Ramit Mehrotra, Pune
On Monday, Delhi Finance Minister Atishi announced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, under which credit worth Rs. 1000 will be given to every woman aged 18 and above in the financial year 2024- 25. The finance minister tabled the 10th annual budget for 2024- 25, with a whooping allocation of 76,000 crore and a vision of ‘Ram Vision’, in Delhi Vidhan Sabha on Monday. While presenting the budget, she said she aims to change Delhi’s picture for the coming years. The last decade has been a solid testament to that.
She highlighted that the Gross Domestic Product of Delhi (GSDP) was at Rs. 11.95 lakh crores in 2014 and has jumped to Rs. 11.08 lakh crores in the current fiscal year. The per capita income has also sprung to 4.62 lakhs, which is twice the amount of the national average, from 2.27 lakhs in the 10 years of the tenure.
She said that AAP has always prioritised education and has allocated Rs. 16,396 crore to it. Atishi said that Rs. 2714 crore is shelved for beneficiaries of this scheme for the current financial year. Under the 2,000 crore bracket dedicated to the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, for women’s welfare and empowerment, it will give Rs. 1000 to every woman. There’s a wealth reserve of Rs. 6,216 crore for various schemes under the Social Welfare Scheme Department, Women and Child Welfare Department, and SC/ST/OBC Welfare Department.
The Union Territory government has also slated Rs. 100 crore for the State Council of Education, Research, and Training (SCERT), and Rs. 150 crore has been put into the construction of classrooms and schools. Current schools and classrooms are getting a Rs. 45 crore maintenance fund, and Rs. 42 crore is allocated exclusively for Schools of Specialized Excellence (SoSE). Rs. 12 crores are sectioned for Delhi Model Virtual School and Rs. 40 crores for the School Management Committee.
Additionally, Rs. 6 crores are invested in the Chief Minister Super Talented Coaching Scheme, Rs. 118 crores are stacked for sports education, and Rs. 1212 crores are dedicated to higher education and technical education.
The healthcare sector has seen a sizable chunk of the budget proposal. Rs. 8,685 crore would go into the development of hospital facilities, providing medical treatment through Mohalla Clinics. Approximately, Rs. 80 crore is put up for rendering free healthcare services available under the Delhi Aarogya Kosh, and Rs. 194 crore is proposed for Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS).
Delhi’s tax collection has also witnessed a surge of 18% in the financial year 2022- 23. Delhi recorded a tax collection of Rs. 14457 crore.