ITANAGAR, July 8 - Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the maiden Budget of the Pema Khandu-led BJP Government in the State on the first day of the three-day Assembly session here on Monday.
Presenting a Rs 520.98 crore deficit budget for the 2019-20 fiscal, the Deputy CM said the revenue receipts of Rs 20,857.92 crore and capital receipts of Rs 1,535.53 crore has been projected making the total receipts of Rs 22,393.45 crore.
State share of Central taxes has been pegged at Rs 11,571 crore as per the Union budget 2019-20 and the projected State�s own tax revenue of Rs1,440 crore. The non-tax revenue projection for 2019-20 has been pegged at Rs 1,050 crore.
Highlighting the State Government�s achievements in last two and half years, Mein said several innovative policy and governance reforms have been undertaken for ensuring transparency, increasing overall efficiency, removing red-tapism and corrupt practices in the functioning of all the departments of the Government.
�Now, our Government aspires to become the �most developed� and �happiest State� in India,� he said, adding �One of the most striking features of this year�s budget is alignment of our schemes with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Stating that economy of the frontier State is primarily based on agriculture and allied activities, Mein said, State Government is working on a mission mode to achieve the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for doubling farmers� income by 2022.
Revamping agriculture and allied sector is a key to achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable livelihood in our State, he added.
Proposing to expand the coverage of the CM�s Sashakt Kisan Yojana to include various horticulture crops, the FM said a fund provision of Rs 95.70 crore is proposed to be allocated for the said scheme.
In health sector, the Budget proposed Rs 25 crore for continuation of CM�s Arogya Arunachal Yojana, besides allocating another Rs 25 crore for upgradation and strengthening of five District Hospitals of Aalo, Tezu, Khonsa, Bomdila and Ziro.
The Budget also proposed to start a 200-bedded hospital with emphasis on maternal, child health care and ophthalmology services in the State capital, Itanagar, and the same will also function as Eye centre of TRIHMS, Naharlagun. Rs 10 crore has been proposed to be earmarked for the project initially. In addition, a Rs 50 crore grant-in-aid has been proposed for TRIHMS to purchase special equipments.
In education front, the Budget proposed Rs 30 crore for upgradation of infrastructure of government schools, besides solar roof top panels of 3 KW each in all the secondary and higher secondary schools.
It also proposed continuation of CM�s Samast Shiksha Yojana to focus on decentralised planning, for which an outlay of Rs 52 crore has been proposed.
For development of infrastructure, the Budget proposed Rs 30 crore for repair and maintenance of PMGSY roads, besides pilot project on construction of roads using plastic waste allocating Rs 1.40 crore.
In transport sector, the Budget proposed to allocate Rs 10 crore for procurement of new buses. It also allocated Rs 30 crore for development of external infrastructure of Hollongi Airport.
The Budget also proposed to allocate Rs 8.5 crore to strengthen the security initiatives in the insurgency-infested TCL region.
In yet another significant move, the Budget proposed to allocate Rs 1 crore under �Arunachal Pradesh Pension Scheme for Journalists� besides allocating Rs 3.25 crore for additional infrastructure for the Arunachal Press Club.
