 2011 to Rs 2,98,000 in 2018
The Centre promised to bring back black money from abroad. What we saw instead is that some cronies looted the people’s money and fled to foreign countries.
The banking system is in ICU. NPAs have increased by 5 times in the last few years.
Throwing all democratic conventions to air, the Centre placed an ‘expiry budget’.
Mamata Banerjee has stood up to the undemocratic, autocratic and anti-people government at Centre. Bengal is showing the way to the country.
People will teach this fascist regime a lesson.
The GDP of Bengal has increased from Rs 4.61 lakh crore in 2011 to Rs 11.5 lakh crore in 2018. This is the highest rate of increase in GDP in the country.
The industrial growth rate in the country is 5.59% while the same in Bengal is three times more – 16.29%
Revenue deficit in Bengal is down to 0.96% (in 2018) from 3.75% (in 2011)
Fiscal deficit was 4.25% in 2010-11. It is down to 2.83% in 2017-18.
The income from revenues increased from Rs 21,000 crore in 2011 to Rs 57,000 crore in 2017-18. This is an increase of 2.5 times.
From 2011, the State Plan Expenditure of Rs 3,45,000 crore and Capital Expenditure of Rs 92,000 crore has been spent on infrastructure and social welfare.
Food production in 2010-11 was 148 lakh MT; it has increased to 182 lakh MT in 2018-19.
We have waived off khajna tax and mutation fees on agricultural land.
8.82 crore people in the State receive food at subsidised rates.
Farmers are receiving price for paddy procurement directly through the ‘Dhan Din, Cheque Nin’ programme.
Nearly 32 lakh farmers’ families have received compensation worth Rs 1,200 crore for crop losses due to natural disasters.
The State Government pays the full premium for the crop insurance scheme. This scheme will be fully funded by the State (Centre used to pay 20% of the cost earlier).
2.62 lakh ponds have been created under the Jal Dharo, Jal Bharo Scheme.
We have opened 2,631 PACSs for providing banking services in unbanked villages.
We have distributed hens and chickens for free to augment egg production in the State.
The income ceiling for the Kanyashree Scheme has been done away with. The scheme has been extended to university students.
The Kanyashree Scheme is our pride. We are setting up Kanyashree University at Krishnanagar in Nadia district.
1.26 lakh girls have received the benefits of Rupashree Scheme.
We have spent Rs 126.69 crore for the implementation of Manobik Scheme, which has benefited 2.35 lakh people.
IMR (infant mortality rate) in 2011 was 32, now it has come down to 25 (in 2016). In the same period, MMR (maternal mortality rate) has reduced to 102 from 131.
The rate of institutional delivery is nearing cent per cent (at 97.5% now).
307 SNSUs have been set up till now, the number for which in 2011 was zero
The number of SNCUs have gone up from 6 to 68.
In 2018, we spent Rs 1,231 crore to provide healthcare for free to the people.
10 medical colleges and 27 nursing training schools have been set up.
7,000 primary and upper primary schools have been set up.
Nearly 7 crore uniforms, 16 lakh bags and 50 lakh shoes have been distributed for free to students.
70 lakh SC/ST youths have received scholarships under the Sikshashree Scheme.
The number of universities have gone up from 12 in 2011 to 40 in 2018.
Enrolment in higher education has increased from 13.24 lakh in 2011 to 20.36 lakh in 2017-18.
20 cultural and development boards have been set up, with a total allotment of Rs 600 crore.
1 crore cycles have been distributed under the Sabooj Sathi Scheme.
We have set up Matua Welfare Board and Namashudra Welfare Board. We are setting up Harichand-Guruchand University in Thakurnagar. A branch of the university will be set up in Nadia district too.
Bengal is number one in distributing minority scholarships.
42 new multi super speciality hospitals have been constructed
More than 8 lakh people from minority communities have received financial assistance for creating self-employment opportunities – the highest in the country.
Nearly 24 lakh mothers have received saplings under the Sabujshree Scheme.
Nearly 70 lakh poor women have been mobilised into 5.5 lakh credit-linked self-help groups, and Rs 8,200 crore has been spent for the welfare of these SHGs.
932 piped water supply projects have been started, which touched a population of 2.02 crore
Bengal ranks number one in rural road connectivity, with the construction of total road length of 26,000km.
Till now, 40 lakh urban and rural houses have been built under various projects like Gitanjali, Nijashree, Bangla Awas Yojana, etc.
In the power sector, domestic consumers has increased by 122% (85 lakh in 2011 to 190 lakh in December 2018).
Under the Samajik Suraksha Scheme, 25.8 lakh workers have been given benefits worth Rs 1324 crore.
2 lakh families have received benefits under the Samabyathi Scheme.
Under Lok Prasar Prakalpa, benefits are provided to 2 lakh folk artistes.
Under the Baitarani Scheme, 20 electric crematoria and 535 cremation grounds have been constructed.
The number of micro, small and medium enterprises has grown from 36 lakh in 2011 to more than 90 lakh now. The total capital investment in these MSMEs now stands at Rs 55,000 crore.
Under the inspiration of Mamata Banerjee, an IT hub called Bengal Silicon Valley is coming up in Rajarhat where top IT and ITeS companies are investing.
Investment proposals worth 145.93 billion dollars have been received at the Bengal Global Business Summits.
Flipkart is setting up a logistics hub in Kalyani at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. This will create 10,000 employment opportunities.
Mamata Banerjee has introduced a new scheme for the welfare of farmers. Farmers will receive Rs 5,000 per annum per acre of land. They will receive commensurate amounts for smaller land holdings. A minimum of Rs 1,000 will be paid to small farmers under this scheme.
Tax Reforms
We had started a tax dispute settlement scheme in June 2017 under which we have mopped up Rs 1,100 crore worth pending tax.
We had started another tax dispute settlement scheme in November 2018. By paying 35% of the disputed tax, and full entry tax, one can avail full waiver on penalty and interest.
All pending cases of dispute under the Motor Vehicles Act can be settled by paying 35% or 50% (as applicable) of the disputed tax.
I propose full exemption to tea gardens from paying education cess and rural employment cess for the next two financial years.
New initiatives
After assuming power in 2011, the State Government has been working towards increasing employment opportunities for educated youths.
For creating self-employment, 50,000 youths will receive one-time grants of Rs 1 lakh.
The honorarium for anganwadi workers will be increased by Rs 500. Nearly 2,10,000 workers will benefit from this decision.
The honorarium for ASHA workers will be increased by Rs 500, which will benefit 50,000 workers.
The salary of contractual workers will be increased by Rs 2,000. There will be a similar increase in monthly remuneration of contractual IT workers and data entry operators, which will benefit 1 lakh workers.
From February 2019, the ex gratia amount for contractual workers will be increased from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, which will benefit one lakh workers
Contractual group D workers of the State Government, who have passed Madhyamik or an equivalent examination and have been employed for more than three years, will get the benefit of engagement as Group C workers.
The entire country is suffering due to the hurried implementation of GST and the shock of demonetisation. Despite this, this year we have created 9 lakh new employment opportunities.
A budget of Rs 2,37,964 crore is proposed for 2019-20.
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