Rajasthan budget offers sops to women, youth

Calcutta News.Net
Friday 9th March, 2007

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Friday presented the budget for fiscal 2007-08, focussing primarily on women and youth by offering various sops to them.

Announcing the Rs.3.58-billion surplus budget in the state assembly, Raje spoke about various initiatives being taken for development of the state.

'It may be recalled that when we took over, the state's revenue deficit was 30 percent of revenue receipts,' she said.

Raje said that because of pragmatic fiscal policies of the government, the fiscal deficit by the end of 2007 is expected to be 3.58 percent of the gross state domestic product against 7.09 percent in 2002-03.

The chief minister announced formation of an exclusive Indian reserve battalion for women to be called 'Haldi Rani Armed Corps'.

She also announced concessions for women on stay in government-owned hotels and transportation, besides a Rs.200-million programme to provide employment opportunities to about 100,000 youth.

Raje said a Vishwarkarma contributory pension scheme will be launched for people working in unorganised sector.

Stressing on simplifying tax procedures, the chief minister said the Value Added Tax regime had helped the state to increase tax revenue.

'In 2006-07, the income from sales tax is expected to rise by 20 percent,' she said.

Giving relief to farmers, the chief minister proposed abolition of tax on parts and accessories of sprayers.

To promote crop diversification, Raje proposed reduction of mandi tax on vegetables and medicinal plants to 0.5 percent and mandi commission to 3 percent.

Stressing the need for giving a fillip to industrial development, Raje proposed to extend the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme 2003 till March 2009. The scheme was to come to an end March 31, 2008.

The chief minister also offered concessions to movie lovers by bringing down the entertainment tax from the existing 50 percent to 35 percent.

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