Delhi Budget; Rs 260 cr for power subsidy

Proposing no new taxes in the Budget for Delhi, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today announced subsidy of Rs 0.80 to Rs 1.20 per unit to small power consumers as also a slew of measures like low floor buses, sanitation and multi-speciality hospital in Rohini.

The Rs 36,776 crore budget for Delhi was presented in Parliament as the state is currently under the President's rule. Proposing the Budget for 2014-15, Jaitley said no new tax has been proposed in Delhi and added that more night shelters would be set up in the National Capital Territory area. A multi-speciality hospital will come up in Rohini and 50 dialysis centres in the different parts of NCT. Also four new sewage treatment plants have been planned for Delhi. The government has earmarked Rs 260 crore for power subsidy. Following protest by Congress and opposition members over the Budget proposals, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said issues could be raised during the debate on it. Jaitley later said he was only proposing the Budget, which would be passed after discussion Referring to power tariff hike, Jaitley said it was necessitated due to increase in input costs. "However, the poor and marginalised should not suffer. I, therefore, propose power subsidy of Rs 260 crore for domestic consumers to provide relief to targeted consumers on account of increase in tariff. The modalities will be worked out by the Government of NCT of Delhi," he said. Considering the paucity of good health facilities under government sector in South Delhi, he also proposed sanctioning one multi-speciality hospital for South Delhi in the current year. This will be in addition to the one proposed at Rohini. The government has also proposed to increase plan outlay under pension to senior citizens from Rs 538 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 600 crore in the current fiscal. Jaitley said that to solve water supply problems in the capital region, construction of long pending Renuka Dam would be taken up on priority. In order to provide better transport to the commuters, Jaitley said tenders have been floated for procurement of 1,380 semi-low floor buses for DTC. "To provide convenience to the commuters, DTC will introduce an automated fare collection system through electronic ticketing machines and card readers. This system will subsequently be integrated with the fare collection system of Delhi Metro," he said. Of the Rs 36,766 crore total budget estimate, Rs 19,066 crore is non-plan expenditure.  Over Rs 2,700 cr for health care sector in Delhi Budget  Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today earmarked Rs 2,724 crore for health sector in the Budget for Delhi during the current fiscal, including plans to set up centres in each district for victims of sexual assault and a multi-speciality hospital in South Delhi.  In the wake of increasing cases of sexual assault in the national capital, the Government proposed to set up one stop centres for crisis management and rehabilitation of victims of sexual assault in each district in government hospitals.  "Three such centres at Deen Dayal hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur hospital and Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital will become functional in the next three months, where the victims can be provided proper medical care along with legal and psycho-social counselling and support in a secure, gender- friendly environment," Jaitley said.  The Minister informed that a new medical college with 100 seats will be started in Rohini and efforts are being made to ensure that the first batch of students is admitted by next year.  The plan outlay of Rs 2,724 crore for health sector is approximately 16.3 per cent of plan outlay (excluding Centrally Sponsored Schemes), which is Rs 16,700 crore.  The total budget estimate for the Government of NCT of Delhi is Rs 36,766 for the year 2014-15.  Considering the paucity of good health care facilities under government sector in South Delhi and the felt need of the area, Jaitley said the Government has proposed to sanction one multi-speciality hospital for South Delhi in the current year.  Besides, 50 dialysis centres will be opened to provide free dialysis to poor patients suffering from kidney failure.  To offer prompt trauma care, 110 new ambulances fitted with state-of-the-art life support equipment will be inducted in the Centralised Accident and Trauma Services (CATS) fleet. Keeping in view the "quantum of work load" with existing Forensic Science Laboratory, the government proposed setting up of three more Forensic Science Laboratories for which land at Sheikh Sarai, Rohini and village Sayurpur at a cost of Rs 11.25 crore has been purchased, Jaitley said.  The Minister informed that online facility has been launched for Out Patient Department (OPD) registration and issuing of free birth registration certificate at the time of discharge of mother and newborn baby from Government Hospitals has also been initiated.  Social sector gets 11.1 per cent of Rs 16,700 crore  Government today earmarked Rs 1,862 crore, around 11.1 per cent of plan outlay of 16,700 crore (excluding Centrally Sponsored Schemes) for social security and welfare sector in the Delhi budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in Parliament.  In view of the rising population of the elderly in the city, the 'monthly aid' of Rs 1,000 to senior citizens of 60-69 years and Rs 1,5000 to 70 years and above, the government today extended it for 4.30 lakh people.  At present 3.90 lakh people are being benefitted by the monthly aid.  Further, the government also proposed to increase the plan outlay under Pension to Senior Citizens from Rs 538 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 600 in 2014-15. Referring to the safety and security issue of national capital, the Finance Minister said that process of recruitment of 155 women sub-inspectors and 1434 women constables is on and these women police officials are expected to join Delhi Police in 2014-15.  In the current year 8124 girls have been imparted self defence training and 4925 police officials have attended gender sensitization programme.  Various initiatives have been taken to expedite investigation of crimes against women, Jaitley said.  To curb the menace of diversion of rations meant for lakhs of families which are below the poverty line and ensure transparent distribution of food grains to eligible households, 2500 fair price shops (FPS) will be computerised and daily sale from these (FPS) will be monitored online.