Know What Women, Youth, Farmers, and Marginalized Communities Have in Store for the 2024-25 Rajasthan Budget: Key Takeaways

Jaipur- Deputy Chief Minister and State Finance Minister Diya Kumari presented Rajasthan's comprehensive budget for the financial year 2024-25 on Wednesday. This marks the first full budget of the BJP government in the state. Earlier, on February 8, Diya had presented a Vote on Account in the assembly.

Key Announcements in the Budget

1. Rajasthan Irrigation Water Grid Mission:

   • INR 50 crores allocated for water conservation and irrigation across all districts.

2. Electricity Connections:

   • 145,000 agricultural connections to be provided to clear pending electricity connections by March 31, 2024.

3. Funds for Marginalized Communities:

   • SC/ST and TSP fund increased from INR 1,000 crores to INR 1,500 crores.

4. Village Development:

   • Baba Saheb Ambedkar Village Development Scheme for villages with a population over 10,000. INR 200 crores allocated.

   • Govind Guru Tribal Area Development Scheme to be initiated in TSP areas with an expenditure of INR 75 crores. Community leases to be distributed in forest areas.

5. Support for Urban Poor:

   • Chief Minister's Swanidhi Scheme for street vendors and other needy people in urban areas.

   • An additional grant of INR 25,000 under the Pradhan Mantri Urban Housing Scheme for economically weaker sections.

6. Assistance for Pakistani Refugees:

   • INR 100,000 assistance per family for housing.

Announcements for Specific Groups:

Youth:

• 100,000 government jobs and 1 million private sector job opportunities.

• Hostel mess allowance increased by INR 500.

• Sports residential school mess allowance increased to INR 4,000 per month.

• Tablets and three years of free internet for students in the merit list of classes 8, 10, and 12.

Women:

• Treatment packages for infants and young children under the Chief Minister Ayushman Arogya Scheme.

• Maa Voucher Scheme for the treatment of pregnant women.

• Lakhpati Didi Scheme target increased from 500,000 to 1.5 million for women's economic empowerment.

• 200,000 new self-help groups to be created in five years; 40,000 this year with INR 300 crores in loans at subsidized rates.

• Assistance for hostels and paying guest facilities for working women.

• Establishment of girls' military schools at the divisional level.

• Milk distribution 3 days a week for Anganwadi children and the establishment of five new Anganwadi centers per Vidhan Sabha area.

Infrastructure and Health Initiatives:

1. Medical Facilities:

   • INR 27,660 crores allocated for medical facilities, representing 8.26% of the total budget.

   • New pediatric packages added to the Chief Minister Ayushman Arogya Scheme.

   • Digital hearing aids for children with hearing impairments.

   • Maa Voucher Scheme for prenatal check-ups for pregnant women.

   • Ayushman model CHC in each Vidhan Sabha area, including mortuary facilities.

   • Establishment of a super specialty tertiary institution and upgrading medical institution buildings.

   • Rajasthan Digital Health Mission to be launched for better medical consultancy. E-health records to be created at PHCs.

   • Creation of 1,500 new doctor positions and 4,000 nursing positions.

   • New trauma center in Pratapgarh and a road safety task force at each divisional headquarters.

     Support for Farmers:

   • Interest-free loans for 500,000 new farmers. INR 3,500 crores in short-term loans to be distributed this year.

   • Farmers repaying crop loans on time to receive a 2% interest subsidy.

Additional Announcements:

1. EWS Support:

   • Loans at subsidized rates for EWS individuals for self-employment. INR 25 crores allocated.

   • Assistance for SC/ST employees at subsidized rates with a provision of INR 100 crores.

   • INR 150 crores provision for EWS,

   • 2,000 scooters for disabled individuals and a rare diseases fund of INR 50 crores.

   • Pension of INR 15,000 for World War II pensioners.

2. Sports and Youth Initiatives:

   • Digital repository for sports certificates.

   • Khelo Rajasthan Youth Games to be held annually with an expenditure of INR 50 crores per year.

   • State Youth Festival on January 12 each year and the introduction of the Rajasthan Youth Icon Award.

   • Establishment of 10 de-addiction centers with 25 beds each in 10 districts at an expenditure of INR 10 crores.

3. Road Safety and Transport:

   • INR 10,000 reward for transporting accident victims to hospitals.

   • Road safety task force at each divisional headquarters.

The target for the Lakhpati Didi Scheme has been increased from 500,000 to 1.5 million. INR 35 crores has been allocated for hostels for working women.

Girls' military schools will be opened in phases at the divisional level. Digital hearing aids will be provided to children with hearing impairments.

Two thousand scooters will be given to disabled individuals, and a rare diseases fund of INR 50 crores will be established. Pensioners of World War II will receive a pension of INR 15,000.