Jaipur: In his last budget before he faces polls later this year, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the budget “wasn’t presented keeping elections in mind” and that he chose to go with the “theme of social security”.
Gehlot, who also holds the finance portfolio, announced a host of populist schemes as he tabled the 2023-24 Budget in the state assembly Friday which includes a massive hike in the state’s health insurance scheme, free education for all till 12th standard, more ‘Vedic Schools’ and free 2,000 units electricity for farmers.
As part of an inflation relief package of Rs 19,000 crore, the CM announced LPG cylinder at Rs 500 under the PM Ujjwala scheme covering about 76 lakh families, free electricity to upto 100 units monthly for consumers, free food packets to poor. Additionally, the CM proposed to increase the insurance cover under the Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana, state’s ambitious health insurance scheme, from the current Rs 10 lakh per family to Rs 25 lakh.
Cattle owners will get Rs 40,000 for each livestock lost to the lumpy skin disease and an additional Rs 50,000 rupees per cattle for insurance.
With specific focus on youth, a fund of Rs 250 crore was allocated for youth-driven start- ups. The Rajiv Gandhi National Youth Exchange Programme was also created to send meritorious students on exchange programmes in different states across the country. A talent search exam has also been promised through which 10,000 students will be given scholarships.
The Old Pension Scheme, adopted by the government last year, has been proposed to be extended to employees of Public Sector Units (PSUs), state universities and all state boards.
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‘Not a poll-budget, no anti-incumbency’
Speaking to reporters at his residence after the three-hour budget speech, Gehlot, however, refused to link the budget with the upcoming polls.
“Our last budget was similar [to last year’s budget in terms of social security schemes], so the public will understand that. The idea is to guarantee universal rights like those brought in by the laws during Manmohan Singh era, like Right to Education, Right to Information”, Gehlot said.
“Last year, we made a scheme to distribute free medicines and conduct free [medical] tests. At that time too it was said that this was done keeping the polls in mind. That was wrong,” he added.
He added that 90 per cent of the budget promises made last year have been implemented and that as per GDP growth rate, his state was second, next to only to Andhra Pradesh.
Delineating how the state’s flagship Chiranjeevi health insurance scheme is different from the Centre’s Ayushmann Bharat, Gehlot said that unlike the latter, beneficiaries don’t necessarily need to have an insurance card to avail benefits under Chiranjeevi.
The third time Chief Minister’s Budget speech started with a gaffe as he read two pages from last year’s budget before he was stopped by the opposition. Amidst calls from the opposition to halt the Budget session and reconvene another day, the CM apologized and started his speech all over again after the session was adjourned twice in its first hour.
“It is a human error”, he told reporters later.
Speaking about the paper leak scandals for which his government has come under criticism recently, he said a special task force will be constituted to investigate incidents.
“We have passed a law in the assembly (regarding this). And I don’t understand what is happening with these paper leaks. It’s happening in so many states. It has happened in Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand and a few other places”, he said.
Gehlot, however, remained tight-lipped about the Adani question and about his party colleague, Sachin Pilot. When pointed out that Pilot left the assembly multiple times during his budget speech, Gehlot said that the focus, now, was “only on governance”.
“The elections are coming up so all eyes are on the elections as well. We believe we will be able to change the tradition of the state of electing alternate governments. As you will see if you move about the state, the anti-incumbency factor that comes after four years of a government has not really set in this time”, he added.
(Edited by Anumeha Saxena)
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