Gandhinagar, Feb 26 () Chief Minister Vijay Rupanihailed his government's budget for 2020-21, presented in theassembly on Wednesday, saying it takes care of every sectionof the society and will turn Gujarat into an "excellent"state.
Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who also holds thefinance portfolio, presented the Rs 2,17,287-crore budget forthe next fiscal.
No new taxes were proposed in the budget which saw ahealthy allocation of Rs 31,955 crore for education, Rs 11,243crore for health and Rs 7,423 crore for the agriculturesector.
"This budget will turn Gujarat from being the bestinto an excellent state.
"All the sectors were kept in mind to keep Gujarat ontop and we have also made sure that last man in the last linegets all the facilities," the CM said in a statement after thebudget was presented on the first day of the Assembly session.
"It is aimed at increasing employment opportunitiesand farmers income. We have offered something for everysection of the society, be it women, fishermen, small tradersand disabled.
"Health and education sectors were given specialattention in this budget," he said.
"For farmers, we are bringing a scheme to encouragethem to take up organic farming. We will give financialassistance to farmers if they take up cow-based farming.
"We will give farmers an assistance of Rs 30,000 ifthey want to set up a godown in their farm to store theiragricultural produce," Rupani said.
To encourage Gujarati diaspora donors wanting to dosomething for their native places, Rupani said a new scheme,called 'Madre Vatan' scheme, has been announced in the budget.
Under this scheme, the government will contribute amatching amount of donation given by such donors fordeveloping various facilities such as schools, anganwadis(child care centres), roads, water tanks and ponds.
"For the poor citizens, who were earlier entitled toget only rice and wheat from fair price shops, we have decidedto give them one kg dal every month, for which, we haveallotted Rs 267 crore in the budget," he said.
To take health-care services closer to the poor,Rupani said his government has proposed to open Urban HealthCentres in areas having 10,000 slums. PJT PDRSY RSY
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