A slew of welfare measures announced for farmers in budget presented by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

The state budget 2021-2022 presented by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, who also holds the finance portfolio, was unique in many ways. The Chief Minister did not announce an imposition of new taxes; he rather announced a rebate of Rs 910 on different taxes.

He said from the next financial year, the state will have a separate budget on agriculture and farmers. Thus Rajasthan will be the first to have a separate budget for the agriculture sector and farmers’ welfare.

Under the ‘Chief Minister Krishak Sathi Yojana’, the govt will set up a separate power company for the agriculture sector that would provide direct benefits to the farmers and will have a different tariff structure. This company would deal with all aspects of providing energy to the farmers and ensure adequate power supply for the agriculture sector.

Gehlot also announced that 50,000 youth would be given jobs in the next two years.

Gehlot, who presented the state’s first paperless budget, took two hours and 47 minutes to complete his budget address. This was the longest ever speech and he surpassed even Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who delivered a two hour 39 minutes long speech.

The most startling feature of the state budget is the new health scheme which is unique in the country. This scheme will be introduced on the lines of Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Health Insurance Scheme. In this new scheme, all the contract employees and small and marginal farmers of the state will get free insurance.

The general families, who are not covered under the free health care scheme, will now be able to get the benefit of the health insurance scheme by paying 50 percent premium on the insurance. Such families will be able to avail the benefit of health care in both state run as well as the private hospitals.

At present, only families associated with the National Food Security Scheme (NFSA) under the Mahatma Gandhi Health Insurance Scheme get the benefit of cashless insurance. But under the new scheme, the state government will implement universal health coverage at a cost of Rs 3500 crore.

Under this, each family of the state will be provided cashless insurance up to Rs 5 lakh. Normal families will have to pay 50 per cent of the premium for cashless insurance, which will be Rs 850, while all contract workers, small and marginal farmers will be provided free insurance under this scheme. Rajasthan is the first state to bring this scheme, Gehlot said.

Gehlot also announced that it would introduce the Right to Health bill which will give the citizens the right to medical facilities.

During the address, the Chief Minister said that his government would pursue the proposed Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ECPR) which was conceived by the BJP government under Vasundhara Raje as the Chief Minister.

“I would request you to take up the issue with the Prime Minister as it's your party that is ruling the country and get this project of immense importance to the state the status of a national project. This was a promise made by the Prime Minister during his election speeches in 2018. He has promises to keep. You have 25 MPs in Lok Sabha. Please ask them to take up the issue with the Prime Minister and get the necessary budgetary sanctions. I would take it up at my end, but I need your support also and it would be in the best interest of the state,” he said addressing the BJP leaders and former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

“I know how to take up the issue, I took up the issue of setting up a refinery in the state and took up the issue with the Union government and the refinery finally became a reality. I know how to take up the issue and how to fight one’s way. But if you also join and put pressure on the government it would alter the face of the state and its economy,” he added.

The Congress government, which is supporting the farmers’ agitation and has got its own farm Bills passed by the Vidhan Sabha to counter the three farm laws enacted by the Centre, has laid stress on agriculture and farmers’ welfare. The separate agriculture budget is aimed to give maximum thrust to agriculture production. The state’s endeavour would be to address the problems of the agriculture sector, Gehlot said.

Gehlot said all such farmers, who could not get the benefit of the loan waivers, would now be able to get their loans waived from commercial banks and the state would bear this burden on behalf of the farmers. This would be done through a one-time settlement. This year, Rs 16,000 crore would be provided as interest-free loans to the marginal farmers, which will benefit three lakh farmers.

Gehlot also announced the release of salaries worth Rs 1600 crore of government employees which were withheld during the pandemic.

With a view of boosting the real estate sector, Gehlot announced 10 per cent reduction in DLC rates (government’s estimated price in an area). The stamp duty on a flat costing Rs 50 lakh was also reduced from 6 to 4 per cent.

The government will give free sanitary napkins to all women, which will cost the exchequer a total of Rs 200 crore.

Gehlot also announced free travel on the state government-run Rajasthan State Roadways Corporation buses for youth travelling to appear in competitive examinations.

Gehlot also announced that the govt would open 1200 English medium schools in the state.

He announced opening of Kiran Maheshwari Kanya College in Rajsamand, Gajendra Singh Kanya College in Bhinder, Master Bhanwarlal Kanya College in Sujangarh and Kailash Trivedi Kanya College in Gangapur, named after the four MLAs (3 from Congress and 1 from BJP) who have passed away.

Rural bus service will start again with new vehicles. This bus service was discontinued under BJP’s rule.

There will be a Rajasthan festival in all districts on March 30. 10,000 youth will be sent to introduce them to the culture of other states.

Rajasthani films produced and filmed in the state will be given a support amount of Rs 25 lakh and 100 per cent discount on GST.