Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today described the State Budget of whopping Rs.1,83,666-crore for 2018-19 as presented by Finance Minister Nitinbhai Patel in the Vidhan Sabha as people’s welfare budget to establish social equanimity and all round development of the state.

He congratulated the Finance Minister for presenting a budget that makes Gujarat as Land of Opportunities and the Best Destination for Investment.

Mr. Rupani said the budget reflects people reposing faith in the government, there being huge provisions for all sections of the society – farmers, villagers, jobs for the youth, oppressed, persecuted, scheduled castes and tribes, senior citizens, women and children. There is provision for Narmada Yojna, Urban Development, Smart Cities, SAUNI Yojna, Digital Yojna and Cyber Crime Prevention.

There is Rs.500-crore provision for zero interest farm loan, Rs.1,100-crore for crop insurance, Rs.235-crore for minimum support prices, tractor and farm implements, Rs.200-crore for fencing fields to ward off wild pigs.

To realize the dream of ‘New Gujarat; New India’, he said that monthly incentive of Rs.1,500-3,000 to 4-lakh youth will be provided in Employment Fair under CM’s Apprentice Scheme, 30,000 jobs in the government. There is incentive for skilled and semi-skilled labour under Gramoday Yojna, provision for Skilled Development, Startup, Standup, Incubator, iCreate and Centre for Excellence.

The annual income limit for senior citizens under the CM’s Amritam Ma Vatsalya has been increased from Rs.2-lakh to Rs.3-lakh for treatment of terminal and serious illness.

 

Full text of budget speech

 

DeshGujarat