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.
Addressing the ASEAN Summit on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that we all have to fa
Ukrainian President Zelensky meets US President Biden, US announces military aid
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets US President Joe Biden at the White House. Ukrainian
There is an outcry over the prices of petrol and diesel in India. The ever-increasing prices have
Prabhas and Kriti Sanon starrer Adipurush, hit the theaters this Friday amidst much buzz. A lot o
Microsoft to set up largest project in Noida, buys 60 thousand sqm land for Rs 103 crore
The world's famous software maker Microsoft will put up a project in Sector 145 of Noida in 60 th
Agra upset as Noida chosen for tourism varsity
Agra, March 24 (IANS) The decision to establish the national tourism university in Noida on the
A mob set ablaze an open gym constructed at PT Sports Complex in New Lamka in Manipur's Churachan
When will the coronavirus vaccine arrive? When will you come? Where will you come first? How to g
Rally for road safety among women held in Delhi
New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) A rally to promote road safety awareness among women was organised he
West Indies batsman Nicholas Pooran hit the fastest fifty of IPL 2025. Pooran wreaked havoc with
