Himachal Pradesh CM presents Rs. 13,141.07cr final supplementary budget for 2022-23-Diarytimes
- The Himachal Pradesh government presented a budget of Rs 51,365 crore for the financial year 2022-23, which is an increase from the previous year’s budget of Rs 49,131 crore. This budget was presented on Friday during the election year.
- On Friday, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is also in charge of the state’s finance portfolio, presented the Budget 2022-23, which had a greater emphasis on social security and assistance for the poor. However, it is noteworthy that the debt of Himachal Pradesh is greater than the amount designated in the presented budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the state’s Assembly.
- Following the budget presentation, Thakur responded to a media query stating that the debt burden on the state had increased from Rs 55,737 crore in the previous year to Rs 63,200 crore.
- During the budget presentation, the chief minister stated that out of every hundred rupees spent by the state government in 2022-23, Rs 11 would go towards loan repayment and Rs 10 towards interest payment.
- This implies that more than 20% of the total budget amount will be allocated towards loan repayment and interest payment. To be precise, the state government is expected to utilize over Rs 10,786 crore from the total budget of Rs 51,365 crore in 2022-23 for loan repayment and interest payment.
- The Budget for the financial year 2022-23 has proposed no new taxes and has seen an increase of Rs 2,234 crore from the previous year’s budget of Rs 49,131 crore. The increase was greater in the year 2020-21, with a rise of Rs 4,743 crore from the budget of Rs 44,388 crore in 2019-20. The budget for the year 2018-19 was Rs 41,440 crore.
- As per the Budget 2022-23, out of every 100 rupees spent by the state government, Rs 26 will be allocated towards salaries, Rs 15 towards pension, Rs 10 towards interest payment, Rs 11 towards loan repayment, Rs 9 towards grants for autonomous bodies, and the remaining Rs 29 will be allocated towards other activities, including capital works.
- During the presentation of the Budget 2022-23 in the state Assembly, it was estimated that the revenue receipts would be around Rs 3, 67,375 crores, whereas the expenditure is expected to be around Rs 40,278 crore. This is likely to result in a revenue deficit of Rs 3,903 crore.
- Additionally, the fiscal deficit for 2022-23 has been estimated at Rs 9,602 crore, which is equivalent to 4.98% of the state’s gross domestic product (GSDP).
- Furthermore, during the presentation of the Budget, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur announced an increase in the monthly old-age pension amount from Rs 1,001 to Rs 1,500.
- In what is his fifth and final budget for the current government, the Chief Minister also revealed that the age limit for availing of the old-age pension would be reduced from 70 years to 60 years, without any income limit.
- Additionally, Thakur announced that the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) fund would be increased from the current Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2 crore. This represents an increase of Rs 20 lakh in the MLALAD fund for the budget, which is the final one before the next Assembly elections, scheduled to take place in December.
- During his nearly three-hour address in the Assembly while tabling the 152-page Budget, Thakur stated that a total increase of Rs 90 lakh has been made in the MLALAD fund during his government. The chief minister also announced to increase in the discretionary grant for MLAs from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per annum for the next fiscal. Thakur also announced a hike in pension for destitute women from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,150; for those between 60 years and 79 years, increased from Rs 850 to Rs 1,100; and for those above 70 years and disabled, a jump from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,700. He said Rs 1,300 crore would be spent in the Budget on providing social security pensions to 7.50 lakh eligible persons.
- The chief minister announced several other measures in the Budget 2022-23, including an increase in the grant for widow remarriage, the creation of new jobs in the health sector, and changes to the Himcare Card system.
- The grant for widow remarriage was increased from Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000, and Rs 5 crore was allocated for creating livelihoods for urban youth. The chief minister also mentioned a new Bill to be introduced in the Assembly for establishing eligibility criteria.
- In terms of the health sector, Thakur announced the creation of 500 new positions for doctors in the state. Additionally, a new provision will require the renewal of the Himcare Card, which enables access to free health services for various ailments, after three years instead of annually.
- The Chief Minister announced an increase in the monthly honorarium for municipal corporation Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and councillors from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, Rs 8,500 to Rs 10,000, and Rs 5,050 to Rs 6,050, respectively.
- He announced the allocation of Rs 8,412 crore for education and stated that Sardar Patel University, located in the Mandi district, would commence operations in April 2022. Additionally, he added that four flying schools would be established to provide drone flying training in Himachal Pradesh.
- Additionally, the chief minister announced the construction of 1000 new Anganwadi Bhawans in the state. He also mentioned that during the five-year tenure of the previous Congress government, 789 plans from NABARD worth Rs 3,200 crore were approved, while during the current government’s tenure, 826 plans worth Rs 3,452 crore were approved.
- Lastly, the chief minister announced an increase in the cow cess on liquor by Rs 1 per bottle.
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