Rajasthan Budget 2024-25: Key Initiatives and Allocations (Academic Perspective)
This document outlines the key initiatives and allocations presented in the Rajasthan government’s interim budget for the first four months of the 2024-25 financial year.
Education and Skill Development
- KG to PG Free Education: The budget allocates funds to provide free education to students from low-income families, marginal farmers, and farm laborers across all levels, from kindergarten to post-graduation.
- Establishment and Upgradation of Educational Infrastructure: ₹1,000 crore is allocated for setting up and upgrading schools, colleges, hospitals, and administrative buildings in underserved regions.
- Atal Innovation Studio and Accelerators: ₹1,000 crore is allocated to establish centers in Jaipur, Bikaner, Bharatpur, and Udaipur to provide training in software coding, robotics, and multimedia.
Agriculture and Rural Development
- Rajasthan Agriculture Infra Mission: ₹2,000 crore is allocated to support agricultural infrastructure development.
- Gopal Credit Card Scheme: This new scheme provides short-term loans for dairy activities, similar to the Kisan Credit Card scheme.
- Increased MSP for Wheat: The minimum support price for wheat, a key rabi crop, is raised to ₹2,400 per quintal.
- Mukhyamantri Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan-2.0: This initiative aims to create 5 lakh water harvesting structures in 20,000 villages over the next four years, with an allocation of ₹11,200 crore.
Infrastructure and Public Services
- Road Network Improvement: ₹500 crore is allocated to the State Road Fund to strengthen the road network.
- Rooftop Solar Power: A target is set to install rooftop solar plants on over 5 lakh houses, with incentives for electricity generation.
- Electric Buses: 500 electric buses will be introduced for public transport in major cities.
- Jaipur Metro Expansion: A detailed project report will be prepared to expand the Jaipur Metro, addressing traffic congestion issues.
Social Welfare and Healthcare
- Lado Protsahan Yojna: This scheme provides a ₹1 lakh bond to poor families on the birth of a girl child.
- Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya Yojna: The existing healthcare scheme is expanded to include daycare packages for cancer treatment in the inpatient department.
- CM Vishwakarma Pension Scheme: This scheme provides a monthly pension of ₹2,000 to laborers and street vendors upon retirement.
- Increased Rebate for Senior Citizens: The rebate in roadways buses for senior citizens is increased from 30% to 50%.
Other Initiatives
- Police Modernization and Infrastructure Fund: ₹200 crore is allocated for police modernization initiatives.
- Development of Temples and Religious Places: ₹300 crore is allocated for the development of 20 temples and religious places.
- Mandi Tax Abolition: The mandi tax on sugar and jaggery is abolished.
- Increased Honorarium for Anganwadi Workers and Homeguards: The honorarium for these groups is increased by 10%.
