Delhi Budget 2017-18

Delhi Budget 2017-18 Delhi State Finance Minister, Manish Sisodia presented the state annual budget for the period 2017-18 on 8 March 2017 in the state’s legislative assembly. The budget has been proposed at 48000 crore, which is 16.5 per cent higher than the Revised Estimates of ₹41200 crore in 2016-17. The presentation of the budget this year moved away from the traditional framework of budgeting into planned and unplanned heads and instead was classified under two sections, Revenue and Capital. The Arvind Kejriwal government also brought out another unique initiative this year in the form of a comprehensive ‘Outcome Budget’ that would monitor the outcome of the projects initiated under the new budget.  The “Outcome Budget” will be put up on the Delhi government’s website by 31 March 2017. Economic Scenario • Despite the negative impact of demonetisation on the economic activities of the state, the Gross State Domestic Product of Delhi at current prices is likely to increase to ₹6,22,385 crore in 2016-17 from ₹5,51,963 crore in 2015-16, indicating a growth of 12.76 percent.
• The per capita income of Delhi at current prices is likely to increase to ₹ 3,03,073 in 2016- 17 which is 10.77% higher than the per capita income of ₹ 2,73,618 in 2015-16.
• The per capita income of Delhi is about three times higher than the per capita income of ₹ 1,03,818 in 2016 at the national level. Good Governance
• The minimum wages for unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled workers have been increased by around 37 per cent. The increased rates of the wages are as follows: - Unskilled persons – From ₹ 9,724 to ₹ 13,350 per month. - Semi-skilled: From ₹ 10,764 to ₹14,698 per month. - Skilled workers:  From ₹ 11,830 to ₹ 16,182 per month.
• The government has also launched skill development courses in 10 night shelters for the homeless that include sewing, cooking, beautician services and plumbing. In each night shelter, 25 homeless per batch will be trained and given certificates on the completion of 120 hours of training.
• The government has also provided health care facility in the night shelters through Mohalla Clinics.
• The government has also reduced the tax on sanitary napkins costing above Rs 20 from 12.5% to 5%.
• Apart from this, the government has decided to integrate existing database of Aadhar, Permanent Account Number, Election Photo Identity Cards to reduce cost and duplication for better delivery of public services. Education Total budget: ₹ 11300 crore
• The allocation is 24 per cent of the total budget estimate, which is the highest education budget among all the states.
• 24 new schools will start in this year. The construction work of 8000 new classrooms is almost complete and 10000 more new classrooms will be built in the next financial year.
• Pre-primary classes will be introduced in 156 government schools in 2017-18, with upgraded infrastructure facilities.
• Early childhood education centres will be set up all over Delhi for children between the age group of 2-6 years.
• A special library would be set up within the classroom for students of nursery to 5th class and 400 new libraries will be opened in the government schools for Class 6-10. • Besides this, five English-medium schools of Excellence will be set up in the state during the fiscal year and commerce stream will be introduced in all government schools.
• Extra Curriculum Activity Departments will also be started under the Education Department to promote Indian art, dance and music.
• The government has also planned the expansion of NSIT, DTU and IIIT in order to accommodate more students in these institutes.
• The Delhi Pharmaceutical Science and Research University (DPSRU) will be initiating a sports medicine course at both undergraduate and postgraduate level from academic session 2017-18.
• Two multi- storey hostels with modern facilities will also be constructed to accommodate 2350 players
• To impart specialised coaching to the players, 110 additional posts of Physical Education Teachers and Sports Coaches will be created.
• The government has also proposed to expand the coverage of Mid Day Meal scheme to all students of class IX to XII of girl schools. Health Total budget: ₹ 5736 crore.
• 110 Mohalla Clinics are already functional in Delhi and the number is expected to be increased to 150 by the end of the current financial year. The government aims to set up 1000 more Mohalla Clinics in the next financial year.
• Medicines and diagnostics will be made free in Poly Clinics, where a specialist will be available for all diseases. While 23 of such clinics are already working in the capital, their number will be increased to 150 by the end of next financial year.
• The total number of hospital beds in all government hospitals will be increased from 10,000 to 20,000 in the next 18 months.
• The government is also working on schemes of issuing Health Card and to provide Health Insurance to all citizens of Delhi.
• The government has also initiated a Public Private Partnership model in collaboration with private clinics, test centres and hospitals to deliver quality treatment in 30 critical and life-saving surgeries.
• The government has also decided to honour those who help rush road accident victims to hospitals by giving a cash award of ₹ 2000 along with an appreciation letter from the government.Public Transport The total budget for Public Transport & Road Infrastructure: ₹ 5506 crore.
• The government has proposed to add 736 more buses under cluster scheme during 2017-18.
• To provide last mile connectivity to commuters, Government has approved the Letter of Intent scheme and 10,000 new auto permits will be issued.
• The Government has also approved Metro phase-IV comprising six 104 km long corridors. The construction for the same is expected to commence soon. Road Infrastructure
• All elevated corridors and flyovers at outer ring road from Vikaspuri to Wazirabad stretch have been opened for the public to decongest the outer ring road.
• Construction of underpass at Ashram Chowk along with Mathura road will be initiated in 2017-18.
• The construction work of new flyover /underpass between Mahipalpur to airport road will be started in the year 2017-18.
• The construction of elevated road over Barapullah Nallah Phase-III from Sarai Kale Khan to Mayur Vihar is in the final stage of completion. Social Security & Welfare Total budget: ₹ 3467 crore.
• The pension for senior citizens persons with disability and widows has been increased by ₹ 1,000 per month in order to enable them to live life with dignity.
• The government will also be setting up a “Commission for Senior Citizen” in 2017-18 which will look into issues related to the welfare and protection of senior citizens in the state.
• The Government will also be implementing various schemes for students belonging to minority communities such as financial assistance for the purchase of stationery, scholarship and the reimbursement of tuition fees in private schools. Water Supply & Sanitation Total budget: ₹ 2108 crore
• The Government has set the target to lay water pipeline in the whole of Delhi including unauthorised colonies and JJ clusters during this year.
• The water supply network is being evaluated in the entire city through a new programme "Walk the Line' that will provide comprehensive database about the deficiencies of the network.
• The Delhi Jal Board has also started rainwater harvesting system in Burari to increase the water supply.
• Water supply network has been laid in 309 colonies which is a record in the history of Delhi Jal Board.
• Besides this, all sewage pumping stations shall be automated to ensure optimisation of pumping and channel flow in the trunk sewers to reduce the work of desilting of drains.
• The project for laying of Interceptor Sewers along three major drains (Najafgarh, Supplementary & Shahdara) will be completed soon, thereby creating a milestone for cleaning and beautification of Yamuna. The model will then be followed for cleaning of major drains in the city. Housing & Urban Development Total budget: ₹ 3113 crore
• During the last two years, the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) has relocated 5000 slum dwellers from various JJ Bastis by providing them with flats at Baprolla and Dwarka.
• Apart from this, a number of steps have been taken to make Delhi open Defecation free.
• Also, 8000 clean and modern toilets have been constructed up until now in Delhi with 6000 more in the final stages of completion. 5000 more toilets will be constructed in 2017-18.
• There is also a proposal for construction of new shelters for homeless in several areas in the city including Nangloi Phase-II, Dwarka Sector-3, Rohini Sector-5 and Geeta Colony under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). Energy Total budget: ₹ 2194 crore
• The government is targeting 1000 MW Solar Photovoltaic installation in next 5 years and 2000 MW till 2025.
• To promote solar installation a Generation Based Incentive (GBI) of ₹2/- per unit / KW will be given to domestic consumers for installation of Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant.
• To overcome the problem of disposal of Municipal Solid Waste, the government has approved Waste to Energy Plants to generate electricity at 3 locations. Environment & Forest
• Total Budget: ₹ 106 crore
• Several steps have been taken to improve the environment condition in the state including afforestation, universal use of CNG by commercial vehicles, subsidy on newly purchased Battery Operated Four Wheelers and Two wheelers and ban on plastic use.
• Besides this, the government has also proposed to increase the number of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations from 6 to 26 in the year 2017-18.
• The government has also proposed to develop a maiden Wildlife (Bird) Rescue Centre at Rajokri on an area of around 6 acres with world class facility. Rural Development & Flood Irrigation Total budget: ₹ 925 crore • The government has decided to enhance the scope of “Delhi Rural Development Board” by including both rural and urban villages of Delhi.
• The government has also decided to develop a Modern Flower Market cum Exhibition Centre at Gazipur to encourage the place as State of the Art Centre of international standards.
• The government is committed to implement the E-mandi project in all mandies to ensure transparency in transactions, better pricing to the farmers and shortening the payment cycle for the farmers.
• To respect the culture and religious customs of all communities, the government has decided to construct Chhat Ghat all over Delhi. Tourism Total budget: ₹ 119 crore
• The government is preparing tourism policy and master plan for the promotion of tourism and tourism infrastructure.
• To promote Delhi as a film shooting destination, it is proposed to introduce “Single Window Clearance Mechanism” for filmmaking facility.
• The government has also planned to develop the Riverfront of River Yamuna to create a place that allows people to connect with nature as well as the river.
• It is proposed to make World Class Ecological River Front of 5 km at upstream of Wazirabad. Get more details on Delhi Budget