Chandigarh, February 2- Haryana Chief Minister said that the State Budget session will begin on February 20. Like last year, this year too the sitting of the house will be in two parts.
While addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said that the Union budget-2023 2024 is inclusive and futuristic, keeping in mind the empowerment of job professionals, youth, women, men, and farmers.
A special focus has been laid on infrastructure development, health, employment generation, housing, social welfare, farmers, higher education, innovation, and research, which will also be beneficial for Haryana,” he said.
Sh. Manohar Lal shared that the suggestions given by Haryana during the pre-budget discussions have been accepted by the Union Finance Ministry.
"We have suggested setting up of Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) on the lines of the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). Accepting this, the Finance Minister has announced the establishment of UIDF. Besides this, I had also given another suggestion to continue the special assistant to the States in the form of a 50-year interest-free loan. The Finance Minister has continued this scheme and for this, a provision of Rs 1.03 lakh crores has made in the general budget," shared the Chief Minister.
He further shared that under this scheme, Rs 874 crore was approved for the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor project in the last financial year. In this financial year also Haryana will get sufficient funds.
Haryana is in a better financial position as compared to its neighbouring states
The Chief Minister said that Haryana is in a better financial position as compared to its neighbouring states.
He further shared that the economic growth rate of the country for the current financial year presented in the Union Budget is about 7 percent. The economic growth rate of Haryana is about 8 percent.
"In the Union Budget, the limit of fiscal deficit has been fixed at up to 3 percent of the state's domestic product. We have already been able to keep the fiscal deficit below this. Our financial deficit for the financial year 2021-22 was 2.9 percent. I am sure that the deficit of the current financial year is also less than this and will continue to be less than this prescribed limit," shared Sh. Manohar Lal.
The Chief Minister further informed that according to the Union Budget, the per capita income in the country has more than doubled to Rs 1.97 lakh since 2014. The per capita income of Haryana is about Rs. 2.75 lahks.
Haryana has made digital payments of Rs 63,000 crore to around 10 lakh farmers
The Chief Minister said that while presenting the State Budget, the Union Finance Minister also highlighted promoting digital payments in the agriculture sector.
"We have been making digital payments to farmers for their crop sales. So far, digital payments of Rs 63,000 crore have been made in the accounts of around 10 lakh farmers," shared Sh. Manohar Lal.
Haryana will be greatly benefited from the opening of Unity Mall
The Chief Minister said that there is a provision for setting up Unity Mall in the budget. In these malls, the products of the industrial units established exclusively under the 'One District-One Product' scheme will be marketed.
"Going a step further, we are running the 'One Block-One Product' scheme in Haryana. The State will be greatly benefitted from the opening of Unity Malls", said Sh. Manohar Lal.
Under Govardhan Scheme, three new plants are to come up in Haryana
The Chief Minister said that a provision has been made in the budget to set up 500 new plants under the Govardhan scheme.
"In Haryana, construction work is going on for 7 plants at Ambala, Charkhidadri, Nuh, Rohtak, Rewari, Sirsa, and Yamun,anagar. In the coming financial year, three new plants will be set up at Karnal, Palwal, and Kurukshetra," informed Sh. Manohar Lal.
Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Sh. Anurag Rastogi, and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Dr Amit Agrawal also remained present on this occasion.