Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the state budget for the financial year 2024-25 amidst continuous uproar from the opposition Congress over an alleged nursing college scam. Despite the noise, Devda delivered the budget, amounting to ₹3,65,000 crore, reflecting a 16% increase from the previous year.
Key highlights of the budget include:
- Women and Child Development: Allocation of ₹26,560 crore, an 81% increase from the previous budget.
- Health Sector: ₹21,444 crore allocated.
- Medical Universities: Three new universities to be set up in Neemuch, Mandsore, and Siwani districts, with plans for eight more in the next two years.
- Health Infrastructure and Equipment: ₹10,279 crore provision.
- CM-Gram Sadak Yojana: Connection of 8,565 villages through all-weather roads covering 19,378 km.
- Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: Target of 1,000 km of new roads and 2,000 km of road renovations in FY 2024-25.
- Roadways: ₹10,000 crore allocation.
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana: ₹520 crore provision.
- Chief Minister Teerth Darshan Scheme: ₹50 crore provision.
- Forest and Environment: ₹4,725 crore allocation.
- Online Provident Fund Payment: Immediate payment after retirement for government employees.
- Cooperative Milk Producers Promotion Scheme: ₹150 crore allocation.
- Ken-Betwa Link Project: ₹44,605 crore estimated cost, benefiting 1,900 villages in 10 districts.
- Education: ₹22,600 crore allocation.
- Sports and Youth Welfare: ₹586 crore allocation.
- Gaushalas: ₹250 crore provision.
- Culture Department: ₹1,081 crore provision.
- Tourist Facilities: ₹666 crore provision.
- Irrigation Projects: ₹13,596 crore for construction and maintenance.
- Scheduled Tribes Sub-Plan: ₹40,804 crore to integrate Scheduled Tribes into mainstream society.
- Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan: ₹27,900 crore for the Scheduled Caste category.
- Welfare of Backward Classes and Minorities: ₹1,704 crore provision.
- Panchayat and Rural Development: ₹27,870 crore provision.
- Industry Sector: ₹4,190 crore allocation, a 40% increase from the previous year.
- Public Welfare Schemes: ₹4,421 crore provision for various pension and welfare schemes.
- Urban Development: ₹16,744 crore allocation, ₹1,836 crore more than the previous budget.
The budget emphasizes infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and welfare schemes, aiming to boost overall growth and improve living standards in Madhya Pradesh.
