Rajasthan Budget 2022 Live Updates: Pension scheme, CISF-type force and more

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is presenting his state budget 2022-23, which, according to him, will live up to the aspirations and expectations of the people of the state. Gehlot is presenting the fourth budget of his third tenure as the chief minister. The Budget statement of Gehlot, who also holds the finance portfolio, will have a first-of-its-kind feature -- a separate agriculture budget. 

Key announcements made by Chief Minister Gehlot in his budget speech: 

* Formation of 500 mobile police units, 30,000 new cameras will be linked to Abhay Command

* Police outposts to be upgraded to police stations, new police stations to be created

* All employees appointed after January 1, 2004 and later will be eligible for pension scheme before next year.

* Those who use up to 100 units of electricity will be given 50 units free, Rs 3 per unit for those using up to 150 units, Rs 2 per unit for 150 to 200 units.

* Women heads of 1.33 crore Chiranjeevi scheme families will get smartphones with internet connectivity for 3 years.

* Blockchain Center of Excellence worth Rs 30 crore to be set up in Rajasthan

* Mini Secretariat to be built in Laxmangarh, Sikar

* Civil Defense Training Institute will be set up in Jaipur, sub tehsils to be upgraded to tehsils

* State government employees to be given the benefit of 7th pay commission; state government to incur an additional burden of Rs 1000 crores

*  Non-accredited journalists will get Covid assistance; the accreditation process will be simplified.

* Petroleum Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Region, spread over 383 sq km, will be developed in Pachpadra area of Barmer.

* Rs 1000 crore allocated for tourism development fund. Two tourist places to be identified in each district. 

* Rajasthan Industrial Security Force will be formed on the lines of CISF; 2000 personnel will be recruited.

* Rs 500 crore for SC/ST Development Fund; Rs 100 crore allocated for EWS families.

* Cyber police stations to be set up in all districts of the state

* Rs 10 crores for roads in each assembly

* Expansion of Jaipur Metro 

* Development Authority will be made in Udaipur-Kota

* Dam construction will be done at a cost of Rs 1800 crore

* Rs 25 crore budget for Dang, Mewat and Magra area development board

* Recruitment on 1 lakh vacant posts in various government departments

* A 250-room hostel worth Rs 300 crore to be constructed for the youth at Udaipur House in Delhi where students preparing for competitive exams will stay.

* Pure drinking water to be made available to 12.24 lakh households in 5833 villages.

* Chief Minister Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme coverage increased from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

* REET exam will be held in July 2022, the application fee will not be charged from previous candidates

Where to watch the Budget presentation?

The Rajasthan Budget presentation is being live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

What the Opposition is saying

Rajasthan BJP president Satish Poonia has already slammed the Congress government in the state. Poonia said that at least seven declarations that the Gehlot government made in its budget two years ago are still incomplete.