In the absence of West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, who is under medical supervision, chief minister Mamata Banerjee read out the Budget statement for 2021-22 and present the vote-on-account on Friday. Here are the key points:
* Budget proposal of 29,96,88 crore (Net) for 2021-22 financial year.
* 9 lakh students have been given tab under Taruner Swapna project. This facility will be extended every year to the students appearing for higher secondary.
* Juvashakti, a new project launched by the state government where 10,000 students will be inducted into different government organisations as interns every three years and they will be given opportunity to work in government organisations.
* Training centre for IAS and IPS aspirants announced. 100 students will be trained every year and the state government will take care of their fooding and lodging. The will be given a stipend as well.
* Duare Sarkar and Parai Samadhan will be conducted twice a year.
* Swastha Sathi card can be renewed every three years and anyone can become a part of it at any time.
* All kinds of road tax lifted from January 21 to June 21.
* Government will create a common kitchen where people can have their food at a very low cost.
* Free ration system will continue till June 21.
* There will be a Netaji Battallion in Kolkata police.
* Jay Hind Bhawan will be constructed in every district of the state.
* 1.5 lakh refugees will be given land documents in steps . Rs 100 crore has been allotted for this purpose.
* 45 lakh Construction and transport workers will be given 1,000 rupees under social security scheme.
* Loan provision of Rs. 25,000 crore announced for 10 lakh new self-help groups. These self-help groups will be named as Matribandana. They will be given loan from cooperative banks in the next five years.
* Krishak Bandhu increased from 5,000 to 6,000. Minimum assistance increased from 2,000 to 3, 000 rupees.
* 20 lakh houses to be constructed for for SC/ST. Rs, 1,500 crore allotted for this purpose.
* 100 new schools for Nepali, Urdu, Kamtapuri and Kurmali language.
* Rs. 50 crore allotted for 500 new schools for Alchiki language. 1500 para teachers will be recruited for this purpose.
* Rs. 50 crore allotted for 100 new English medium schools for ST/ST and economically backward people.
* Expenditure in physical infrastructure increased by 3.9 times.
* Expenditure in agri and allied sectors increased by 6.1 times.
* Expenditure in social sector increased 5.6 times.
* State planned expenditure increased 7.2 times.
* Revenue collection increased 2.9 times.
* State GDP increased 2.7 times.
* West Bengal assembly session underway; Left parties and Congress boycott the budget session.
* Chief minister Mamata Banerjee presents budget in state assembly.
* West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra, who is under medical supervision, had urged Raj Bhavan and assembly speaker Biman Banerjee if the chief minister could present the budget in his absence. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday issued a formal order allowing it.