MUMBAI: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who oversees the finance portfolio, unveiled several benefits in his election year budget during the Monsoon Session on Friday.
Following the BJP-led Mahayuti’s recent Lok Sabha election losses, Pawar introduced initiatives targeting farmers, women, and youth.
Inspired by Madhya Pradesh, Pawar launched the Maji Ladki Bahin Yojana, providing eligible women aged 21 to 60 with Rs 1,500 per month.
Additionally, the ‘Pink E-Rickshaw’ scheme aims to empower women by supplying e-rickshaws.
The ‘Mukhyamantri Annapurna’ scheme will provide three free gas cylinders annually to families of five.
Pawar also reiterated the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladaki Bahin Yojana,’ offering Rs 1,500 to women between 21 and 60 years.
Over two lakh female students from other backward classes and economically weaker sections will receive financial assistance from the state government, starting in the academic year 2024-25.
Funds for women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have doubled from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000.
Pawar announced a Rs 5,000 per hectare bonus for farmers cultivating cotton and soybean crops and promised to waive electricity bill dues for 44 lakh farmers.
The government plans to lower the diesel tax from 24% to 21% in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai municipal areas. Petrol and diesel taxes will also be reduced, making petrol 65 paise cheaper and diesel Rs 2.07 cheaper in the Mumbai metropolitan region.
The 2024-25 budget includes a total provision of Rs 6,12,293 crore. Revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 4,99,463 crore, with revenue expenditure at Rs 5,19,514 crore. The annual plan program expenditure is proposed at Rs 1,92,000 crore, including Rs 15,893 crore for Scheduled Caste sub-plans, Rs 15,360 crore for tribal development sub-plans, and Rs 18,165 crore for district annual plans. The revenue deficit is projected at Rs 20,051 crore, with a fiscal deficit of Rs 1,10,355 crore.
Opposition leaders compared this budget to pre-Lok Sabha election budgets. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray claimed the people of Maharashtra would reject this budget as they did with Modi’s guarantees.
“People of Maharashtra rejected Modi’s guarantee, so there is no question that they will trust in this government, which is unconstitutional, and its budget,” he stated.
