Mahayuti tables Rs 33,788 cr supplementary demands

 

 

 

On the very first day of Winter Session of State Legislature, Maharashtra Government tabled supplementary grants of Rs 33,788.40 crore wherein focus remains on Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana for which a provision of Rs 1,400 crore is sought. The demands were tabled by Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant as Government sought to tide over extra expenditure that it incurred over and above the budgetary allocation. A major chunk of provisions in supplementary grants is from Central Government’s interest-free loan scheme. Supplementary grants form the most important business for State Government during Winter Session, as the same ensures that ongoing schemes do not get stalled.

 

A cursory look at the demand books would reveal that Public Works Department (PWD) has sought the highest funds a Rs 7,490.24 crore, while the lowest Rs 1,377.55 crore is sought for Co-operation, Marketing and Textiles Department. The women-centric scheme has been a hit and now, State Government that earmarked Rs 46,000 crore is seeking additional funds to continue disbursal of Rs 1,500/month. Nearly 2.5 crore women in the age group of 21-60 years have benefitted from the scheme. A salient point of the supplementary grants is Rs 36 crore proposed for re-erection of statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Konkan region. The 35-foot statue had collapsed and the incident led to a lot of hue and cry and that time, Government promptly announced to re-erect the statue. Another important provision is of Rs 3,050 crore for continuing with Mukhyamantri Baliraja Mofat Vij Yojana, wherein Government provides compensation to MSEDCL for providing free electricity to farmers with agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP.

 

The Water Resources Department has been allocated Rs 2,147.41 crore, while the all-important Rural Development Department 2,007.69 crore, the Women and Child Development, which is spearheading the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, has been allocated Rs 2,155.40 crore. Similarly, Rs 4,112.79 crore is sought for Industry, Energy, Labour and Mining Department, Rs 2,774.43 crore for Urban Development Department and Rs 3,717.29 crore to meet repayment component for interest-free loans for 50 years to State Government that would ensure allocation towards Capital Expenditure.