𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
The West Bengal government presented its first budget on Monday. Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta announced new spending plans and employment goals.
Key Financial and Employment Details:
- Dearness allowance for employees and dearness relief for pensioners increases by 20 percent.
- The new dearness allowance rate is 38 percent starting October 1.
- The government will fill 1 lakh government job vacancies in phases.
- Vacancies include 20,000 police positions and 50,000 teaching and non-teaching posts.
- Women will hold 33 percent of these new jobs.
- Agniveers receive 10 percent reservation in applicable roles.
- The upper age limit for recruitment stays relaxed by five years for two more years.
Welfare and Social Support:
- The Annapurna Yojana receives 36,000 crore rupees for direct cash transfers to women aged 25 to 60.
- 550 crore rupees is allocated for free bus travel for women through a new Pink Card system.
- Retired journalists will receive a monthly pension of 5,000 rupees.
- Individuals jailed due to political cases will receive 10,000 rupees per month.
- Anganwadi and ASHA workers get a 5,000 rupee monthly increase.
- Civic volunteers, Green Police, NVF workers, Prani Bandhu, and Prani Mitra workers get 2,000 rupees more per month starting August.
- MLA Local Area Development Fund increases from 70 lakh to 1 crore rupees.
Infrastructure and Technology:
- An elevated corridor will connect Chingrighata and New Town in Kolkata.
- A deep-sea port is planned at Dadanpatrabar.
- A four-lane bridge will cross the Mayurakshi river in Birbhum.
- Studies will start for metro rail projects in Durgapur, Asansol, and Siliguri.
- A Tribal University will open in Jhargram.
- An Artificial Intelligence Mission will launch to support technology and innovation.
- Gig workers will receive free charging points and drinking water facilities.
The government noted a debt burden of 8.15 lakh crore rupees and stated a goal to restore fiscal discipline.
Source: The Times of India