Uttaranchal Budget has no new taxes

For the fifth successive year, there have been no new taxes in the Uttaranchal budget. Chief Minister N D Tiwari presented the budget in the assembly today, with a total expenditure of Rs 10,925.46 crore, even as the fiscal deficit rose by Rs 401.59 crore. The election in the state is due next year.

Tiwari announced 30 per cent reservation for women in government jobs. He also announced a Rs 32.50 crore universal employment scheme for the unemployed educated youth of the state.

The major highlight was that the state government has estimated its revenue collection targets have gone up by 21.59 per cent more than last year's. The revenue targets stood at Rs 3,136.70 crore, against last year's figure of Rs 2,579.64 crore.

The fiscal deficit touched Rs 2,837.58 as compared to Rs 2,435.99 crore in the previous year, while the revenue deficit had come down sharply to Rs 155.71 crore against Rs 423.42 crore in the previous year, Tiwari said in his budget speech. However, he asserted the revenue deficit would decrease further in the year 2007-08.

Tiwari also announced that his government would launch a gender budgeting scheme under which all the departments would allocate their 30 percent funds for welfare of women and children. Promoting public private partnership, Tiwari also announced the setting up of a joint venture fund with an initial deposit of Rs 50 crore.

Though, non-plan expenditure has increased to Rs 5900.73 crore against the previous year's figure of Rs 5358.40 crore, Tiwari did not propose any new taxes in the budget.

Along with the budget, Tiwari also proposed a vote on account to the tune of Rs 10.92 crore. For the first month of the next financial year till the budget bill is passed in the assembly.

Under special component plan, the government has made a provision of Rs 795.32 crore for scheduled castes and Rs 148.87 crore for the scheduled tribes.

The pension for widows, olds and handicapped persons has been increased to Rs 400 from Rs 250.

Computer education is being provided in madrasas under the project talim with an aim to remove backwardness in the Muslim community. Similarly, another project is being started to impart employment oriented education to the Muslim youth belonging to Muslim community.

The budget also proposed to set up special counters to market handicrafts and handloom products under the brand name “Himadri” along the Chardham yatra route and other religious centres.

Tiwari said an investment of Rs 20,000 crore has been proposed through the various industrial units in 18 industrial estates in the state.

The state government has also declared 2006-07 as the woman empowerment year because of the special role of women in the development of the hill state. In this regard, the government has given 30 percent reservation in government jobs. Tiwari announced a special grant of Rs 3000 for all those girls belong to poor families who take admission in class ninth. Women buying lands would also get exemption in stamp duty. Four working women hostels would also be established in Dehra Dun, Pauri, Haridwar and Haldwani.

In agriculture loans, the stamp duty fee exemption limit has been raised to three lakhs from Rs one lakh, Tiwari said.