With Assembly elections about a year away, the Mamata Banerjee Government on Friday presented what could easily be described as an election-year budget which highlighted the achievements of the Trinamool Congress Government since it came to power in May 2011, while announcing several new schemes.
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This is the last full budget of this government as it can place only a vote on account budget next year when its five-year term ends in early-May 2016.
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West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra devoted a major portion of his hour-long speech at the State Legislative Assembly, on the `unprecedented achievement ‘ of the government saying that sectors like education, housing for economically weaker sections, minority development, girl child development and health have made strides, which he felt were remarkable in most cases.
Sectors like agriculture, panchayat and rural development, school, disaster management, urban development and minority development have been assured the largest rise in budgetary allocations.
“ When we came to office, plan expenditure was a meagre Rs 14, 165.2 crore in 2010-11, which in a span of three years nearly doubled to Rs 28,159.4 crores “ , Mr Mitra said as Chief Minister buried herself in some sheaves of papers, closeby.
West Bengal is now implementing its own Nirmal Bangla Abhiyan with Mr Mitra saying that over 25 lakh toilet facilities have been provided under this programme which will be taken forward with the state targeting a open defecation free status by October 2, 2019 .
New schemes have been announced for small farmers, students and self help groups..
Unsurprisingly there are no new imposts in this budget, which has taken forward the government’s tax reform measures, aimed mainly at traders and small and micro enterprises.