Uttarakhand unveils tax-free budget

DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh today unveiled a tax-free budget while announcing provisions for creation of a welfare fund for statehood activists and for running schemes launched last year for the elderly and the physically challenged among others.

Laying the budget in the House, Hridayesh said the total expenditure in 2015-16 is estimated to be Rs 32,693.64 crore as against Rs 30,353.78 crore in 2014-15.

Total non-plan expenditure is estimated to be Rs 21,059.15 crore which is 64.41 per cent of the total expenditure.

This shows an increase of 12.76 per cent against total non-plan expenditure of Rs 18,676.55 crore in 2014-015, she said.

The total plan expenditure is estimated to be Rs 11,634.49 crore in 2015-16, she said.

Total receipts in 2015-16 are estimated to be Rs 32,310.07 crore.

Budget estimates of 2015-16 show a revenue surplus which is in conformity with FRBM Act targets.

This means total revenue expenditure of the state government is estimated to be less than estimated revenue receipts.

The budget made provisions for the 38th National Games to be held in the state in 2018, 'Rajya Andolankari Kalyan Kosh', 'Mukhya Mantri Vriddha Mahila Poshan Yojana', ' Mera Gaon Meri Sadak Yojana', 'Mere Bujurg Mere Teerth Yojana'.

Provisions were also made for creation of a corpus fund for villages with a population of more than 500 in the hill districts and 5,000 in plain districts for construction/ reconstruction of drains, roads and water supply lines.

Provisions made under Mera Gaon Meri Sadak Yojana will help stop migration from the hills by linking villages with roads, Hridayesh said.

The budget also makes provisions for giving financial assistance to children born with disabilities.

Disabled children by birth will get Rs 500 per month till they attain the age of 18 years.

A 20 per cent reservation will be made for women in Homeguards and Prantiya Rakshak Dal while a 20 per cent quota for women will also be made for Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali yojana in tourism.