AGARTALA, June 19 - Tripura Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma today presented a deficit-free Budget of Rs 16,387.21 crore for the 2018-19 fiscal year on the first day of the Budget Session of the State Assembly.
The Budget outlay for 2018-19 has been increased by around 14 per cent compared to last year�s Budget. In the Budget, cess on petrol (Rs 1.15), diesel (Rs 1.13) and PNG (Rs 4.4 per month) has been proposed for road development in the State.
Dev Varma, who also holds the Finance portfolio, said the State Government is committed to provide the 7th CPC to government employees. �An estimated outlay of Rs 1,000 crore has been provisioned in the Budget so that the Government can offer the 7th CPC to 2 lakh government employees and pensioners once the PP Verma committee submits its recommendation,� he informed the House. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the State Government wants to implement a new pension policy for those who join government service from July 1, 2018.
At present, the Government spends 38.37 per cent for salary and 12.36 per cent for pension out of the total budgetary outlay. Only 39.09 per cent is left for other purposes, while 3.18 per cent is spent on repayment of loans. �The move to introduce a new pension for newcomers is aimed to reduce the State�s burden on the pension head. We cannot blame the Centre for not generating revenue on our own,� he pointed out.
In his long speech, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the first Budget of the BJP-IPFT Government is designed to boost growth of infrastructure and industry and development of health and education sectors in the State.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that four new BEd colleges would be set up in the State to impart pre-service training to teachers. Dev Varma also proposed constitution of the Tripura Infrastructure and Investment Fund Board to boost industrialisation in the State. �From now onwards, an entrepreneur will be able to get all necessary clearances for setting up industrial units through a single window system. He or she need not visit all departments concerned for approval,� he said.
A new scheme, Mukhyamantri Pratibhasali Puruskar, is all set to be rolled out to encourage meritorious and talented youths in the field of education, sports and culture, he said.
Later speaking to media persons, the Deputy Chief Minister termed the Budget as pro-people, pro-progress and transparent. �We have to increase our revenue generation and that is why tax is proposed to be imposed on petrol, diesel and PNG,� he added.
