Debt relief, Rs 1500 for women, 3 cylinders free... Know the important points of Maharashtra budget

Maharashtra Budget: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday presented the general budget for the financial year 2024-25. Ahead of the assembly elections, Ajit Pawar announced loan relief for farmers including Rs 1500 per month to women and three cylinders a year in the state budget. Presenting the budget, Ajit Pawar announced a financial assistance scheme giving a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to eligible women in the age group of 21 to 60 years. Ajit Pawar said that the scheme called "Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Behan Yojana" will be implemented from July, four months before the elections to be held in the state in October. He said that a budgetary allocation of Rs 46,000 crore will be made annually for this scheme.

Announcing another welfare scheme, the Finance Minister said that an eligible family of five members will get three LPG cylinders free every year under the 'Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana'.

The monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is going on. In the state assembly, Ajit Pawar said that the electricity bill dues of 44 lakh farmers in Maharashtra will be waived. Pawar said that the maximum amount payable as compensation for crop damage was earlier Rs 25,000 and now it is being increased to Rs 50,000.

Subsidy for onion growers

A subsidy of more than Rs 850 crore has been given in the form of Rs 350 per quintal to provide financial assistance to onion producing farmers. The Deputy Chief Minister said that a revolving fund of Rs 200 crore each is being created for the purchase of onion and cotton at guaranteed prices.

Schemes for farmers

He said that the government is committed to help the farmers. Various schemes are being implemented regarding subsidy for seeds, irrigation facilities, use of technology, storage of agricultural produce etc. He said that schemes like Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi, crop insurance for one rupee have been started to help the farmers from the financial year 2023-24.

He said that the schemes have been successfully completed in 16 districts of Vidarbha and Marathwada. The second phase of these projects worth Rs 6 thousand crore will be implemented in 21 districts.

Compensation for deaths

The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government has increased the compensation for deaths due to animal attacks. Presenting the budget during the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, he said that the family members of the deceased will get Rs 25 lakh instead of the earlier Rs 20 lakh.

Bonus for farmers

Ajit Pawar said that we are planning to give a bonus of Rs 5,000 per hectare to all farmers for cotton and soybean crops in Maharashtra. Apart from this, we will continue to give a bonus of Rs 5 per liter to milk producing farmers even after July 1, 2024.

Help to girl students

More than two lakh girl students from OBC and economically weaker sections will get financial assistance from the state government. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the state government will bear the burden of Rs 2 thousand crore every year.

Funds for SHGs increased

Ajit Pawar said that more than six lakh women self-help groups (SHGs) are working in Maharashtra and their number will be increased to 7 lakh. He said that the fund for them will be increased from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000