Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presents his first Himachal Pradesh Budget 2023-24

From live speech avoid typos – Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented his first Himachal Pradesh budget 2023 -24 today in the State Assembly. He said that he has inherited a weak financial situation. He said that he had inherited Rs 10000 Crore, as the liability today towards payment of DA .  He said that Congress has promised ten guarantee which it would be completing in the next five years. He said that his government has announced to restore the Old Pension Scheme for 1.36 lakh employees but state council of minister passed the resolution urging the center to provide Rs 8000 Crore which is pending with it of New Pension Scheme. He urged the opposition members to also help the government to facilitated the center to do so. He said that government should adopt new technology for construction and other services. He said that Green energy is the focus of this government. There is a need of austerity measure. He said that government is committed to take less loan and generate additional resource of economy and reduce the spend thrift. He said March 31, 2024-25 to green state. Target was laid for 500 mega watt green solar energy.  He said that subsidy of Rs two crore would be given to produce five mega wat power projects. Rs 40 lakh would be given for 100 kilowatt for the youth. Green corridor would be declared and 50 per cent subsidy will be given for charging station to the youth. In the Green state of Himachal HRTC’s most of buses to be converted into E-buses. 1500 buses to be converted to e-bass. Rs 1000 Crore is proposed for the same. Green hydrogen is pollution free fuel. Green Hydrogen policy. Hydropower generation to  be also accelerated. Parvati, Duggal are among 1000 mw power project to be generate electricity. 11 Transmission lines to be set and Five transmission line to be completely. 

Tourism & Connectivity – Mandi Airport survey , Rs 400 Crore is yet to be approved. Finance commission showed inability to release the funds and state government requested for it. Kangra Airport 1372 meters. 3000 meter Land acquisition process would be completed  Rs 2000 Crore to be spend for the Gaggal airport. Sanjouli -Badi heli service to be restore soon. Heliport construction for Rs 30 Cr. All district to be linked with Heliport by next year. Kangra announced as tourism capital, to decongest the tourist footfall. Special cultural and arts facilities to be developed. The water and roller scatting centers to be developed. Cruise and Shikar would be developed. The land to be allotted. Rs 300 Crore at Kangra districts Bankhari for animal zoo. Rs 3011 Crore tourism promotion facilities in with help of Asian Development bank. Heritage site beautification. Ice skating rink and roller skating upgradation proposed. Skill classes to be started to promote the skill of tourism activities. 

Health – Rs 100 Crore to be spent on the medical services including robotics surgery technology.  Super specialty to Gynecology, Cardio thoracic department.  He proposed to upgrade the Causality and separate wards for the trauma center at IGMC. Proper staff strength to be maintained  and one ideal health center would be developed. Specialist doctors and lab facilities to be equipped with the latest state of art technology. Coordination to be developed with other district institutions to ensure proper staff strength in the IGMC Trauma center. Medical service corporation to be constituted to maintain the supply of medicine and other equipment in the hospital. 

Education & Skill Development – To improve the writing quality of students, the government would be focused as the students’ writing skill which has worsened. All the schools have one teacher to provide the doctors immediately. Special placement drive at University and Colleges to provided employment and placement to unemployed educated youth. Library Room would be developed at 10000 School. 17010 Primary schools to be provided tablets. 40000 desk to primary school. Sports hostels inmate is increased to Rs 240 per day. Education sectors is promoted Rs 8000 Crore.

Skill development and technical education to be made employable new courses to be stared in the institutions. Data robotics and artificial and data science course to be started. Electric vehicles, Drone technician courses to be started with step wise. 12 new ITI under world bank funded scheme. Rs 20 Crore to be set up to upgrade the courses in the ITIs and engineering colleges. Drone sectors , Electrical and robotics five hundreds each technicians to be trained. Employment fairs to be organized. Rs 367 Cr outlay for the technical education . 

Women & Children – Rs 471 cr. for women pensions schemes. 40,000 new social pensions. economic criteria for the selection of women pension beneficiary is withdrawn. Ashraya yojana free stay facility for the orphans and new orphanage at Sundernagar in Mandi. By air special stay for the examination and hotel stay of orphan children for outside their orphanage. Rs 4000 pensions to be distributed for such children. 20000 students to be provided Rs 25000 subsidy to buy scotty to complete education to go colleges.  Poor children who want to engineering, Medical, IIT, IIMs, Nursing Rs 200 Cr . one per cent loan for study loan.CM Surakhshit Abiyana students to be educated about the  POCSOS, and Drugs abuses among the youth. All the big drug peddlers are behind the bars by bringing new laws in this year.

Agriculture & Animal Husbandry – Crop insurances scheme are needed to be addressed. Kishatar adharit Him Unati scheme on the cluster basis . Every cluster would produce the climate based crops and management of such crops. Milk, course grain, flowers and agriculture clusters to be developed Rs 150 Crore for Himunanti. Wire fencing to all stray and wild animal affected farmers. 50 per cent subsidy on the purchase of tractors. Agriculture based startup 2 pc interest loan. Himganga yojana for milch quality production Rs 500 Crore. Animal husbandry farmers to be developed on the cluster basis. Dairy product technology to be developed. Cooperative society to be promote. New milch processing plants to be set up and supply chain to be developed.    

Selected veterinary center to be started as the animal treatment facility. FCI would purchase 30000 mt of wheat. Horticulture policy to be developed to free farmers from the clutches of middleman and commission agent. 28 Block in to be brought under the horticulture schemes. post harvest cost to be reduced. HPMC products to be improved. Farmers would book the horticulture equipment from HPMC. Blue berry, Avocado and dragon fruit to be promoted and new crops to be developed. CA store to be developed. Fishery ponds developments would be provided an 80 pc subsidy. Chief Minister said that if one would spent Rs one crore on fish ponds government would provided Rs 80 lakh subsidy. New trout units to be developed and training would be provided at training Centre to hone the skill of fisherman. Cast nuts to be provided to 1000 fishermen.

MGNREGA – Daily from Rs 220 to 240 and in Tribal area from Rs 267 to Rs 294. Various works are being done under MGNREGA  one assistance to be provided which would help the 1000 people. 50 Him Era shops in many places of state to create livelihood. 50 pc subsidy to set up new shops of  various items. 75000 artisans to be provided 4 pc interest loans. Mukhyamantri Dukandar yojana.  announced to increase the honorarium of PRIAND Urban bodies members and presiding officers. Sanitary units in Panchayats with PCB in villages and towns. Rs  1373  Cr new town ship at Jathiadevi  to Himuda. Water management bill to be brought to manage the water sources and river for drinking water supply -24X7. To stop contamination of water to be removed by setting up contamination plants and filter units. To clear water filter and gas based chlorine system replacing it from bleaching powder Rs 50 Cr. 50 water sample RSs 3300 to provided for every panchayat. 300 new water supply units to be developed for ensure the clean water.     

Roads & Transportation – PMGSY 300 new road to be developed. Shimla to Mator NH-88 to be developed as four lane and its principal approval . Pathankot -Jogindernagar NH to be in principle to be approved soon. 1060 KM , 1005 METTLING TIRING AND 2000 KM drainage and cross drainage . CM Maintenance scheme of Rs 200 Cr. it would be increased to R s 500 Cr if needed. Rajiv Gandhi self employment scheme announced. E-Taxi, Solar plants and electrical units to be provided 50 pc subsidy Rs 14 lakh. 15 Lakh subsidy for the taxi for converting diesel vehicle to electrical vehicle.  New Industry policy to be announced soon. new units would be provided with a single wind system. plug entry facility to be provided with one go. to stop the flight of industry for investment. If any industry has left the state they would be invited again to set up the unit soon. Rs 20000 Crore private investment , 40000 direct and 20000 indirect employment to be provided. To stop the purchase of royalty . M portal forms to be developed with the portal. To counter illegal mining the M portal forms to be linked to stop  the erosion of revenue. E vahan permit to be released , 12 bus stands to be developed. Rs 10 cr to be spent on bus port at Hamirpur. HRTC charging GI based information system to be  developed.

Forest – Forest clearance district level committee has been set up for  the forest clearance. Baran hills to be planted to ensure green cover. 214 hectares would be covered under Mukhya mantri tree plantation scheme to be planted spelling according to climatic conditions. For five years forest guards would stay at one place to ensure the revival of the plantation. 2000 hectare are to be brought under afforestation. New forest based units like Patal units to be developed on the basis of local plants based local industries. E-chat scheme to be linked with CM helpline scheme to provide information of stray animals. 

Excise & Taxation – Liquor vending and new excise policy would help the state to increase the revenue of the state by 32 pc by ensuring opening bidding. In Solan district 32 pc, 42 pc kullu, Kinnuar 66 pc, Kangra 35 pc hike . Today at 12.50 pm. excise unit recorded District Shimla  and Badi  36 pc increase. GST revenue enhancement program RS 200 Cr expected from the gst. Pending GST issue to be settled under arbitration scheme. Rs 10 per bottle to be levied on the liquor as Dood Cess to help to develop animal husbandry. Government expenses to be curtail and spendthrift to be reduced. MC EMPLOYMENT SCHEME FOR PROVIDING JOBS OUTSIDE FOREIGN COUNTRY. The government would facilitate the local disopara to help the trained youth to get jobs abroad.   

Miscellaneous – Batney castle to be dedicated for the public soon, Himachal Festival to be organized in other states and towns. Khelo India center to be developed at Bilaspur. To keep  the youth away from sports. special sports activities to be promoted .  Ex Servicemen backlog to be ended with filling up 15 pc vacant posts soon. Daily wage to be increased ot Rs 375 per day. Aganwari worker honorarium increased to 8500, mini anganwadi 5500, Asha workers 5200, Saliadhapika 3500, Rajsav Nabardar 3700. Under Vidhayak Pratimka scheme most of MLA exceed their limit and many did not completed works despite spending entire limit. Vidhayak Discretionary grant increased to Rs 12 lakh to 13 lakh. 25000 functional posts to be filled, including, doctors, nurses, engineering.  Kshatriya Vikas Nidi from Rs 10 cr to 10.10 cr for 2023-24. Policy for outsource and employment on compassionate ground ,green state till 2025. setting up of 500 mw solar project.

Speaker Sir, I am presenting a budget of Rs.53,413 crore for 2023-24.  179. In the year 2023-24, the revenue receipts are estimated to be Rs.37,999 crore and the total revenue expenditure Rs.42,704 crore.  Thus, the total revenue deficit is estimated to be Rs.4,704 crore.  Fiscal deficit is estimated to be Rs.9,900 crore which is 4.61 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product.  180. I am sure that resources will be arranged with effective tax compliance, cooperation of the Government of India and better financial management.  181. As per the budget of 2023-24, out of every 100 Rupees spent, Rs.26 will be spent on salary, Rs.16 on pension, Rs.10 on interest payment, Rs.10 on loan repayment, Rs.9  on grant to autonomous institutions, while the balance Rs.29 will be spent on other activities including capital works.  Full details of the next year’s budget are available in the detailed budget documents. According to the Revised Estimates of 2022-23, the total revenue expenditure is estimated to be Rs.45,115 crore. Similarly, as per the Revised Estimates for 2022-23, the revenue deficit is estimated to be Rs.6,170 crore. 178. with an increase from Rs.2 crore to Rs.2 crore 10 lakh per Assembly Constituency.  The Discretionary Grants for the Hon’ble Rs.13 lakh per Assembly Constituency.  MLAs will be increased from Rs.12 lakh to 175. Our Government will fill up 25,000 functional posts on priority this year.  Government will fill up the posts of various categories in Health Department including specialist doctors, doctors, nurses, radiographers, OT assistants, lab technicians, pharmacists, MRI technicians, ECG technicians including other technicians, faculty in medical colleges, teachers of various categories and instructors  in Technical Education Department, teachers of various categories in Education Department, police constables, various posts in Revenue Department, doctors and other workers in Animal Husbandry Department, staff of Urban Local Bodies, panchayat secretaries, technical assistants and gram rozgaar sahayak in Panchayats, para  – fitters, pump operators and multi task part time workers in Jal Shakti Vibhag, technical posts of lineman, junior T-mate etc.  in State Electricity Board, clerks in various the departments, JOA (IT) etc. 173. The para-workers play an important role in implementation of various schemes in the State.  announce an increase in the honorarium of these para workers as follows With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Asha per will Rs.5,200 Workers get month honorarium. Honorarium of Silai Teachers will increase by Rs.500 per month. With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Mid-Day Meal Workers will get Rs.4,000 per month honorarium. With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Jal Rakshak (Education Department) will get Rs.4,400 per month honorarium. • With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Water Guards will get Rs.5,000 honorarium per month. , With the increase of Rs.500 per month, the recently appointed Multi-Purpose Workers of Jal Shakti Vibhag will get Rs.4,400 per month. • With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Para Fitters and Pump Operators will get Rs.6,000 per month honorarium. With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Anganwari Workers will get Rs.9,500 per month honorarium. With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Mini Anganwari Workers will get Rs.6,600 per month honorarium. With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Anganwari Sahayikas will get Rs.5,200 per month honorarium. Daily wagers will get Rs.375 per day with an increase of Rs. 25. ● With above increase, the outsourced workers will get minimum wages of Rs.11,250 per month. ● With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Panchayat Chowkidar will get Rs.7,000 per month honorarium. • With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Revenue Lambadaar will get Rs.3,700 per month honorarium. With an increase of Rs.500 per month, Revenue Chowkidars will get Rs.5,500 per month honorarium. ● Rs.500 per month will be increased in the honorarium of SMC teachers. The IT teachers will get an increase of Rs.2,000 per month. Special Police Officers (SPOs) will get an increase of Rs.500 per month. 174. Like every year, our Government also successfully organized meetings with the Honorable MLAs in the month of February.