Mumbai: Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s claim in the Legislative Assembly that Maharashtra’s economy is in a stable condition has come under fire, with the opposition criticising the state government over rising public debt, which is expected to be Rs 7.82 lakh crore in 2024-25, 18.35% per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) against the limit of 25%.
State Finance Minister Ajit Pawar On Maharashtra's Debt
Pawar, who is also the state finance minister, said that though debt has increased by 10.67% compared to the previous year, it is within the prescribed limit.
Presenting the last budget of the Eknath Shinde government, before the state goes to polls later this year, Pawar had announced sops for women, youth, farmers, and other segments of society that entailed an outlay of more than Rs 80,000 crore. The opposition had called it a “torrent of assurances” and said there was no clarity on how money would be raised for the schemes announced. Under the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, eligible women will be given Rs 1,500 per month.
Saying that women have welcomed the scheme, Pawar said, “I am facing criticism from the opposition for the scheme which aims to empower women.”
State Finance Minister Ajit Pawar On Additional Budgetary Provisions
Pawar said additional budgetary provisions will be made in the supplementary demands. Nearly 2.5 crore women will benefit from the Ladki Bahin scheme which would cost the state Rs 46,000 crore yearly, he said, slamming the Congress for promising a monthly dole of Rs 8,500 to women, before the Lok Sabha polls.
Calling it an “election jumla”, he said if that had been implemented, a budgetary allocation of Rs 2.5 lakh crore would be needed.
In 2003-04, Pawar claimed that the Congress-led government had promised free electricity to farmers before elections and even implemented it for a few months.
“After the results, the decision was withdrawn,” he said. Pawar said three cooking gas cylinders will be given free per year to 52 lakh families for which Rs1,600 crore will be spent.
