Key highlights of the Delhi government's Budget

New Delhi, Mar 9 (KNN) As the main highlights of the Delhi Government’s Budget remains ‘No New Tax’ and ‘Focus on Education’, lets have a look at some key announcements by Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister. Sisodia also holds the Finance and the education portfolio.

• Out of the total Budget of Rs 48,000 crore, the AAP government allocated Rs 5,736 crore for health, Rs 5,506 crore for Transport and Rs 3,467 for Social Security and Welfare.
• In Budget 2017, AAP govt raised the minimum wages of unskillked, semi-skilled, skilled labour by almost 37%.
• For Unskilled labour, AAP Govt has increased the minimum wages from 9,724 to 13,350 per month and for semi-skilled labour, it has increased the minimum wages from Rs 10,764 to 14,698 per month.
• Sisodia informed that no new tax introduced this year also the government did not make any changes in the already existing taxes.
• Sisodia has proposed reduction of VAT on items ranging from air turbine fuel (ATF) for airlines operating on regional connectivity routes to sanitary napkins and construction material such as granite and plywood, blackboards and particle boards, among others.
• VAT slabs will be applicable only till GST is implemented. Once that happens, the VAT cuts will require a review under the GST framework and accordingly amalgamated into the new system.
• As a measure that could bring down cost of materials used in the construction sector, which is witnessing a slowdown, VAT is proposed to be brought down from 12.5% to 5% on granite, swadeshi kota stone, Dholpur stone and Gwalior stone slate to bring these at par with the tax rate for marble, reduced last year.
• Sisodia also informed the assembly that a new vegetable and fruit wholesale market will be developed in Tikri Khanpur.
• Allocating the maximum share to the education (sector), the sector gets 24% of the total Budget outlay
• The AAP government is planning to list ten early childhood education centres.
• It is also planning to start nursery and KG classes in 156 government schools.
• The Budget also stated the plan to start 142 senior secondary schools in national capital.
• There is also a plan to start commerce stream and teacher training center which would be set up under the aegis of Ambedkar University.
• Delhi's AAP Government has increased the salary of guest lecturer from Rs 17000-Rs 21000 to Rs 32,000 - Rs 34,000.
• The Delhi Government also suggested to start a new campus of Delhi Technical University east Delhi from next academic year.
• Rs 5,506 crore allocated for public transport, including road infrastructure.
• Number of air pollution monitoring stations to be increased from six to 26.
• Delhi Budget 2017 gives Rs 1,156 crore to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, allocates Rs 100 crore for development of bus depots and terminals.
• Rs 3,467 crore allocated for AAP government's social welfare schemes in Delhi.
• Delhi government plans to extend water pipelines to all households by the end of 2017.
•  Government proposes support of Rs 7,571 crore to local authorities, that makes up to 15.8% of the Budget.
• Delhi Government has initiated the integration of Aadhar, Pan card, identity proof into a single unit.

Demonetisation has badly affected the economy of the state in the last four months, said Manish Sisodia while presenting the Budget. But despite this, as compared to country's GDP (7.1%), Delhi's GSDP (at 8.26%) has increased from Rs 5,51,963 crore last year to Rs 6,22,385 crore this year.

According to the Economic Survey presented a day before, Delhi's tax revenue went up from 5.40% in 2014-15 to 5.48% of GSDP in 2015-16, when the city was under the President's rule.