By: DD Sharma
Shimla: For the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, the state government has provided subsidy of more than Rs 100 crore on various essential commodities, i.e. wheat, rice pulses, edible oil and salt.
Presenting the budget of Rs 9,684 crore for the next financial year, the state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said that these subsidised items would be made available through the Fair Price Shop and would benefit around 14 lakh ration card holders of the state.
Wheat and rice will be made available at a fixed price of Rs 2 Rs 3 per kg respectively for Antodaya families. Whereas BPL families will get wheat at Rs 5.25 and rice at Rs 6.85 per kg, while rest of the card holders will get wheat at Rs 8.65 and rice at Rs 10.55 per kg. Similarly, three variety of pulses namely malka, dal channa and urad will be made available at prices ranging from Rs 20 to 30 per kg.
The price for the edible oil has been fixed at Rs 50 rupees per litre while salt at Rs 4 rupees per kg.
Besides, the government has made several proposals to woo the employees by declaring to fill up 33,000 vacant functional posts. Government has also announced 5 % of Interim Relief for the government employees. In addition to this, emphasis has been laid on social, health, education and construction of roads in the state.
The budget shows a fiscal deficit of 4.06 percent.
