Haryana govt exempt pulses from VAT: Hooda

The Haryana Cabinet today exempted all kinds of pulses from VAT and also reduced the VAT on 'Khal' (oilcake) from 5 per cent to 2 per cent, Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said here.
With the exemption of VAT on all kinds of pulses, the government will lose more than Rs 3 crore of VAT revenue, he told reporters here after chairing a Cabinet meeting.
The reduction of VAT on 'Khal', which is used as cattle feed, will encourage its makers to conduct more inter-state sales instead of consignment sales or branch transfers and overall increase in trading activity of Khal in the state, he said.

The Cabinet also approved amendment in the Punjab Passenger and Goods Taxation Rules, 1952 regarding New Stage Carriage Scheme, he said.
As per the amendment, "Owner of a bus holding a stage carriage permit shall, in lieu of passenger tax, pay a lump sum amount at the rate of Rs 200 per seat per month.
"Provided that on rural routes (that is routes lying more than 50 per cent on village roads) and urban routes (routes lying more than 80 per cent within the municipal limits of cities or towns), the lump sum tax shall be at the rate of Rs 100 per seat per month."

Meanwhile, the Haryana government has doubled the monthly allowance of 'Ladli Social Security Allowance Scheme' and monthly allowance admissible to dwarfs and eunuchs from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000, he said.

The government has also enhanced the income limit under Widow Pension scheme and financial assistance to destitute children scheme, he added.
He said the enhancement in these allowances would be applicable with effect from April 1, 2014.
Under the 'Ladli Social Security Allowance Scheme', now the rate of allowance has been enhanced from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month.
At present 25,963 beneficiaries are getting these benefits under this scheme, he said.

This Scheme is being implemented in the state from January 1, 2006 for the families having only daughters and do not have any sons.
"This benefit starts from 45th birthday of the parents that is on the day either of the parents turns 45 years of age and is admissible for 15 years at the rate of Rs 750 per month.
"Thereafter, the parents can get Old Age Samman Allowance if they are otherwise eligible. At present, financial assistance under the Scheme is given to the older of the parent, that is whosoever turns 45 years of age first," Hooda said.

Allowance is given under the 'Ladli' Scheme to the mother (if living) for a period of 15 years from the date the older of the two parents complete 45 years of age, he said.
In case the mother is not living, the benefit is given to the surviving father, he added.