Jammu, March 7 (Scoop News) – J&K Minster for finance Abdul Rahim Rather today presented the annual financial statement of expenditure for the year 2011-2012 and delivered the budget speech in Legislative Assembly.
Rather also presents the supplementary statement of expenditure for the year2010-2011.
Highlights of Budget 2011-12
WELFARE INITIATIVES:
Employees and Pensioners to get 10% DA of July 2010 alongwith salary/pension for April, 2011. Annual financial implication of about ` 700 crore and about ` 500 crore on account of arrears form July 1, 2010 to ending March, 2011.
Senior pensioners who attain the age of 90 years and those between 80-90 years as on 01.04.2011 to get 50% of their pension revision arrears in one and two installments respectively.
‘Daily Wage’ rate hiked from ` 110 per day to ` 125 per day w.e.f. 01.04.2011.
` 8 crore set apart for subsidizing migrants’ Health Insurance.
` 40 crore set apart for Employment & Welfare Programme for Youths.
A provision of ` 55 crore for meeting cost of VRS/GHS in PSUs.
Investment of ` 316 crore under Skill Development Mission.
` 50 crore state share to access ` 500 crore under MG-NAREGS.
` 50 crore for restoration of damaged infrastructure in Leh and Kargil.
Focus on outsourcing activities of Government to promote and strengthen private enterprises in the State.
Subsidy of ` 6 crore for 1000 Sheep Units in private sector.
ICDS Centres in remote and backward areas mandated to buy local produce to encourage local production and marketing of the same.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT:
‘Beti Anmol’ rolled out for arresting dropout rate of girl students in schools and enhancing their employment prospects. ` 5000 fixed deposit for girl students belonging to BPL families in all 97 educationally backward blocks on enrollment in 11th class to be encashed on passing 12th class examination.
`Rs 22 crore to support empowerment of women in the State.
Toll exempted on Jute to promote ‘Green Packaging’ through Women’s Development Corporation.
INITIATIVES IN AGRICULTURE SECTOR:
GST (10.5%) exempted for Green Houses to promote agriculture, horticulture and floriculture business.
100% subsidy of VAT component on micro irrigation systems i.e. Drip and Sprinkler systems.
VAT exemption on food grains for another one year.
VAT exempted on pesticides, insecticides and weedicides.
Toll exempted on Milch animals to promote dairy industry.
Toll exempted on animal and poultry field to encourage local production of poultry and sheep.
Toll exempted on beehives and colonies.
Massive effort to increase the Seed Replacement Rate from 10% to 25% through research based extension programme.
Central project of ` 372 crore for rejuvenation of Saffron cultivation.
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT:
Investment of ` 857 crore in State Sector and ` 900 crore in Central Sector for Roads & Bridges.
1500 more habitations to get potable drinking water in 2011-12.
` 332 crore investment in irrigation sector in 2011-12.
Investment of ` 1757 crore for improving health infrastructure.
` 150 crore under JNNURM for completion of ongoing projects.
` 326 crore investment in Housing & Urban Development Sector.
` 148 crore for maintenance of assets under non-plan.
INITIATIVES FOR INDUSTRY PROMOTION:
VAT remission for industry extended for another year (implication around ` 500 crore).
Annual verification of raw material consumption statement to replace existing quarterly verification presently.
INITIATIVES FOR TOURISM SECTOR:
Total GST exemption on room rent extended till March 2012.
TRANSPORT SECTOR PROMOTION:
Passenger tax on ordinary buses, excluding Luxury and Video Coaches, reduced from ` 300 per seat to ` 250 per seat per annum.
SPECIAL INITIATIVE FOR BAD POCKETS:
` 100 crore earmarked for new and unique initiatives which are special to these remote areas.
INITIATIVES IN EDUCATION SECTOR:
11 lakh children to be covered under Mid Day Meals.
19 Model Schools and 19 Girls’ Hostels under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan in 2011-12.
Central Assistance of ` 30 crore under Saakshar Bharat Mission – 2012.
18 new Polytechnic Colleges being established in uncovered districts of State.
INITIATIVES IN POWER SECTOR:
‘Open Access Power Scheme’ launched to benefit bulk consumers i.e. industries and other commercial ventures.
‘Bijli Adalats’ to be started for settlement of disputes and early realization of electricity dues.
INITIATIVE IN FOREST SECTOR:
‘Aushadh Vatikas’ to throw open employment opportunities for our youth in private sector for commercial cultivation of herbal & medicinal plants.
CAPACITY BUILDING INITIATIVES:
From 01-04-2011 onwards, new method of employment in the Government to be taken recourse to.
State Financial Corporation to be reviewed.
Full computerization of Commercial Taxes and all Treasuries of J&K including integrated automation of Lakhanpur Toll Plaza.
HANDICRAFTS AND HANDLOOM SECTOR:
Stipend of trainees in Handloom and Handicrafts Sectors hiked from ` 100 to ` 500 from ` 200 to ` 700 per month.
` 10 crore for interest subsidy to boost Handicrafts Sector.
` 2.5 crore each for revival of J&K Handloom Development Corporation and Government Woollen Mills.
Loan slab for artisans raised from ` 0.50 lakh to ` 1.00 lakh.
TRADE SECTOR:
VAT reduced to zero on Hawan Samagri, Katlam, Kalaari, Amlok, Sarkori.
Toll goes up by 5 paise per kg.
VAT on Tobacco and Tobacco products up from 13.5% to 25%. Toll on raw tobacco hiked by one rupee per kg.
Toll on Sheep and Goats rationalized from ‘by number’ to ‘by weight’.
Toll on edible oils goes up by 60 paise per kg.
Toll on poultry up by one rupee per kg to encourage local production of poultry.
Services like construction of commercial complexes and colonies, TV/Radio programme production, Architects/ Interior Decorators, Chartered Accountants and Advertisement Hoardings brought in tax net.
OTHER SALIENT FEATURES:
Estimates of Total Receipts (TR) at ` 31212 crore.
Estimates of Total Expenditure (TE) also at ` 31212 crore.
Non-Plan salaries and pension up at ` 14011 crore including ` 525 crore for payment of Pay/Pension Revision Arrears installment.
Annual Plan 2011-12 size ` 6600 crore. PMRP at ` 1200 crore.
Plan Revenue Expenditure (PRE) estimates at ` 1178 crore. Plan Capital Expenditure (PCE) ` 6622 crore.
Off-treasury developmental expenditure about ` 4300 crore. ` 425 crore under CSS.
AUSTERITY MEASURES to be continued during 2011-12.