Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, on Tuesday, said that the state budget for the year 2023-24 will be for the welfare of every section of the society. He said that the main focus in the next budget would be on promoting the key areas including education, health, rural development, environment, etc.
“We will bring a good and balanced budget after holding consultation meetings with all the stakeholders,” said Chief Minister Khattar, while addressing reporters after participating in the discussion programme on state finance management and budget organised by the Haryana Assembly in Panchkula today.
Khattar said that the economic condition of Haryana is better than other states and the state government is taking loans within the prescribed limit according to the State Gross Domestic Product. “At present, the loan limit is 3.52 per cent, which we will try to bring down to three per cent,” he said.
“Our financial management is good, due to which we have been able to manage the state’s budget deficit. In terms of per capita income also, we are number one among the big states,” said the CM.
He said that due to COVID-19, the Central Government had given the states the facility to take loans up to 5 percent of the GSDP (gross state domestic product).
But Haryana’s debt burden has remained within the range of 3 to 3.5 per cent of GSDP. While other states took the entire 5 per cent loan. The government aims to keep this limit up to 3 per cent only, he informed.
The CM said the Haryana government is doing dedicated work for the welfare of the people. “More and more development works are being done. The income of the government is also increasing every year and the government is spending the same amount for the welfare of the people,” he added.
The CM said that for instance under the old age pension scheme in the state, elderly people are being given financial benefits at the rate of Rs 2500 per month, which is the highest in the country.
He said under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, according to the annual income limit of Rs 1.20 lakh fixed by the Central government, other states have given benefits to the beneficiaries in their states.
The Haryana government has taken a step ahead for public welfare and has increased the income limit to Rs 1.80 lakh, due to which now other eligible beneficiaries of the state have also come under the ambit of this scheme, the CM added.