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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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Press statement by Mamata Banerjee at 8 PM on February 3, 2019:

I am anguished. The manner in which Modi and Shah are trying to take control of Bengal is unprecedented.

Just because I organised the United India Rally, I am being targeted.

You have seen the speech of PM. The language he used is not befitting of a Prime Minister. He had threatened yesterday only that the CBI will be used.

‘2019 – BJP finish’. Their expiry date has arrived. They have to win the mandate in an election, not by force.

It was our government which constituted the SIT that arrested the chit fund owner. The action against chit funds began during our regime.

Every time there is an election, they start raking up the issue of chit funds.

Modi is writing the script and Mr Doval is implementing it through the CBI.

The Kolkata Police Commissioner is among the best in the world. Let them prove their allegations against Rajeev Kumar.

How can the CBI come to the residence of the Kolkata CP without a warrant? This is a constitutional breakdown. They are running a parallel administration.

I appeal to all Opposition parties to work unitedly to oust Modi from power. Modi hatao, desh bachao.

Will they impose Article 356 next? The people will give a befitting reply.

The offices of Governors have become branch offices of the BJP.

The situation in the country is like a super-emergency. I have decided to sit on a dharna to save the Constitution, to save democracy, to save the federal structure.

With the personal efforts and under the instruction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the average annual income of farmers in Bangla has more than tripled in the nearly seven-and-a-half years of the Trinamool Congress Government.

The primary schemes and measures which have been responsible for this unprecedented surge in the income levels is as follows:

• The mutation fee involved during transfer of agricultural land has been completely waived off.

• The tax on agricultural land – khajna tax – has been waived off completely.

• The full premium – Centre’s share, farmers’ share, State’s share – of every farmer for the crop insurance scheme, Bangla Fasal Bima Yojana (other than for commercial crops) is now paid by the State Government.

• Farmers get immediate payment for their crops through the scheme, Dhan Din, Cheque Nin, wherein cheques against the selling of crops to the government at minimum support price (MSP) are issued on the same day.

Under Krishak Bandhu 1 Scheme, a one-time grant of Rs 2 lakh is paid to the family of any farmer between the ages of 18 and 60 who dies due to any natural or unnatural cause.

Under Krishak Bandhu 2 Scheme, an yearly grant of Rs 5,000 per acre will be paid to farmers in two instalments, for both rabi and kharif crops. In the case of shared cropping, the amount will be divided proportionally among the share-croppers.

Both aspects of the Krishak Bandhu Scheme are functional from January 1, 2019, while applications for the scheme are being accepted from February 1.

Due to the untiring efforts of the Trinamool Congress Government, and the special initiative of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in many cases, Bangla has become of the most successful States in the agriculture sector.

The last seven-and-a-half years (when Trinamool has been in power) has been a period of mostly untrammelled success for the farmers of the State.

Let us look at the major successes of Bangla in agriculture during this period:

• Annual farmer income trebled, from Rs 91,000 in 2011 to Rs 2.9 lakh in 2018

• Tax and mutation fee on agricultural land completely waived

• 69 lakh farmers given Kisan Credit Cards

• Bangla Fasal Bima Yojana has provided farmers with free crop insurance

• Old age pension raised to Rs 1,000, and number of beneficiaries increased to 1 lakh

• Awarded Krishi Karman Award from the Centre five years in a row

• Production of foodgrains increased to 179.9 lakh metric tonnes (MT) in financial year (FY) 2017-18 compared to 148.1 lakh MT in FY 2010-11

• Total rice production increased to 158.9 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 133.9 lakh MT in 2010-11

• Production of maize increased to 13.3 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 3.5 lakh MT in 2010-11

• Production of pulses increased to 4.4 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 1.77 lakh MT in 2010-11

• Production of oilseeds increased to 10.5 lakh MT in 2017-18 compared to 7.0 lakh MT in 2010-11

• Agricultural input subsidy worth Rs 2372.56 crore distributed among 58.51 lakh farmers for crop damage due to natural calamities

• Farm implements like tractors, power tillers and pump sets, as well as small implements distributed among 3.7 lakh farmers

• ICT-enabled (information and communication technology) agri-extension project, ‘Matir Katha’ launched to address farm-related problems using hand-held tablet computers and a dedicated portal

• 53.46 lakh Soil Health Cards, with recommendation of use of applications of various nutrients, issued

In an effort at environment-friendly measures, Kolkata’s Alipore Zoo has taken to selling plates made of sal leaves to visitors who want to picnic inside.

The plates are being sold from three stalls inside the zoo. The stalls sell the plates at Re 1 a piece.

The zoo management is aiming at gradually getting people out of the habit of taking thermocol plates, which are non-biodegradable, inside the zoo premises.

The end points for most thermocol products are landfills or the sea. Thermocol takes hundreds of years to decompose. When burned, it releases hazardous chemicals and toxic gases.

This green initiative also serves a social cause. The sal plates are being brought from a forest protection committee at Chandrakona in Paschim Medinipur district, where collecting firewood and sal leaves is the primary occupation of the tribal population. Thus the zoo authorities are enabling for a section of villagers there an additional source of income.

Each plate is made by stitching two leaves together. Women are the main earning members of several households.

The hospitality major, OYO Rooms has decided to set up a centre of excellence for training and capacity-building in Kolkata. The company specialises in hiring rooms in good hotels to cater to its customers who can book those rooms through the company online, and mostly at very affordable rates.

As per officials of OYO, the company currently trains about 3,500 people per month from around 26 institutes globally.

The new project was announced recently by the CEO of OYO on the sidelines of the summit, Destination East 2019, organised by the State Tourism Department in association with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

The centre of excellence will be called OYO Skill Institute, said the CEO. It will come up by the end of this year as a part of the company’s effort to increase its business further in Bangla.

The CEO also said that the State Government has expressed its full-fledged support to the idea, and would help the company as per the government’s industrial policy to find the land needed for the project.

Source: Millennium Post