Farmers Movement Archive

Education & health boost for Delhi in ‘deshbhakti budget’

NEW DELHI: The Covid-19 pandemic, which has wrecked economies around the world, has not deterred the Delhi government from pegging its budget estimate for 2021-22 at Rs 69,000 crore, a 6.15% hike over that of the previous year. This was announced by deputy CM Manish Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, in the assembly on Tuesday. The government has allocated 24% to education and 14% to health — its abiding priorities — and 13% to transport and roads, besides continuing all the subsidies. However, the budget comes coated in patriotic colours with Sisodia calling it a ‘deshbhakti budget’, announcing 75 weeks of programmes, beginning March 12, to mark 75 years of Independence, leading up to August 15, 2022. Besides highlighting the role of freedom fighters, the city will showcase the “Kejriwal model of governance” and the journey of Delhi in the past 75 years and its vision for 2047 (100 years of independence). Challenge 2047: Per Capita Income At Singapore LevelDeputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said his government wants to elevate Delhi’s per capita income to the level of Singapore by that year. Achieving this aim, according to government sources, is a difficult task but not impossible. The actual per capita income of Singapore in 2020-21 is $53,424 (Rs 39,71,278) as against Delhi’s $4,762 (Rs 3,54,004). The budget is aimed at driving economic recovery through spending on schemes, programmes and projects. In the budget, 55% of funds have been assigned to subsidy schemes, programmes and developmental work and 45% to establishment and administration which, according to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, reflects efficient financial management. The government plans to generate 62% of the receipts from tax revenue, 9% from GST compensation and 14% from small savings loan among others. The “Deshbhakti Budget” has put a Rs 45-crore tag on installation of 500 high masts for unfurling the Tricolour. An amount of Rs 10 crore each has been earmarked for highlighting and celebrating the lives of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and the father of Indian Constitution, Dr B R Ambedkar. In an interesting move, Delhi government has proposed the opening of a sainik school and a Delhi armed forces preparatory academy and allocated Rs 25 crore for promoting dhyan and yoga by sending instructors to colonies. A “Deshbhakti curriculum” is being introduced in all government schools by assigning one period daily to inculcate pride and sentiments of unity and brotherhood and love and respect for the country. The budget has proposed a “Mentorship Volunteer” programme, “Youth for Education”, to be launched this year to make education a mass movement. Grand events will be organised under “Festival of India” and an “Indian Classical Music Festival” has also been scheduled. Senior citizens above the age of 75 years will be felicitated across the capital. The government has pointed out the fact that the novel coronavirus pandemic had badly disrupted its financial calculations. “Its impact on the economy resulted in a significant decrease in the government’s tax revenue for the current financial year. Up to January 2021, the collection of tax revenue was approximately 40% less than the budget estimate,” said Sisodia. He said his government is taking steps to improve tax collection. It has commissioned a study on improved GST implementation by checking leakages. Changes are being made in the excise policy too to improve collection. In other significant initiatives, a Covid-19 vaccine will be made available to the people of Delhi free of cost in government hospitals under a new scheme, “Aam Aadmi Free Covid Vaccine”, which has a proposed allocation of Rs 50 crore. An amount of Rs 1,293 crore has been set aside for various capital projects for expansion in health-related infrastructure and redesigning of 19 existing hospitals. Hundred “Mahila Mohalla Clinics” will be opened across the city to give women the confidence to discuss their health issues and get advice and treatment. Under a new scheme — Saheli Samanvay Kendra — 500 aanganwadi hubs are to double up as incubation centres to strengthen the role of women in the economy. The government is also introducing a new scheme, “Suryoday”, under which it will spend Rs 7.2 crore to tackle substance abuse in the capital. For the first time, around 1,600 buses will be added within a year to boost public transport with a final target of an 11,000-strong bus fleet. To ease the commute in various parts of Delhi, the government has prepared three big schemes which are awaiting approval from Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre (UTTIPEC). These are: East-West Corridor (an elevated and tunnel road between Tikri and Anand Vihar), North-South Corridor (elevated and tunnel road from Signature Bridge to the airport) and an outer road running parallel to the Yamuna, from Signature Bridge to Sarai Kale Khan. The government will also work to remove the mesh of cables crisscrossing various parts of Delhi in the next five years to ensure safety of people and their property as well as to beautify the capital. It has prepared a draft start-up policy and is in the process of finalising it. Watch Arvind Kejriwal hails Delhi budget presented by Manish Sisodia

The Times of India

2021-03-10

Delhi