Himanta Biswa Sarma presents interim budget in Assam: Here are the key highlights

GUWAHATI: Assam's Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday tabled the interim budget at the ongoing budget session of the Assam Assembly.

 

The tabling of the interim Budget was postponed to Friday, stating that it clashed with the Governor’s address, but sources claimed that it was deferred as Biswa Sarma was accompanying Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who reached the state in the early hours on a sudden “personal visit.”

 

It is pertinent to note here that it is the last Budget of the present BJP-led government before the state goes to the polls.

 

Here are the salient features of the Finance Minister's budget speech:

 

Finance Minister tabled Rs. 60,784.03 crore budget for six months

 

The fund will be used from April to September

 

State domestic production increased to 7.71%

 

Approval of Central Tax of Rs. 20,601 crore in 2021-22

 

Increase in State’s own tax revenue in 2019-20

 

The state’s revenue has been increased to Rs. 16,529 crore.

 

The outstanding royalty on crude oil in 2019-20 is Rs 6,758 crore

 

17,25,590 women benefitted from the Arunodoi scheme

 

ALSO READ: Huge cache of arms and ammunition recovered in Assam’s Chirang

 

The amount under the Arunodoi scheme has been increased from Rs. 830 to Rs. 3000

 

1500 women have been included under the Arundhati scheme

 

The government has provided 218 crore rupees to 8,756 naamghars in the state

 

124 projects have been started under Uttaran scheme

 

1000 bamboo bridges have been converted to RCC bridge, railway over-bridge constructed in the state

Construction of 870 bridges completed and construction of 2041 bridges underway

 

1000 ICU beds have been provided during COVID-19 pandemic in the state and 4,500 beds for regular hospital

 

The state government has arranged for 1,408 ventilator and 4,541 oxygen

 

Construction of 890 kilometer road will be constructed under Assam Mala scheme

 

896 kilometer roads will be constructed in tea garden areas

58 lakh families will be provided with free rice with an expense of 867 crore rupees

 

A total of 7.5 lakh tea garden workers have been benefitted under Sah Bagicha Dhan Puraskar Mela

 

The government is thinking of increasing the minimum wage of tea labourers

 

A total of 1,69,930 widows will be benefitted under Indira Miri Sarbajanin Widow’s pension scheme with an expense of Rs. 80.94 crores

 

1,60,612 disabled persons have been provided with Rs. 1000 each