Assam’s Budget for 2010 focuses on overall development

GUWAHATI - Rural development, education, jobs for unemployed youths and welfare measures for victims of insurgency and women were the key features of Assam’s Budget for 2010-11.

The State Budget has focused on improving the lot of the common people.

To help common people, the state budget for fiscal 2010-11 puts development and employment on the priority list.

The Rs 3.46 crore deficit budget presented by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi estimates a growth of nine percent for 2010-11.

The budget provides financial assistance of Rs 400 crore to 16,130 schools and colleges, allocates more than Rs. 100 crore to other educational institutions and has a special provision for earmarking 30 per cent of government jobs for unemployed youths from rural areas.

“The biggest thing we have done is the reservation of 30 per cent for the rural population in government jobs. It’s not a joke, but a big initiative,” Gogoi said.

The budget also reserves two percent jobs for the next of kin of terror victims.

The ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of terror victims has been enhanced from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh.

A wide range of tax cuts on various items like fish, textiles, tea, cinema hall tickets, medical equipment have been announced that will benefit the consumers and the industry.

“This village related budget is beneficial for the farmers. It gives too much assurance for the development of agricultural sector,” said a local.

The budget envisages providing 10 kg of rice per month to 1.3 million families living below the poverty line at Rs. 6 per kg, with Rs. 150 crore earmarked for the scheme.

It was also announced that two medical colleges would be set up in Diphu in Kabri Anglong and in Nagaon District.(ANI)