Rs 2.9 lakh cr Assam Budget tabled: Education, floods, jobs, connectivity key highlights

The budget estimates for 2024-25 show a receipt of Rs 1,43,605.56 crore under the Consolidated Fund of the state.

Finance Minister Ajanta Neog today tabled a Rs 2.9 lakh crore Assam Budget for the 2024-2025 financial year. No new tax has been proposed in the Budget and has a deficit of Rs 774.47 crore.

The budget estimates for 2024-25 show a receipt of Rs 1,43,605.56 crore under the Consolidated Fund of the state.

While presenting the Budget, Neog stated that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is expected to reach Rs 6.43 lakh crore in the next financial year, compared to Rs 5.7 lakh crore in 2023-24.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma through social media appreciated the Budget for its special features and said that it draws inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of transforming the entire nation into a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

The Assam CM believes that the Budget for this fiscal will help Assam in finding place among the top 5 states of the country.

As per information shared by the CM, Rs 240 crore has been allocated to empower girl child education, providing financial grants to 10 lakh girls for higher studies, ensuring brighter futures under the Mukhya Mantri Mijut Moina scheme. As per the plans admission of Rs 10000 will be given to each girl student who joins Class XI, Rs 12500 will be paid to those girls who join graduation first year and for a girl doing her post-graduation first year will be given Rs 15000.

With the aim to deal with the perennial issue of floods, embracing innovative strategies, Rs 200 crore has been allocated to integrate wetlands with Brahmaputra, aiming for a flood-free Assam.

In a bid to empower the women, Rs 550 crore has been allocated in the Budget to liberate 12 lakh borrowers from the debt trap, fostering financial independence and prosperity under the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme.

Empowering Assam’s women, the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme allocates Rs 550 Cr to liberate 12 lakh borrowers from the debt trap, fostering financial independence and prosperity.

As part of the Housing for All initiative, in 2023-2024 the government will sanction 1,30,000 additional houses in the first phase with assistance of Rs 1.30 lakh. 10% of these houses shall be given to the eligible beneficiaries from tea garden communities.

Some other important features of the Budget are- Under Punya Tirtha Yojana, a total of 25000 devotees will be sent to Ram Mandir. A budget of Rs 25 crore has been allocated for this.

On the lines of Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, Assam will soon set up Mukya Mantri Sangrahalaya to document the legacies of all the former Chief Ministers of Assam.

Mentioning about the exceptional takeaways of the Budget, Chief Minister Sarma in a post on X stated-
“There are exceptional takeaways in Budget 2024-25:
• This Budget has provided a realistic roadmap for sustainable growth with creation of employment opportunities. Our economic growth is consistently exceeding the national GDP growth rate. Our per capita income has more than doubled since people voted for the Double Engine Government in the year 2016.
• Assam has taken Capital Expenditure to a new historical level and we are likely to cross Rs 20,000 cr figure in 2024-25, compared to 16,000 cr in 2022-23. Our State has successfully dovetailed all schemes and programs, including Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment to enhance this pace of Capex in all segments, primarily Connectivity, Tourism, Education, etc.
• Budget 2024 places requisite focus upon creation of employment opportunities. After achieving goal of 1 lakh plus Jobs, this year, our government has laid emphasis on strengthening entrepreneurship in the State. There will be additional support in form of Subsidy and grant to SHG members for taking up income generating activities.
• We have been continuously supporting Mahila Sabalikaran through expanding coverage of Orunodoi upto 30 lakh, providing more relief to micro credit borrowers, financially support to Nijut Moina and 39 lakh women entrepreneurs.
• With launch of Asom Mala 2.o and taking up many iconic projects, big push to infrastructure has been given. This will have multiplier effects, helping common citizens of the State.
• Green Growth is an essential pillar of Budget 2024. Under this we will plant 3 cr saplings, introduce electric buses and set up over 1000 MW of renewable energy plants and roof top solar plants.
• Budget 2024 places a special emphasis on the well-being of the Tea Garden community through greater investment in schools, 3 % reservation in government jobs and paying their arrear electricity dues.
• Celebrating our rich cultural heritage has been an underlying theme in the Budget. The construction of the Maa Kamakhya Corridor, Preserving land in and around our Satras, taking pilgrimage to Ram Mandir, Ayodhya, incentivising Bhaona and Raas Lila find prominence in our quest for cultural identity.”

Assam Budget 2024-2025 draws inspiration from Adarniya Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji’s grand vision of transforming India into a Viksit Bharat during Amrit Kaal.

I congratulate Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. @ajantaneog for presenting a Budget that will help to place… pic.twitter.com/Yh10O6BcNV

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) February 12, 2024

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