Raipur, March 13 (IANS) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh presented a Rs. 65,013 crore budget for the fiscal 2015-16 on Friday, focussing on youth, industry and infrastructure.
Ayurvedic doctor-turned-politician Singh, who is ruling the state since Dec 2003, made several bold announcements aimed to spur growth, build road infrastructure across all the 27 districts and woo investors to realise the goal of Make-in-Chhattisgarh in line with the Make-in-India concept of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Singh, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced a series of trade and business-friendly tax incentives in VAT, central sales tax and entry tax, to make domestic trade and industry more competitive.
A major highlight of the budget was the introduction of a separate 'Youth Budget', focussing on public investment in schemes that directly relate to the 90 lakh youths of the state.
An amount of Rs.6,151 crore has been allocated for youths with the basic intent of skill development under the Chhattisgarh Right of Youth to Skill Development Act, 2013.
Infrastructure has been given Rs.11,000 crore, up 39 percent from last year. The allocation for the road sector is Rs. 5,183 crore, an increase of 43 percent over last year.
The budget also proposes to upgrade all state highways and roads connecting district and block headquarters to double-lane roads.
In addition, 2,000 km of existing roads will be upgraded in the PPP mode, with an estimated investment of Rs.10,000 crore. Besides, Rs.700 crore have been allocated for rural connectivity, for roads not covered under the Prime Minister's Rural Roads Scheme.
Traders having an annual turnover of up to Rs.1 crore have been exempted from filing quarterly returns.
To give a fillip to the Clean India initiative of the Prime Minister, bio-toilets have been exempted from VAT and entry tax. In order to incentivise fast track construction of affordable housing, pre-cast and monolithic concrete products have been made tax-free.
VAT on aviation turbine fuel has been reduced to 4 percent.
In the health sector, a special nutrition supplement scheme for TB patients, the first of its kind in the country, and distribution of free insulin for diabetic children are fresh initiatives.
The social security pension for about 16 lakh pensioners has been hiked by 20 percent.
Shashi Tharoor: Surrounded by his people, Tharoor got BJP's support; Rijiju said- Is it forbidden to speak for the country in Congress?
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is facing criticism from his party these days. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has responded to Congress party leader and former MP Udit Raj calling Tharoor a BJP super
IND vs AUS: From Steve Smith's century to Ravindra Jadeja's superb bowling, know five big things from the second day of the Sydney Test
The third match of the four-Test series being played between India and Australia is being played in Sydney. On the second day of the day, the Indian bowlers returned to the match and bowled out
Sonam Raghuvanshi: Raj and Sonam will face each other today, both the accused have been brought to Shillong on remand; big secrets will be revealed during interrogation
Police have brought Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused of killing her husband Raja Raghuvanshi by breaking the sacred relationship and trust of marriage, to Shillong for transit remand. Sonam will
Hardik Pandya: A complaint has been filed against Hardik Pandya for allegedly insulting the Indian flag during victory celebrations.
Following India's T20 World Cup victory celebrations, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has found himself embroiled in a new controversy. A complaint has been filed against him for allegedly insulting
IND vs AUS: 'You judge by runs, we look at the impact', coach Gambhir's reply to the reporter about Rohit's form
India defeated Australia in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy 2025 and knocked them out of the tournament. The Indian team, led by captain Rohit Sharma, has performed brilliantly in this
Will this decision of the Supreme Court give rights to women in father's property?
In a far-reaching judgment on January 20, the Supreme Court has held that daughters of a Hindu man who dies without making a will be entitled to inherit the father's self-acquired (own earnings) and
Why did Kejriwal leave the CM chair? Understand the strategy behind his resignation from these points; increased BJP's tension
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has played a big gamble by announcing his resignation. By announcing his resignation, Kejriwal has tried to connect the public with him more strongly along with
Corona havoc in UP: more than 27 thousand cases surfaced on Saturday, 120 died
On Saturday, there was a slight decrease in the number of corona infections in UP. While 27426 cases were reported on Friday, 27357 new ones have been found on Saturday. However, 120 people have died.
Lockdown extended in Bihar till 6 September, the order issued on 30 July will remain in effect
Corona lockdown has been extended once again in Bihar. This time it has been extended till 6 September. The Home Department issued the order after a high-level meeting. The order issued on July 30 for
India is doing naval exercises with the USA to give a message to China?
Can Indian and US Navy joint military exercises in the Indian Ocean have any message for China? Especially in such an atmosphere when there is tension between India and China in the Galvan Valley of
