Haryana CM presents budget of Rs 177,256 crore, announces Sushma Swaraj Award

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Haryana CM presents budget of Rs 177,256 crore, announces Sushma Swaraj Award

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Tuesday, proposed a populist budget of Rs 177,256 crore for 2022-23, an increase of 15.6 percent over this fiscal of Rs 153,384 crore.

He also announced a ‘Sushma Swaraj Award’ for women for their significant contributions or achievements in different walks of life.

The budget outlay comprises 34.4 percent as capital expenditure of Rs 61,057.36 crore, while 65.6 percent as revenue expenditure of Rs 1,6,198.63 crore.

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

He announced tablets for all students from class 10 to 12, a scheme to provide soft loans to women entrepreneurs, and set up three dedicated funds to accelerate growth in various sectors.

A climate and sustainable development fund to achieve green development objectives, research, and innovation fund to promote scientific activity, besides scholarships in universities and educational institutions, and a venture capital fund to promote entrepreneurship was also announced.

According to the budget, the State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) has increased from Rs 370,535 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 588,771 crore in 2021-22, at an annual increase of 6.5 percent.

The budget’s outlay includes revenue expenditure of Rs 61,057.35 crore and Rs 116,198.63 crore, which is 34.4 percent and 65.6 percent, respectively.

The total revenue receipts in the budget estimate for 2022-23 are projected at Rs 106,424.70 crore, which comprises tax revenue of Rs 73,727.50 crore, non-tax revenue of Rs 12,205.36 crore, the share of Central taxes at Rs 8,925.98 crore, and grants-in-aid of Rs 11,565.86 crore.

Besides, the capital receipts are projected to be Rs 5,393.89 crore.

This budget allocation has been aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Out of the total budget of Rs 177,255.99 crore, Rs 114,444.77 crore has been allocated for SDG-related schemes.

Haryana has remained successful in keeping the fiscal deficit within the percentage of GSDP as recommended by the 15th Central Finance Commission for the year 2021-22, said the Chief Minister.

Despite the Covid-19 crisis, about Rs, 30,820 crores have been borrowed from the market, while the permissible borrowing limit of the 15th Finance Commission was Rs 40,872 crore.

The fiscal deficit is estimated to be 2.99 percent of GSDP in 2021-22.

For 2022-23, it is estimated to reduce to 2.98 percent of GSDP. “This is within the limit of 3.5 percent as fixed by the 15th Finance Commission for 2022-23,” Khattar said.

The revenue deficit is also decreasing continuously. This revised estimate is estimated at 1.40 percent in 2021-22. It has been projected to further decrease to 0.98 percent of the GSDP in budget estimates of 2022-23.

The debt liability has also been successfully included.

The ratio of debt to GSDP in the Revised Estimates 2021-22 is estimated at 24.98 percent, while the stipulated limit recommended by the 15th Finance Commission is 32.6 percent of GSDP.

For budget estimates, the debt stock is expected to be 24.52 percent of GSDP, below the stipulated limit of 33.3 percent of GSDP recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.

Capital expenditure has a direct impact on economic development. The government is committed to enhancing the proportion of capital expenditure in the total expenditure, said the Chief Minister in his third consecutive budget speech in the House as the Finance Minister.

The capital share in the total expenditure has increased to 31.5 percent with Rs 48,265.49 crore in 2021-22.

It is proposed to increase the capital expenditure by 34.4 percent with Rs 61,057.35 crore in 2022-23.

In addition to the budgetary allocation for capital expenditure, Public Sector Undertakings are also investing substantial capital for the creation and strengthening of capital infrastructure in the state.

Dedicating the budget to women, Khattar announced many significant gifts for them on International Women’s Day.

He announced to start an award of Rs 5 lakh in the name of former Union minister Sushma Swaraj, who belonged to the state.

Noting that without women, society cannot even be imagined, he said that the women of Haryana have made their mark in many fields at the national and international level.

In his speech, he mentioned the first woman state Speaker, Shanno Devi, and the first woman Deputy Speaker, Lekhvati Jain.

The Chief Minister also announced to increase the participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions to 50 percent seats from 33 percent.

In addition, to attract women towards entrepreneurship, a new scheme, Haryana Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana, has been announced. For this, assuming the annual income of the woman and her family members is less than Rs 5 lakh on the basis of the data of the Parivar Pehchan Patra, financial assistance of up to Rs 3 lakh will be given to the self-help group in the form of a loan.

Under this scheme, the Haryana Women Development Corporation will give a rebate of up to 7 percent in interest for three years.

Battle for UP: We fought hard, says Priyanka Gandhi

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Battle for UP: We fought hard, says Priyanka Gandhi

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, on Tuesday, that her party fought the electoral battle hard. “We fought as hard as we could. We will wait and see the results,” she said.

Priyanka, who reached Lucknow on Tuesday to lead a march under the party’s ‘Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti Hoon’ campaign in Uttar Pradesh, said, “Today’s march is to celebrate our 159 women candidates. I think it is a big thing that all of them fought, and on International Women’s Day we should celebrate them.”

Priyanka led the all-women march from the 1090 crossing to the National Botanical Garden crossing.

The exit polls have predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP in UP while the Congress remains at the periphery with most polls giving it a single-digit tally.

The exit polls were released on Monday evening after the seventh and last phase of the election in Uttar Pradesh.

K’taka student’s body preserved in Ukraine mortuary: CM Bommai

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K’taka student’s body preserved in Ukraine mortuary: CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday stated that the authorities have recovered the body of Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagaudar, the Indian student from the state who died in Russian shelling in Ukraine.

“I have spoken to the External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in this regard. He has informed that the body has been embalmed and preserved at a mortuary. He has assured that as soon as the shelling is stopped, attempts will be made to bring it back to India,” he said.

“Continuous attempts are being made, the embassy officers have also told us that they are in touch with mortuary authorities where the body is kept,” he added.

Naveen Shekarappa Gyangaudar was killed on March 1 on Maha Shivratri after being hit by the Russian shelling. He had come out of his bunker in search of food early in the morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called up Naveen’s father and consoled him. Shekarappa, Naveen’s father had requested the Prime Minister to arrange for safe passage of other students stuck in Ukraine as they are the assets of the country.

Naveen’s death has also raised questions on the cost of medical education in India and opposition parties in Karnataka are demanding scrapping of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in this regard. The ruling BJP government has granted compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the family of Naveen.

As many as 500 students from Karnataka have returned home from Ukraine since the war broke out. Manoj Rajan, nodal officer, and commissioner, Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has stated that 142 students from the state are still stranded in war-torn Ukraine. The largest batch of students returned on Thursday.

Modi urges Putin to hold direct talks with Zelensky

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Modi urges Putin to hold direct talks with Zelensky

In a phone call that lasted for about 50 minutes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the ongoing Moscow-Kiev war, according to sources.

During the conversation, which is the second between Modi and Putin since Russia began its war on February 24, the President briefed the Prime Minister on the status of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian teams.

Modi also appreciated the Russian military’s announcement earlier in the day to hold fire and open humanitarian corridors in the four Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Kharkov, Sumy, and Mariupol.

The Prime Minister further stressed the importance of the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Sumy at the earliest, to which Putin assured of all possible cooperation.

Also on Monday, the Prime Minister spoke to Zelensky and expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict and resultant humanitarian crisis, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“(The) Prime Minister reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of violence and noted that India has always stood for peaceful resolution of issues and direct dialogue between the two parties,” it said.

According to the statement, Modi “thanked Ukrainian authorities for their facilitation in evacuating more than 20,000 Indian citizens from Ukraine”, but also expressed deep concern for the safety and security of Indian students still remaining in the war-torn nation and emphasized the need for their quick and safe evacuation.

The first time Modi and Zelensky spoke was on February 26, just two days after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine.

Modi likely to speak to Zelensky on Monday

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Modi likely to speak to Zelensky on Monday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to speak to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday afternoon as Russia’s war on Kiev has continued for the 12th day, government sources said here.

Modi’s interaction with Zelensky, the second since the Russian invasion began on February 24, will take place amid India’s all-out efforts to evacuate its nationals, mostly students, from the war-torn nation.

The Prime Minister had spoken to the Ukrainian leader for the first time on February 26.

According to the sources, Modi is expected to seek a safe passage for Indian students stuck in the cities of Sumy and Odesa during the call on Monday.

Since the war began, Modi has also spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin twice during which he urged the latter to give a safe passage to Indian nationals from Kharkiv, Sumy, and Odesa.

Meanwhile, India has continued sending relief material to the war-torn nation as part of humanitarian assistance via Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft which are deployed for the evacuations of stranded Indians.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared a video of the relief materials being loaded in an IAF aircraft by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel. These supplies are being sent to Poland from where they would be moved to Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India has sent two trenches of humanitarian assistance that included medicines, medical equipment, and relief materials, via IAF aircraft. While one flight carried six tonnes of material to Romania, the second carried nine tonnes of material to Slovakia on March 3.

On March 2 however, India had again abstained from a vote on Ukraine at the UN General Assembly “in view the totality of the evolving situation”.

This was the fourth abstention by New Delhi on a vote on the Ukraine issue at the UN — the other three at the Security Council where India is an elected member.

K’taka Assembly session to resume, govt to table anti-conversion Bill

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K’taka Assembly session to resume, govt to table anti-conversion Bill

The ruling BJP government is all set to table the controversial anti-conversion Bill in the Karnataka Assembly session, which will resume on Monday. The Bill is likely to be tabled in the last leg of the ongoing session.

The Budget Session, which began on March 4, will continue till March 30.

The anti-conversion bill, which was tabled and passed in the state Legislature Assembly, is yet to be presented before the Legislative Council. The BJP attempted to present it on the last day of the winter session in Belagavi, however, the opposition raised a strong objection to presenting the bill in the council without bringing it first on the agenda. The council session ended after witnessing a high drama.

The government, though prepared to get the Bill passed in the session held in February, the plan was dropped after the Congress resorted to day-night protest in the midst of the session demanding the sacking of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K.S. Eshwarappa for his remarks on hoisting the saffron flag on the Red Fort.

However, BJP is all set to present and get the Bill passed in the council this time. The Bill is likely to be passed in the council, as BJP doesn’t have sufficient numbers. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress and JD(S) are all set to swoop down on the government during the discussion on the Budget in the state Assembly.

The Congress, which completed the Mekedatu Padayatra, is claiming that it has forced the BJP to allot Rs 1,000 crore for building the reservoir. The opposition party is demanding BJP to reserve Rs 5,000 crore for the project. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who had presented the maiden Budget, is expected to face a litmus test in the assembly facing the opposition in the election year.

2 killed, few hurt in Manipur polls, over 68% voting till 3 pm

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2 killed, few hurt in Manipur polls, over 68% voting till 3 pm

At least two people were killed and a few others injured in Manipur as over 68 percent polling was recorded till 3 p.m on Saturday in the second and final round of the Assembly elections underway in 22 of the 60 constituencies amid heavy security, officials said.

The Police said that one person was killed and another injured in police firing at Karong in Senapati district while a BJP activist succumbed to his injuries in Thoubal district.

A police official said that police had to open fire at Karong when some people tried to snatch an EVM from a polling station, thrashing the polling personnel.

In another incident in Thoubal district, some BJP workers went gone to the residence of a Congress worker late on Friday night and after an altercation, the Congress worker reportedly fired at the BJP activists injuring a few of them who were shifted to the hospital, where one person succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

Election and police officials said that activists of political parties clashed in Mao, Moreh, and other places, halting the polling briefly.

Political parties are accusing each other of disturbing free and fair election processes in many places. However, details of these incidents are awaited.

Men, women and first-time voters in large numbers queued up in front of the polling stations well before the voting started at 7 a.m. in six electoral districts.

According to election officials, over 68 percent of voters have voted till 3 p.m. in the 22 assembly constituencies where polling will continue till 4 p.m. without any break. According to officials, more than 20,000 Central paramilitary force troopers have been deployed in the second phase in the six electoral districts — Thoubal, Jiribam, Chandel, Ukhrul, Senapati, and Tamenglong.

While the Thoubal district falls in the valley area, the other five electoral districts are in the mountainous areas bordering Assam and Nagaland, as well as Myanmar, making security forces maintain maximum vigil along with both the international and the inter-state borders. Manipur Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Agrawal said that 4,988 personnel have been posted in 1,247 polling stations in the six electoral districts to conduct the exercise. He said that in all, 8,38,730 voters, including 4,28,679 females and 31 transgenders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in the second phase to decide the electoral fate of 92 candidates, including two females.

Of the 92 candidates, 17 have criminal antecedents, the election official said.

No harm in KCR-Soren meet but Cong cautious

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No harm in KCR-Soren meet but Cong cautious

The Congress on Friday said there is no harm in the KCR-Soren meeting scheduled to be held later in the day, but it is cautious as it was unaware of the said move despite being an ally in the Jharkhand government.

Avinash Pande, Congress General in Secretary Incharge of Jharkhand said: “There is no harm in the meeting as Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao has been with the UPA in the past and anybody who is trying to defeat the BJP is a good move, but there is writing on the wall that without Congress no government in the center could be formed.”

Ironically, despite Congress being a junior partner in the Hemant Soren-led government, it was not aware of the meeting. KCR is meeting non-BJP and non-Congress chief ministers to prepare for the 2024 elections.

On Thursday, the Telangana CM met BJP MP Subramanian Swamy (who has been taking on Modi on a lot issues of late) and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait in the national capital. The three leaders discussed the current political situation in the country, party sources said.

Chandrashekhar Rao has lately intensified his efforts to take on the ruling BJP at the Centre. He has been reaching out to regional leaders in different states as part of his plans to forge an anti-BJP alliance at the national level.

As part of his exercise to reach out to political leaders in other parts of the country, KCR had recently traveled to Mumbai where he met Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray. He had also met NCP chief Sharad Pawar on that occasion.

With the BJP trying to emerge as an alternative to the ruling TRS in Telangana, relations between the two have taken a turn for the worse over the last few months.

Centre committed to completing Polavaram: Shekhawat

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Centre committed to completing Polavaram: Shekhawat

Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday inspected Polavaram project works and assured Andhra Pradesh that the Centre is firm in its commitment to complete the scheme by bearing its entire cost.

He, along with Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, visited the Polavaram site and inspected the works on various components of the project, which has been declared as a national project by the Centre.

Addressing meetings in resettlement colonies in East Godavari and West Godavari districts, he said they were taking all steps to ensure that the first phase of the project is completed in a span of one year.

Shekhawat assured people that the Narendra Modi government will complete the project by bearing the entire cost as promised in Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.

He assured the state government that the Centre would provide whatever assistance the state required will stand by the government unless the project was completed in all manners.

He also assured displaced people that their rehabilitation and resettlement are the responsibility of both the central and state governments.

He recalled that the project was first proposed in the 1970s, and the work progressed when Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh but unfortunately even after 40-50 years the project could not be completed.

The central minister said the chief minister during his recent meeting with the Prime Minister discussed everything about Polavaram for its early completion.

He said that justice will be done to the families displaced by the project by accommodating them in resettlement colonies.

Shekhawat, along with the chief minister, visited Polavaram resettlement colonies including Indukuru in East Godavari district and Taduvai in West Godavari district.

They interacted with the relocated families and directed the R&R officials to pay more attention to rehabilitation works. Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said that Polavaram is a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh. He said with the completion of the project the state would become more fertile and prosperous.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the state government is committed to the promise made to the displaced families. The state government will provide Rs 3 lakh to each family in addition to Rs 6.8 lakh being provided by the Centre. He assured people that this promise will be fulfilled at the earliest.

He also promised to provide Rs 3.5 lakh to those families who initially gave their lands for Rs 1.5 lakh in 2006 during the YS Rajashekar Reddy regime. Besides these, he stated that livelihood training and employment programs will also be taken up in the R&R colonies to improve employment opportunities.

Shekhawat expressed satisfaction over the development of resettlement colonies and advised officials to focus more on quality. He called for providing livelihood opportunities and training in R&R colonies.

He said that the authorities have to be considerate in providing facilities to the displaced families until they get settled in the new place.

Speaking at Taduvai R&R colony in West Godavari district, Jagan Mohan Reddy said that the construction of 3,905 houses in the colony is going on full swing and soon every displaced family that contributed towards the Polavaram project will receive a house with all basic infrastructure facilities. He said that livelihood training programs will also be conducted in the R&R colonies taking support from the Centre.

The central minister and the chief minister visited the spillway, cofferdam, powerhouse, and Earth-cum-Rock Fill (ECRF) dam.

Shekhawat took stock of the progress of the project and funds were released with the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) comprising officials from the Jal Shakti ministry and state irrigation department.

The state government reportedly urged the union minister to give final clearance for the Revised Cost Estimates (RCE) to the tune of Rs 47,725 crore. The Centre kept the RCE pending for three years resulting in a delay in the completion of the works.

The state government is keen to complete the project by June 2023 and has been urging the Centre to keep releasing the required funds.

UP records 53.31% turnout till 5 pm in sixth phase of polls

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UP records 53.31% turnout till 5 pm in sixth phase of polls

Over 53 percent voter turnout was registered till 5 p.m. in the sixth phase of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Election Commission of India said on Thursday.

The Election Commission also said that 53.31 percent of voter turnout figures were an approximate trend as the data from some polling stations takes time to reach.

As per the EC data, Ambedkar Nagar has registered 58.68 percent, Balia 51.74 percent, Balrampur 48.41 percent, Basti 54.07 percent, Deoria 51.51 percent, Gorakhpur 53.86 percent, Kushinagar 55.1 percent, Maharajganj 57.48 percent, Sant Kabir Nagar 51.14 percent and Siddharthnagar recorded 49.83 percent till 5 p.m.

The Ambedkar Nagar constituency has recorded the highest voter turnout (approximate trend) of 58.68 percent till 5 p.m. while the constituency of Balrampur has recorded the lowest with 48.41 percent so far.

The sixth phase of polling in 57 constituencies, spread over 10 districts, was held on Thursday. Over 2.14 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise. A total of 676 candidates are in the fray.

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