NEW DELHI: Terming the theme ‘Ram Rajya’, the Delhi government on Monday presented its 10th annual budget for the financial year 2024-25. The budget presented by Finance Minister Atishi was her first budget as she got the finance portfolio in March 2023.
The last year's budget, however, was presented by Kailash Gahlot after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in connection with the excise policy case.
"This is a moment of pride that Kejriwal government is presenting its tenth budget. I am not just presenting the tenth budget but a picture of changing Delhi. Kejriwal came as a ray of hope. We are all inspired by Ram Rajya. We are working hard towards realizing the dream of Ram Rajya," Atishi said in the state assembly, as reported by PTI.
Atishi presented the Budget with an outlay of Rs 76,000 crore and also proposed an allocation of Rs 16,396 crore for the education sector. She said that the state’s GSDP was Rs 4.95 lakh crore in the financial year 2014-15 which is likely to go around 11.08 lakh crore as per the current prices.
Similarly, per capita income was Rs 2.47 lakh in 2014-15 which is expected to be Rs 4.62 lakh in the upcoming financial year and capital expenditure was Rs 7430 crore in the financial year 2014-15 which is all set to go to Rs 15,089 crore.
“The population of Delhi contributes to only 1.55% of the total population of the country. Yet, its contribution to the national GDP is more than double. In 2023-24, the contribution of Delhi in national GDP is going to be 3.89%, at constant prices,” she said.
The finance minister, in her speech, said that the government launched 38 Schools of Specialized Excellence in 2021-22. Armed Forces Preparatory School, Delhi Sports School, and Delhi Model Virtual School with three new universities: Delhi Skills and Entrepreneurship University, Delhi Teachers University, and Delhi Sports University- were also launched.
“Out of the first batch of 76 students from Armed Forces Preparatory School, 32 have passed the written examination of the National Defence Academy (NDA) conducted by the UPSC. 2121 children studying in Delhi Government schools have cleared the JEE and NEET exams in 2023-2024. In the last 3 years, more than 4 lakh children have been admitted to Delhi Government schools. Six new university campuses have opened since 2016,” she added.
In her maiden budget speech, she added that under the Delhi government, there are 38 hospitals where treatment is provided free of cost to more than 81,000 OPD patients daily and 65,806 IPD patients monthly. Till today, 64,000 people received free medicines, tests, and treatment in 530 Mohalla Clinics. So far, Mohalla Clinics have conducted more than 7 crore OPD (Outpatient Department) visits. Inception of free diagnostic tests. 'Farishtey Dilli Ke' scheme has saved the lives of 22000 people.
The Arvind Kejriwal government also announced the 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana' under which Rs 1,000 will be given monthly to all women aged above 18 from the fiscal year 2024-25.
The Budget Session of the Delhi Assembly commenced on 15 February and has been extended till 8 March. It was supposed to end on February 21. This is likely to be the longest assembly session under the AAP government's regime, according to officials.