Haryana Budget brings relief for traders affected in Jat agitation

Chandigarh, Mar 22 (KNN) In a big relief to the traders affected in the recent Jat quota stir, the Haryana government, in its Budget, imposed no new taxes and offered relief to them.

In the State Budget 2016-17 tabled on Monday in the Assembly, Manohar Lal Khattar led Haryana Government has also hiked allocations to key sectors to boost infrastructure and jobs.

Pegged at Rs 88,781 crore, the total budget estimate proposed is 28.4 per cent more than the estimate of financial year 2015-16.

Presenting the Budget in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu said relief will be granted in respect of tax, interest, penalty and other dues to registered dealers whose goods were lost or destroyed in violence during the Jat agitation in February.

Capt Abhimanyu said the state was committed to “unravel the conspiracy behind the violence (during Jat agitation) and punish the guilty”.

The budget focused on the rural sector, increasing job opportunities and giving a boost to education and health sectors.

The budget estimate for the next fiscal increased to Rs 13,494 crore against Rs 11,444 crore in the revised estimate of 2015-’16. Over 13 per cent of the budget was earmarked for agriculture and allied sectors.

The state government proposed an outlay of around Rs 830 crore for Industries and Mines, which is a 325.1 per cent hike.

The state finance minister said that the government planned to promote and support the Khadi and Village Industries, start-ups and MSMEs to provide entrepreneurship opportunities and generate employment in the rural areas.

He said that there was a need to protect and support the traditional industries of the state. He also talked about bringing some mother companies to the state to give opportunities to new and existing small ancillary units and create employment.