From raising tax on vehicles to emphasising on farm sector, here are highlights of Maharashtra Budget 2016

Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar presented the Maharashtra Budget of 2016 in Mumbai on Friday. 

Laying emphasis on agricultural sector, the budget for 2016-17 has proposed Rs 25,000 crore for the farm sector in view of a severe drought in the state. It has also tweaked certain taxes such as VAT and offered some exemptions for sugarcane and profession tax.

Here are the key highlights of the budget:

-- Farmer is center-point of this budget. Budget dedicated to 'Baliraja'.

-- Provision of Rs 25000 crore for various schemes in agri sector.

-- Provision of Rs 1000 crore for Jal Yukt Shiwar.

-- Provision of Rs 1885 crore for crop insurance.

-- Year 2016-2017 will be Shetkari Swabhimaan Varsha.

-- Panand Rasta Yojana to curb traditional disputes.

-- Farmers will be given loans at minimal interest rates.

-- Provision of Rs 2000 crore for farm ponds, electricity pumps.

-- Provision of Rs 150 crore for fisheries conservation.

-- Work related to repairs of farm roads will be given to rural youth only.

-- Provision of Rs 10 crore for animal colleges.

-- Grants of 25% or Rs 50 lacs to those who set up agri process industries.

-- Provision of Rs 5282 crore for drought-affected.

-- Setting up independent Organic farming study centres in Agri colleges.

-- Gowardhan Goraksha Central scheme for cow conservation.

-- Provision of Rs 7850 crore for schemes in which farmers get quick benefit of Jal Sinchan schemes.

-- One centre in YASHADA for water literacy, sub-centres in Latur and Amrawati.

-- An outlay of Rs 3360 crore proposed as a precautionary measure for scarcity management.

-- Provision of Rs 170 crore for Gramin Peyajal scheme.

-- Weather Centres to be erected in each district.

-- Farming Park to be erected in Jalgaon.

-- Will provide Impetus to Smart Gaon scheme.

-- An outlay of Rs 2000 crore for Farm-ponds on Demand scheme.

-- An outlay of Rs 1035.83 crore for making available foodgrains to farmers of scarcity-hit 14 districts through PDS at fair prices.

-- An outlay of Rs 150 crore for repair, conservation and maintenance of Ex-Malgujari Tanks in 5 districts of Eastern Vidharbha with a view to boost inland fishery.

-- Guardian Minister Farm Roads and JCB Procurement Scheme to be launched to repair Farm roads. Rural youth to be provided loans from nationalized banks, interest to be paid by government. Rs 100 crore allocated for scheme.

-- Rs 110 Crores allocated for Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh Interest Subsidy Scheme.

-- UNO has declared 2016 as International Year for Pulses. Rs 80 crores proposed for production of Pulses & Oilseeds.

-- A new scheme Pt. Dindayal Upadhyay Agriculture Guidance Scheme introduced to facilitate the new inventions, programs, research and counseling under one roof. Rs 60 crores proposed for the scheme.

-- New Agricultural Colleges to be established at Buldhana and Halgaon, Tq. Jamkhed, Dist Ahmednagar. New Horticulture College to be established at Pal, Dist Jalgaon. New Veterinary Colleges to be started for general farmers.

-- Organic Farming Research and Training Institutes to be established in all the 4 agricultural universities of the state.

-- Jilha Krushi Mahotsav Yojana ( District Agricultural Festival Scheme) - Agricultural Festival to be organized in all the districts to exhibit various schemes and programs, along with organizing  seminars and workshops related to farmers.

-- 3 projects worth Rs 100 crore  to be set up in Vidharbha and Marathwada region with the assistance of the NABARD under the RKVY.

-- Automated Weather Stations to be established at 2065 Revenue Circle Headquarters.

-- Dairy Developments Projects proposed.

-- Govardhan Govansh Raksha Kendra-Cow and Cow progeny development and protection to be established at each 34 rural districts to protect the old and milch less cattle.

-- Rs 30 crore proposed for the development of Jetty in 5 districts of Kokan region. Rs 15 Crores for the renovation of the Sasoon Dock.

-- Provision of Rs 7850 crore for irrigation projects. Additional water storage of 770 MCM and 168000 ha area under irrigation.

-- Fiscal deficit of Rs 9289 crore due to drought.

-- Water literacy and Water awareness Centers to be established for accurate and disciplined planning of water use in future with a permanent  centre at YASHADA, Pune and sub-centers at Chandrapur, Amaravati and Aurangabad.

-- 'Tejaswini Bus' for women in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Kalyan, and Dombiwali. Provision of 50 crores for the same.

-- Smart Village Scheme-New Scheme introduced to attain sustainable development of the villages. A competition at Panchayat Samiti Circle, Taluka and District level to be conducted with winners being awarded incentive funds.

-- Rs 170 Crores for the National Rural Drinking Water Program. 

-- A new scheme introduced to provide drinking water to villages not covered under the National Rural Drinking Water schemes and to rejuvenate the closed regional water schemes. Rs 2500 crores proposed. Rs 500 crore to be made available for the current year.

-- Digital Boards to be set up at all the Village Panchayat. Villagers to get all the government decisions at the village level.

-- Late Balasaheb Thakare memorial Village Panchayat and Women Empowerment Scheme: A new scheme to be introduced to empower the Village Panchayats with the active participation of women for rural development.

-- Late Sumatitai Sukalikar entrepreneur women empowerment scheme introduced to make available loan at zero interest rate to the women's self-help group. Rs 10 crore proposed.

-- Maharashtra entrepreneurship Council to be established to promote industry.

Textiles 

-- Special attention to be given for development of textile industry in the cotton growing belt, Rs 265 crores for various schemes of textiles department.

Highways

-- Improvement of 21000 Km of State Highways and Major District Roads through Hybrid Annuity in 8 years in a phased manner.

-- New works worth Rs 4665 sanctioned by the central government under Central Road Fund for the year 2015-16. This is highest amount received by the state in the post independence era.

-- Washrooms for women along the Highways - 400 Toilets and washrooms will be constructed along side the state highways at every 100 Km. Rs. 50 Crores proposed for this year.

-- Rs 700 Crores proposed for Housing to All scheme of central govt. State to adopt scheme with minor modifications.

-- Rs 100 Crores for New Chandrapur Scheme. 

-- Financial Assistance upto 10 lakh to living homeless freedom fighters or their living widows.

-- E-Library Scheme - 43 Public libraries in state to be upgraded to E library. Rs. 40 lakh to be provided to each library. Total Rs 17.20 cr oreproposed.

-- 2 Crore plantation to be done in a single day on 1st July commemorating Agricultural Day and Forest Festival.

-- Namami Chandrabhaga - A joint campaign with the help of public participation to be launched to clean the river chandrabhaga by the year 2020. Rs 20 Crores proposed for this scheme.

- Model Anganwadi Scheme- Rs 100 crores proposed to build 10000 anganwadis.