Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the maiden Budget-2019-20 of the Pema Khandu-led BJP Government in the state on the first day of three-day Assembly session on 8th June, Monday.

While presenting the BJP government’s Rs 520.98 crore deficit budget, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the focus was mainly given towards the agriculture sector to double the farmers’ income by 2022.

This is the first budget after the second victory of the Pema Khandu-led BJP government of Arunachal Pradesh. Considering this to be their second consecutive term they also added several innovative schemes including the new concept of bringing a blue revolution within the state.

Mein in his two-hour-long budget speech said that the government aspires to become the “most developed” and “happiest state” in India.

In order to fulfil the aspiration, the indigenous identity, culture, traditions and green environment of the state needs to be preserved. He said his government within the guidelines of the Prime Minister’s India strategy will integrate its own approach towards growth, along with their own unique endowments, challenges and strengths of Arunachal Pradesh.

Benefits the Government is Offering

1. The government targets to benefit 90,000 farmers by 2022.
2. Meritorious students will be getting laptops.
3. Government school students will be provided with health cards.
4. There will be the construction of working women hostel cum destitute home in the state capital.
5. Creation of regular posts for regularising SSA and RMSA teachers under Integrated Scheme for School Education (ISSE).
6. Grants in aids for Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) and Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society (APWWS).
7. 200 bedded hospital in the state capital.
8. Strong and well-functioning ambulance network will be established along the with-it telemedicine service to be introduced.
9. Creche facility fund has been allotted to working mothers at civil secretariats
10. Income generation opportunity for members of Puroik community.
11. Pension scheme for journalists.
12. For community-based organisations (CBOs) ten crore corpus fund has been sanctioned.
13. Helipad construction will be initiated at Vijaynagar in Changlang district.
14. To initiate a Cybercrime cell in the police department.
15. Heavy Import duty on alcoholic beverages has been imposed.

The Finance Minister in his budget proposed to bring in seven lakh hectares of additional land under micro-irrigation, with an estimated cost of Rs 17, 712 crores for wet rice cultivation. Chief Minister Sashkat Yojana, will be offering a fund provision of Rs 95.70 crore which will be covering various horticulture and crops. To add on to the benefits of the agricultural sector, the government has proposed to link the markets within the state by linking it with e-NAM (National Agricultural Market) which will make it accessible for farmers to auction theirs produces online. This would help them get optimum benefits and reach a larger market across.

For wet rice cultivation, he proposed to bring in seven lakh hectares of additional land under micro-irrigation with an estimated cost of Rs 17, 712 crores. For kiwi and oranges, the government has proposed to set up a research and development centre at Ziro and at Roing situated in the Subansiri and Dibang valley districts respectively. Moreover, there is a proposal from the government to construct a State Horticulture Research and Development Institute (SHRDI) and Bio-Resource Mission in the present year.

The government have proposed a new programme named Mukhya Mantri Neel Kranti Abhiyan which aims to enhance production and productivity of aquaculture. The state government is planning to develop new ponds and tanks along with revamping waterlogged areas and rejuvenating of the existing ponds. It is planning to promote backyard ornamental fish farms. Subsidies have been proposed for table fish and fish seed. It will also remodel existing hatcheries, create nurseries and rearing space for seed rearing.

Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), the government have committed to providing housing facilities for all populations living below the poverty line by 2022. The state has a target to cover 11,221 beneficiaries under the scheme out of which it has already covered 1265 beneficiaries till now.

Considering the beneficiary tourism prospect of Arunachal Pradesh, the Paryatan Vikas Yojana (CMPVY) has come up with an allocation of Rs 5 crore for 100 beneficiaries with a view to adding on to the tourism trade of the state. They will be benefited by the financial assistance in means of subsidy for homestays.

The budget has also focused on gender empowerment, development of children, social justice, inclusive development, skill development. It has emphasised over more employment generation, water security, affordable and clean energy besides governance and reform policies.

Additional import duty on all alcoholic beverages has been proposed in the budget by increasing the rate of its import duty from existing Rs 100 to Rs 150 per case of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), Beer and wine.

The finance minister informed that the deficit amount of Rs 520.98 crore which is 1.85 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). It is within the three per cent of GSDP for fiscal deficit targets as per the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act. In the budget, the government is projecting revenue expenditure of Rs 13,406.78 crore as against a revised estimate of Rs 13,483.45 crore.