West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra presented the state budget for the year 2020-21 which has an outlay of Rs. 2,55,677 crores. Mamata Banerjee sets next year’s election manifestos in motion by promising free electricity for those who consume below 75 units in 3 months, and many other schemes.
Crux of the Matter
Being the last full budget for the TMC government before going for polls in 2021 and eyeing the upcoming 107 civic body elections, the budget by the TMC government is primarily focussed on the social sector, targetting the backward sections of the state. For 2020-21 the state government has projected tax revenue receipts of Rs. 70,807 crores against the revised estimate of Rs. 65,806 crores in 2019-20. The government has allocated Rs. 5,150 crores for opening up of new universities, welfare schemes for SC and ST communities, workers in the unorganized/MSME sector, assistance to the unemployed youth, tea garden workers and assistance for getting government services. The government aims to set up 100 MSME parks in the next 3 years and has promised free electricity to those with quarterly consumption of up to 75 units. The state government would be waiving off the Agricultural Income Tax of the tea gardens for the next two financial years 2020-21 and 2021-22. The state government introduced two new schemes by the name ‘Bandhu Prakalpa’ & ‘Jai Johar’ for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities respectively under which a monthly pension of Rs 1000 will be given to people above 60 years of age. The government also proposed dispute settlement schemes w.r.t. VAT, CST, entry tax, settlement of disputes under Motor Vehicles Act, waiver of interest on outstanding stamp duty.
The union government should look after the economy and refrain from the ‘politics of vendetta’. The prime minister should take everybody along, if needed hold discussions with opposition parties. – West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
Addressing a post-budget press conference, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “This budget is a ‘pro-people budget’ which has been prepared by keeping in mind all sections of the people.”
Curiopedia
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of West Bengal. The legislative assembly comprises 294 Members directly elected from single-seat constituencies. On the eve of Independence in 1947, Bengal Province was partitioned into West Bengal and East Bengal (East Pakistan). The West Bengal Legislative Assembly was constituted with 90 members representing the constituencies that fell within the area of West Bengal. On 21 March 1969, a resolution was passed by the West Bengal Legislative Assembly for the abolition of the Legislative Council. Subsequently, the Indian Parliament passed the West Bengal Legislative Council (Abolition) Act, 1969 abolishing the Legislative Council with effect from 1 August 1969. More Info
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