Dhami Government Unveils Rs 7,844 Crore Supplementary Budget Ahead of Uttarakhand Polls
Uttarakhand's Dhami government has presented a Rs 7,844.18 crore supplementary budget in Gairsain ahead of the Assembly elections, with major allocations for farmers, healthcare, education, infrastructure and welfare schemes.
The two-day session began on October 27. On the first day, the House paid tribute to former Chief Minister BC Khanduri and former Cabinet Minister Hira Singh Bisht. The government subsequently presented the supplementary budget, which includes significant allocations for rural and urban development, healthcare, education, sports, women's empowerment, agriculture and infrastructure.
The budget provides for increased financial support to local bodies, farmers, students, healthcare institutions and sports facilities, alongside funding for major infrastructure and welfare projects.
The government has proposed increasing the share of state tax revenue allocated to local bodies from 10.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent, accepting the recommendations of the Sixth State Finance Commission. An allocation of Rs 721 crore has been made for this purpose.
For farmers, Rs 1,100 crore has been earmarked under the Annapurti Yojana for the procurement of paddy and wheat. The Farmer Pension Scheme has been allocated Rs 9 crore, while Rs 20 crore has been provided for the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Cooperative Farmer Welfare Scheme.
The supplementary budget also places emphasis on healthcare and education. An allocation of Rs 100 crore has been made for the Atal Ayushman Yojana, while Rs 125 crore has been earmarked for Golden Cards for government employees.
Pithoragarh and Rudrapur medical colleges, along with nursing institutions, will receive Rs 160 crore for development.
To promote digital learning, the government has allocated Rs 200 crore for school and higher education. Students' scholarships have been provided with Rs 4 crore, while Rs 5 crore has been earmarked for the Chief Minister Yuva Bhavishya Nirman Yojana, which provides preparation for competitive examinations such as NEET, JEE and CLAT.
Preparations for the upcoming Divya Kumbh Mela and the development of supporting infrastructure have received around Rs 290 crore. The Haridwar Ganga Corridor project has been allocated Rs 30 crore.
The Jal Jeevan Mission has received Rs 300 crore, while Rs 122 crore has been earmarked for the Gairsain Water Supply Dam Project. The KFW project of the Drinking Water Department has been allocated Rs 110 crore.
The budget also includes provisions to support young people and athletes. Special training camps for state players will receive Rs 8 crore. The Sports University has been allocated Rs 35 crore, while Rs 10 crore has been earmarked for the Women's Sports College in Champawat.
A provision of Rs 15 crore has been made to honour players who win medals at the international level.
Other major allocations include Rs 500 crore for infrastructure development under SASCI and Rs 270 crore for the energy sector and the Khurpia Farm Project.
Welfare pension schemes have been allocated Rs 93 crore, while Rs 60 crore has been earmarked for Anganwadi centres and the Nutrition Campaign.
The government has also provided Rs 48 crore for works in Joshimath and other land subsidence-affected areas, along with Rs 40 crore for the construction of a State Data Centre.
The PMFME scheme has received Rs 35 crore, while Rs 20 crore has been allocated for the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra.
An additional Rs 20 crore has been earmarked for the honorarium of Bhojan Matas, while police building construction has received Rs 55 crore. Judicial infrastructure development has been allocated Rs 22 crore.
With allocations spanning local governance, agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure and welfare schemes, the supplementary budget reflects the Dhami government's effort to address the needs of different sections of society during its final year in office. The allocations also come ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, placing the government's development and welfare priorities at the centre of its final supplementary budget.

Comment List