Quickly pay the state’s outstanding GST amount from the central government
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot raised the demand to declare East Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP) as a national project in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the meeting of NITI Aayog. Apart from this, there was also a demand to increase the financial assistance of the Center in various centrally sponsored schemes. In fact, Chief Minister Gehlot participated in the seventh meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog, chaired by Prime Minister Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. In this, Chief Minister Gehlot strongly supported the state on the issues related to Rajasthan.
He said that ERCP is an ambitious project of Rs 37000 crore. With this, irrigation facility will be available in about 2.00 lakh hectare area in 13 districts of eastern Rajasthan. He said that East Rajasthan is the main area of oilseeds production. Along with this, the problem of drinking water in these districts will also be solved by being declared a national project. The Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister had earlier promised to adopt a positive attitude regarding this project. He said that this project would also help in the successful implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission.
In view of inflation, the income of farmers should be 21600 per month:
The Chief Minister raised the issue of doubling the farmers’ income in the meeting. He said that the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) had estimated the monthly income of farmer families to be around Rs 10218 in the year 2018-19. Now keeping in mind the rate of inflation, this income should be around Rs 21,600 per month. To achieve this goal, the government has to take very concrete steps. In order to increase the income of farmers, the Chief Minister has demanded a substantial increase in the budget of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA, rural development and agriculture and to increase the amount given to the farming families under ‘Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana’ to Rs.2000 per month.
He informed that the Rajasthan government is giving the benefit of 1000 per month to each farming family in the form of electricity subsidy. The Rajasthan government has implemented a separate agriculture budget from the year 2022-23 and developed the Samagra Krishi Portal for the convenience of the farmers. He said that the Central Government should increase its share to 75 percent on all agriculture related schemes. The Chief Minister, while demanding amendment in the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ and ‘Market Intervention Scheme’, has demanded to abolish the provision of putting the burden on the state government if the tolerable loss limit exceeds 25 percent.
Chiranjeevi scheme provided treatment to 18 lakh families
The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan has become a model state in the field of providing free medical facilities to the common people. He said that under ‘Mukhyamantri Free Nirogi Rajasthan Yojna’, complete treatment is being provided free of cost in all government hospitals and all tests are also being done completely free of cost. The ‘Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana’ is the next step in this direction.
Under which 88 percent of the families of the state have been given insurance cover. Rajasthan ranks first in the country in this area. Under Chiranjeevi Yojana, 1 crore 34 lakh families are getting free treatment in government and private hospitals. So far, more than Rs 2,202 crore has been spent on the treatment of 18 lakh patients. Liver, heart and kidney transplant are being provided under this scheme. The Chief Minister has also demanded from the Central Government to increase the scope of ‘Ayushman Bharat Health Insurance Scheme’ on the lines of this scheme.
Successful implementation of National Education Policy
The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan has the highest number of 89 universities in the country, out of which three are women’s universities. Rajasthan is emerging as a new center of education at national and international level. The Chief Minister said that Rajasthan ranks first in the performance grading index of schools. He informed that 93 girls’ universities have been opened in the last four years.
Gehlot informed that 1494 Mahatma Gandhi English Medium Schools have been opened in the state. In which more than 2.50 lakh children are studying. The state government is providing free textbooks and uniforms to all the students up to class VIII. Along with the implementation of the Bal Gopal scheme at the national level to provide milk to children two days a week with mid-day meals, there has been a demand to include children from classes 9 to 12 under RTE. The Chief Minister demanded special grant to the colleges opened in the scheduled areas of the state like in the North-Eastern states and to open a global university in Rajasthan.
In the meeting, the Chief Minister also demanded implementation of the recommendation of the 15th Finance Commission to give central assistance of 400 crores for Digital University in Rajasthan. He said that the state government is also ready to spend Rs 200 crore for setting up this digital fintech university to be opened in Jodhpur. Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma was also present in the meeting.
demand for increase in central share
Chief Minister Gehlot said that due to the changes made in the economic participation pattern of various centrally sponsored schemes, additional financial burden is being placed on the states. The Chief Minister has extended the period of GST compensation from the Center by 5 years to June, 2027 and to Rajasthan from 2017-18 to about 3,780 GST compensation amount? A lump sum release of Rs.
