Haryana Chief Minister proposes over Rs 1.77 lakh crore tax-free Budget

Vijay C Roy 

Chandigarh, March 8 

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, proposed a Budget of Rs 1,77,256 crore for the year 2022-23, a rise of 15.6 per cent over 2021-22(RE) of Rs 1,53,384 crore.

Thanks to robust revenue growth, no new tax was introduced the budget.

The chief minister announced Tablets to all students from classes 10th 12th, a scheme to provide soft loans to women entrepreneurs, besides setting up three dedicated funds to accelerate growth in various sectors.

The Budget outlay comprises 34.4 per cent as capital expenditure of Rs  61,057.36 crore and 65.6 per cent as revenue expenditure of Rs 1,16,198.63 crore.

Presenting the budget, the chief minister said that the state has laid special emphasis on increasing capital infrastructure investment to boost demand, which holds a key role in speedy economic revival with multiplier effect.

The chief minister said that I take this budget as an opportunity for Haryana to be at the forefront of the journey for India to contribute in the achievement of the vision for a five-trillion dollar economy given by the Prime Minister, with an increased contribution of the state to the national economy from 3.4 per cent.

According to the chief minister, the state would adopt the “Vajra Model” of growth for Haryana, in which, the state have envisioned five developmental forces for enhanced economic growth and human development, ease of living for citizens, lifting the poor and disadvantaged from all socio-economic groups, leveraging productivity through increased adoption of technology accompanied by employment and entrepreneurship.

The five forces include, reforms using technology, the upliftment of the poorest of the poor, sustainable development, environmental sustainability and government community participation (GCP).

Announced three funds 

The chief minister proposed to introduce schemes to provide soft loans to women entrepreneurs, besides setting up three dedicated funds to accelerate growth in various sectors. A Climate & Sustainable Development Fund to achieve green development objectives, Research & Innovation Fund to promote scientific activity and scholarship in universities, other educational institutions, economic enterprises in public, private sectors and Venture Capital Fund to promote entrepreneurship and support youth in establishing start-ups in terms of financial assistance as well as developing market linkages.

Award, loans for women entrepreneurs, mahila ashrams for working women

Sushma Swaraj Award will be awarded to women of Haryana for making a significant contribution or for remarkable achievements in different walks of life in the national and international sphere. The award will carry a commendation with an prize money of Rs 5 lakh.

Haryana Matrushakti Scheme – Women from families whose annual income is less than Rs 5 lakh based on Parivar Pehchan Patra verified data and who wish to become entrepreneurs in any enterprise, trade or business will be provided access to soft loans by financial institutions to the extent of Rs 3 lakh for which interest subvention of 7 per cent will be provided for three years through the Haryana Women Development Corporation.

Sahbhagita scheme will be implemented for women in Faridabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula in 2022-23 for working women in large cities who face a problem of safe and affordable housing. Three Mahila Ashrams will be explored through this scheme.

To support 10K self help groups 

The state has set a target of setting up and supporting 10,000 Self Help Groups in 2022-23. In addition to the support provided by the central government, the state government will bear the entire interest cost for SHGs where more than half of the members of the SHGs belong to families whose income is less than or equal to Rs 1.80 lakhs.

Agriculture and Allied sectors 

He proposed to allocate Rs 5,988.76 crore to the agriculture and allied

sectors in the Budget for FY 2022-23, which is an increase of 27.7% over

the revised estimates of the current year. A three-year output-based incentive programme to promote natural and organic farming shall be started in 100 clusters of at least 25 acres each with financial incentives to be provided on certification, branding and packaging and for compensation for loss of yield in the first three years.  The government will support the establishment of 100 pack houses in 2022-23.

Cooperation 

HAFED is setting up a new oil mill of 150 ton per day capacity at

Rampura (Rewari), a Mega Food Project at Rohtak, turmeric powder

plant, turmeric oil extraction plant and 500 MT cold storage at Radaur

(Yamunanagar) and a flour mill at Jatusana (Rewari). To promote the

use of jaggery, HAFED will support the establishment of jaggery units in

the state.

Education sector 

For the education sector, Rs 20,250.57 crore have been allocated for 2022-23. Among other announcements, the government has proposed to start subject wise Olympiads for Class 8 to 12. Students securing the highest ranks shall be sent to NASA and ISRO on exposure visits. Awards in the form of scholarships will also be provided to the winners of Olympiads. Moreover, tablets will be provided to students of Class 10 to 12 in government schools. 50 STEM labs on the lines of Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) will be established where training shall in imparted in 3D printing, drone technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Block-Chain Management, etc.

SATHI initiative for girl students 

Safe and secure transport facilities for girl students (SATHI – Safe and Accessible Transport: Haryana initiative) to be notified beyond April 2022. The facilities will be provided to all girl students of government institutions including senior secondary schools, colleges, ITIs, polytechnics, medical, paramedical and nursing institutions.

Specialist doctor cadre 

CM announces specialist doctor cadre. 40 per cent PG seats in government colleges will be reserved for doctors in government service. Vishram Sarais having rooms and dormitories will be set up in all civil hospitals and medical colleges for patients’ attendants

Environment, forests and climate change

A total of Rs 530.94 crore have been allocated for Environment, Forests and Climate Change for the year 2022-23 — an increase of 16.05 per cent over Budget estimates of 2021-22. Darshan Lal Jain awards will be given to two persons, carrying an award amount of Rs 3 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively. These awards shall be given in the name of prominent environmentalist Late Darshan Lal Jain for recognising excellence in efforts towards environment conservation and promotion. An eco-tourism policy to promote and develop eco tourism facilities in the state will also be initiated.

Nature trail

A 150-km long nature trail from Kalka to Kalesar will also be established. A total of Rs 530.94 crore have been allocated for Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

Revenue receipts 

For Budget Estimates (BE) 2022-23, total revenue receipts are projected to be Rs 1,06,424.70 crore comprising tax revenues of Rs 73,727.50 crore and non-tax revenue of Rs 12,205.36 crore. The share of central taxes is expected to be at Rs 8,925.98 crore and grant-in-aid at Rs 11,565.86 crore. Capital receipts are projected to be at Rs 5,393.89 crore, CM Khattar said. For current year, revenue deficit remains at 1.40 per cent as per RE 2021-22.

Revenue Deficit

For the fiscal year, 2022-23, the revenue deficit is pegged at 9773.93 crore compared to Rs 12523 crore in revised estimate of 2021-22. For the current year, the Revenue Deficit remains at 1.40 per cent as per RE 2021-22 and has been projected to further decrease to 0.98 per cent of the GSDP in BE 2022-23

Fiscal management 

With prudent fiscal management, we were able to restrict the market borrowing to about Rs 30,820 crore against the permissible limit of Rs 40,872 crore and fiscal deficit is estimated to be 2.99 percent of GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) in the RE (Revised Estimate) of 2021-22. For financial year 2022-23, fiscal deficit is expected to be within prescribed limit of 3.5 per cent by the 15th Finance Commission, at 2.98 per cent of GSDP, as per the BE (Budget Estimate) of 2022-23”, Khattar said.

Budget allocations for different sectors 

Transport – Rs 2,821.83 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 12.2% over RE (Revised Estimate) of current year

CIvil Aviation – Rs 886.37 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 380.8% over BE (Budget Estimate) of current year

Tourism – Rs 310.24 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 55.1% over RE of current year

Irrigation and Water resources – Rs 6,136.36 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 51% over RE (Revised Estimate) of current year

Power and Renewable Energy – Rs 7,203.31 crore for 2022-23, which includes Rs 5,983 crore as subsidy for agricultural pump sets

Industries – Rs 598.20 for 2022-23, an increase of 31.1 over RE (Revised Estimate) of current year

PWD (B&R) – Rs 4,752.02 crore to road and rail infrastructure for 2022-23, an increase of 59.2 % over BE of 2021-22

Public Health Engineering – Rs 4,554.39 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 33.9% over BE of the current year

Skill Development and Industrial Training and Employment – Rs 1,671.37 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 23% over RE (Revised Estimate) of current year

Labour – Rs 221.97 crore for 2022-24, an increase of 240.1% over RE of current year

Social Justice and Empowerment – Rs 10,229.93 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 22.47% over BE (Budget Estimate) of 2021-22

Housing – Rs 383.11 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 104.7% over RE of current year

Sports and Youth Affairs – Rs 540.50 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 37.2% over BE of 2021-22

Health -Rs 8,925.52 crore has been allocated for 2022-23 — an increase of 21.65% over BE (Budget Estimate) of 2021-22.

Women and Child Development -Rs 2,017.24 crore has been allocated for Women and Child Development for 2022-23 — an increase of 33.7% over the Revised Estimate of the current year.