Vasundhara’s budget betrays poll nerves; Gehlot calls it disappointing

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who also holds the finance portfolio, on Monday announced her final budget before the state assembly elections. Following are some of the highlights of the budget:

• One-time loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000 for small and marginal farmers at a cost of Rs 8,000 crore to the exchequer
• Setting up of a farmers' loan relief commission for getting relief on merit basis
• New scheme named after late Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, under which Rs 2 lakh interest free loan will be provided for self-employed in unorganised sector
• Rs 1 lakh insurance declared for Bhamasah card holders
• Two years' child care leave for state women employees
• Rs 33.25 crore fund for renovation of 19 historical buildings
• Subsidised meals under Annapurna scheme to be provided at all collectorate offices.
• Rs 55 crore fund for Ajmer-Pushkar tunnel
• Free travel for people above 80 years of age and one attendee on half fare in state roadways buses
• Free WiFi facilities will be provided in state universities
• Eight new ITIs to be opened in the state
• Sanitary pads will be distributed in all government schools

Former Congress chief minister Ashok Gehlot, however, was unimpressed. On Twitter, he dismissed the BJP government’s budget as “disappointing for all sections of society”.

(With IANS inputs)