Madhya Pradesh govt tables Rs 15556 crore supplementary budget in assembly

BHOPAL: Amid uproar, Madhya Pradesh finance minister Jayant Malaiya tabled a total Rs 15556 crore supplementary budget in the house, on Wednesday. Aimed at providing a financial impetus to panchayat and rural development schemes and assisting the farmers through the ambitious Bhawantar scheme, the supplementary budget has a net burden of Rs 9262 crore.
“As per the Governor’s instructions, I table estimates of the second supplementary for financial year 2017-18. Discussion and voting on the estimates have been scheduled for two hours during house proceedings on November 30,” announced Malaiya amid uproar in the house.
As per the estimates, a large chunk of funds from the supplementary budget would go to the ambitious Bhawantar Bhugtan Yojana where the government would spent over Rs 4000 crore on the much hyped scheme to contain the distressed farmers.
Sources in the secretariat said that government has submitted proposals for two main departments – farmers’ welfare and panchayat and rural development, to provide financial assistance to three-tier system of Panchayati Raj institutions, for which Rs 4000 crore and Rs 5163 crore respectively will be allocated.

As per the estimates, the government has also allocated Rs 1300 crore as relief for drought and calamity hit regions, Rs 161 crore for police, Rs 101 crore for commerce, industry and employment, Rs 1049 crore for urban development and environment, Rs 132 crore for rural development, Rs 100 crore for tribal welfare.
Special allocation to promote horticulture included Rs 160 crore to help farmers and Rs 54 crore will be spent for woman and child development. More than Rs 25 crore each have been allocated to public health and family welfare, culture, school education and food and civil supplies departments.
Sources in the BJP said that ahead of assembly elections next year, the government has set priority for the farmers to pay a justified price of their produce. The government would also publicise the scheme and monitor the process in mandis.
An allocation of over Rs 5000 crore to provide financial assistance to three-tier system of Panchayati Raj institutions will help in implementing schemes for the development of agriculture, establish and maintain primary health centres and primary schools, ensure drinking water supply, drainage, construction and repair of roads and develop cottage and small-scale industries apart from opening cooperative societies. It will also help establish and nurture youth organisations, said the officials.