Sukhu presents Himachal Pradesh budget of INR 58,444 cr; Milk MSP hiked

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday presented an annual budget of Rs 58,444 crore for 2024-25, focusing on the agriculture sector and announced an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for milk.

Sukhu, who is also the Finance Minister, while presenting the second state budget, raised the minimum selling price of milk from Rs 38 to Rs 45 per liter and that of buffalo milk from Rs 47 to Rs 55 per liter.

Himachal Pradesh is the first state to provide MSP for milk, he said.

He said the debts of all milk cooperative societies will be waived and Rs 150 crore will be used to strengthen infrastructure for milk procurement and its processing.

The government said the state’s fiscal deficit is 10,784 billion rupees, accounting for 4.75% of the state’s gross domestic product, while the annual budget size is 58,444 billion rupees.

Sukhu said that out of every Rs 100, Rs 28 will be used for development works, Rs 25 for salaries, Rs 17 for pension, Rs 11 for interest payment, Rs 9 for loan repayment and Rs 10 for payment to autonomous bodies appropriation.

He also announced the introduction of 4% dearness allowance from April 1, 2024, which will impose a financial burden of Rs 580 crore on the state exchequer.

The CM announced the Rajiv Gandhi Prakriyat Kheti Yojna, in which 36,000 farmers (10 farmers per panchayat) will be trained in natural farming techniques.

Sukhu further said that universal cartons will be used for apple packaging and horticulture tourism will be encouraged.

He reiterated the state government’s determination to make Himachal Pradesh a green state by 2026.

After the monsoon last year, the state government announced a special package of Rs 4,500 crore for the affected people, he said, adding that the Center has not provided any special package yet.

He blamed Himachal Pradesh’s total debt, which he said stood at Rs 87,788 crore, on the “financial mismanagement of the previous BJP government in the state”.

Sukhu said the Center should pay Himachal Rs 22,406 crore, which includes the Rs 9,906 crore post-disaster needs assessment proposal sent to the Centre, Rs 45,000 crore dues from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and employee contributions under the pension scheme The amount is Rs 8,000 crore.

Suhu said the state government will introduce new policies to promote start-ups, encourage sportspersons besides making HP an important destination for film producers and crack down on illegal mining activities.

Other announcements include establishment of the first modern de-addiction and rehabilitation center at Khandaghat in Solan district, appointment of 6,000 early childhood teachers and monthly school review meetings.

He also said that 327 old diesel buses will be replaced by electric buses and vehicle scrapping centers will be set up in the state.

The CM also announced an increase in the daily wages of MGNREGA workers by Rs 60 from Rs 240 to Rs 300 per day.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)